Electricity + Control May 2019

ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTATION

Monitoring water quality in industrial processes

Utilities in industrial production are rarely the focus of attention but without them production would not be possible.

F orming part of production facilities, utilities provide a service to production, although they are not part of the core manufacturing process. They include components such as water, air, gas, electricity and steam. Water is one of the most important raw materials for industrial pro- duction. It is needed in the production of almost every product we use on a daily basis. Industrial plants producing anything from chemicals, to oil and gas to food and beverages, all need great amounts of water. Water as a utility in industrial processes Water as a utility generally relates to various auxil- iary processes that go into the provisioning of pro- cess water, boiler feed-water, steam, cooling water, or it may be wastewater. Of these, steam gener- ation has the highest costs associated with it and therefore offers the most potential for cost savings. As a rule, water needs to be treated before it’s introduced into a process, to ensure water quality and compliance to the specifications of the indus- trial process. There is a strong demand for solu- tions to recycle and reuse wastewater, for finan- cial reasons as well as to meet legal requirements and regulations and environmental requirements. Water recycling can lower costs in regions where the price of potable water is high or where water supply is unreliable. It is also one of the key ways to reduce water consumption as it provides for water to be reused several times over. In addition, by reusing water in industrial processes, business- es can decrease the amount of wastewater they produce and reduce the negative impact of waste- water discharge on the environment. However, inadequate water treatment and in- ferior water quality can impact critically on tech- nical facilities, equipment and products. Analytical measuring technology is therefore important for utilities. While utilities may be defined as auxil- iary processes, they are in no way insignificant. Depending on the industry, liquid analysis instru-

ments are widely used in water processing in in- dustrial plants. Whether in the food industry, in chemical production, mining or other industries, the water used is required to be treated before and after it enters the core processes.

Inadequate water treat- ment and inferior water quality can impact critical- ly on technical facilities, equipment and products. Analytical measuring technology is essential in monitoring water quality. Take Note!

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Water treatment in the food industry

In the food industry, for example, high-quality water – often exceeding drinking water standards – is required. Whether it’s used as product water, cooling water or for cleaning and hygiene, water quality is critical in food production. The water quality often directly affects the qual- ity of the product. In enzymatic processes, such as in beer production, the pH value is a critical factor. If, for example, the pH value of brewing water is too high, this adversely affects the taste and col- our of the beer. Minerals and residues dissolved in water also affect processing as they cause deposit formation and corrosion on wetted parts. Corroded and lime- scaled piping systems encourage the build-up of dirt and microorganisms and in turn the formation of biofilm. On the other hand, water that is proper- ly treated ensures high product quality, facilitates disturbance-free operation and increases system reliability. Depending on the quality of the raw wa- ter and the requirements for its industrial applica-

34 Electricity + Control

MAY 2019