Drinking water is the most important food of all and its preparation requires complex processes. To oxidise and disinfect drinking water in the course of treatment, ozone is often added to the mix. Because of its high reactivity, ozone must be produced and added on site under strict safety regulations. Vega’s pressure transducers make an important contribution to the continuous processing of top-quality drinking water.
The water supply system in Baden-Württemberg is one of the largest and most traditionally far-reaching water supplies in Germany. Around 250 cities and municipalities are supplied with about 90 million cubic metres of drinking water each year. Top quality and a high level of security of supply take centre stage in the regional water supply’s management. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population in the central Neckar region was already growing rapidly as industrialisation progressed. An extraordinarily far-sighted plan at the time was to bring drinking water from the Danube valley at the city of Ulm via the Remstal to Stuttgart. This laid the foundation for the regional water supply system.
Plants for the conversion of river water to drinking water consist of a raw water pump which draws the water directly from the river, a pressure pipe from the pumping station to the waterworks, and the treatment facilities in the waterworks. In peak times, up to 2300 litres of river water per second can be converted into drinking water. The injection of highly active oxygen (ozone) for oxidation and disinfection during drinking water treatment represents state-of-the-art technology.
Oxidation
Ozone oxidises dissolved and particulate organic matter and kills or inactivates existing microorganisms. Ozone is always formed when some form of energy decomposes molecular oxygen (O2) into individual oxygen atoms (O), which then react with molecular oxygen to form ozone (O3). This can occur through UV radiation, lightning strikes and also high-voltage electrical discharges. Because of its high reactivity, ozone is produced and added to the water on the spot, and in compliance with strict safety regulations.
The actual production process takes place in pressurised reactors, where electrical energy is applied to convert oxygen into ozone. Then, the resulting gas mixture flows into an ozone collecting pipe. The operating pressure is about 1,3 bar.
Injectors feed the ozone into the water, while mixers distribute the tiny ozone bubbles evenly throughout the water volume. The water remains for a few minutes in large containers, during which time oxidation and disinfection take place.
To ensure that pressure measurement in the ozone collection pipe and at other important measuring points is absolutely safe and reliable, the engineering department decided to use Vegabar 82, the pressure transmitter with a ceramic Certec measuring cell. As a ‘second line of defence’, there is an additional process separation by means of a gas-tight feedthrough above the process connection. Although the measuring cell is permanently resistant to ozone, the second line of defence provides an extra layer of protection against the leakage of ozone from the pipeline through the pressure transmitter.
Vegabar 82 thus plays an important role in safe ozone generation, as well as in the continuous production of top-quality drinking water.
Read more...A fresh approach to dairy processing VEGA Controls SA
Level Measurement & Control
Ensuring the quality and safety of milk throughout the production process is of the utmost importance in the dairy industry. The VEGABAR pressure transmitters are suitable for hygienic applications. They are an asset in the dairy industry and have been used with success for measuring the milk level and the process pressure in storage tanks.
Read more...A cure for measurement headaches in contract manufacturing VEGA Controls SA
Editor's Choice
A contract manufacturing organisation provides support to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the manufacturing of medications, formulations and substances. VEGA’s measurement solutions offer accuracy and reliability for monitoring levels and pressures during the manufacturing process.
Read more...Powering sub-Saharan Africa’s energy future VEGA Controls SA
Level Measurement & Control
Crude oil storage plays an important role in the energy infrastructure of sub-Saharan Africa. The management of crude oil storage in comes with numerous challenges, including safety concerns, environmental conditions and infrastructural limitations.
Read more...Pulp fiction or pulp precision? VEGA Controls SA
Sensors & Transducers
The density of fruit concentrate has a direct impact on the flavour, texture and overall quality of the final product. The VEGA Minitrac 31, VEGASOURCE 31, and the KV 31 mounting bracket present a failproof solution that effectively addresses the technical complexities associated with high temperature, viscosity and fouling.
Read more...Differential pressure measurement in gas extraction and power generation project VEGA Controls SA
Pressure Measurement & Control
Methane exploration and extraction in Lake Kivu in the East African Rift Valley has primarily focused on gas composition analysis. The VEGABAR 82 pressure transmitter was used for differential pressure measurement, the key to monitoring gas levels within the lake.
Read more...Don’t buckle under pressure VEGA Controls SA
Pressure Measurement & Control
In Africa, urban populations are increasing and infrastructure is expanding at an unprecedented pace. This makes sustainable water management and treatment more crucial than ever. By investing in VEGA pressure instrumentation, water utilities and municipalities are equipping themselves with pressure sensors that facilitate sustainable water management focused on efficiency, reliability and resilience.
Read more...Playing autoclave roulette VEGA Controls SA
Sensors & Transducers
Autoclaves ensure the sterility of medical and pharmaceutical products before reaching healthcare providers and their patients. To effectively manage these demanding conditions, VEGA provides reliable solutions, specifically the VEGAFLEX 81 and VEGABAR 83 sensors, which are designed to meet the stringent requirements of autoclave operations.
Read more...VEGA handles the pressures of water treatment systems VEGA Controls SA
Pressure Measurement & Control
A water treatment system for a major metropolitan area in the Midwestern United States demands careful monitoring and management of processes across its sprawling network. Choosing VEGA for its process automation needs meant more than just obtaining precise and reliable pressure sensors.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version