Chemical Dose Controller

Overview

Figure 1: General Schematic of Chemical Dose Controller

The chemical dose controller increases the resiliency of AguaClara plants because operators are only required to adjust chemical dosing settings based on incoming turbidity, not based on flow rates. A nonlinear dose controller has been designed for high flow rates where the previous design, the linear dose controller, fails.

Stay up-to-date on this project by checking the Meeting Minutes, goals and Challenges for Future Semesters.

Current Research Teams

Nonlinear Chemical Doser

• Redesigning a chemical doser with a precise nonlinear chemical dose response to changes in plant flow while also minimizing aeration in an attempt in prevent surface foams.

[Summer 2010 Research Team|Summer 2010 CDC Research}
The summer research team will serve to validate the chemical doser by measuring both precision and accuracy. A battery of tests will be performed to determine the best manufacturing technique, document surface tension issues and to determine if material selection plays a role in accuracy or precision.

The team will also investigate various materials and determine the most appropriate components to use. The team will document and standardize these components so that end users can either obtain them locally or understand when parts may need to come from an outside source with the idea being to limit the parts coming from outside sources.

"Google Docs" will be used when possible to allow for easy collaboration and as things are finalized will be added to the wiki.

Past Research Teams

Summer 2009 Research: Surface Foam Formation

• Trying to model the surface foam formation that takes place at the end of rapid mix in current plants and come up with a retrofit design that will minimize air entrainment.

Linear Chemical Dose Controller

• The linear dose controller uses major losses to adjust chemical doses to the plant as raw water flow rates change.

Nonlinear Chemical Dose Controller Fall08-Summer09

• Major losses cannot be used to adjust chemical flow rates when flow in the dosing tube is turbulent. Therefore, a chemical doser with a precise nonlinear chemical dose response to changes in plant flow is being designed.

Rapid Mix Chamber Design Program

• The design of the entrance tank for high flow rate plants such as Gracias.