Keeps check of ammonia

Alpheus Environmental has installed ABB control and measurement equipment to regulate effluent flows into a sewage treatment works at Basildon. The equipment has helped improve operations and will cut costs.

The Bedford-based company specialises in the treatment of tankered liquid waste that is brought to site by road tankers, treated and then discharged to a sewage treatment works. It needed to regulate and monitor the flow rate of discharged, treated effluent and ammonia levels.

The company uses an ABB ControlMaster universal process controller and ABB MagMaster flow meter transmitter unit. This arrangement controls the speed of the outlet flow using an actuator valve.

The ABB ControlMaster also receives input from an ammonia analyser. If the level of ammonia leaving site is close to the consented limit, the analyser signals the controller to shut down the site and close any outlet valves.

It can also alert Alpheus and Anglian Water by email.

An ABB SM500 data recorder oversees, records and reports data from this new control system.