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Simplifying chlorine measurement for industrial carbon filters

Essential for removing chlorine from water supplies, the effectiveness of industrial high-rate granular activated carbon filters in pharmaceutical, food and beverage applications is dependent on accurate monitoring at the inlet and outlet of the vessel. Our compact OALAB Type 8906 water analysis system is a standardised solution to improve the speed and precision of data gathering, that also minimizes recalibration and maintenance requirements.

Preserving process quality cost effectively

The quality of any pharmaceutical, food or beverage is dependent on the correct function of industrial granular activated carbon (GAC) filters. Colorimetric analysers and amperometric sensors have traditionally been used to monitor this, but both have limitations.

The OALAB relies on the amperometric cell technology of the MS02 Chlorine Cube instead, providing incredible long-term accuracy and T90 times below 30 seconds for precise monitoring of free and zero chlorine. This confirms carbon filter performance and helps safeguard product quality and key assets downstream. Furthermore, lower maintenance and recalibration requirements deliver significant reductions in operating expenditure (OPEX).

OALAB revolutionises chlorine measurement

  • Suitable for use at carbon filter vessel inlet or outlet
  • Greatly reduced maintenance and recalibration requirements
  • Installations only 1-metre wide save space on-site
  • Almost instantaneous T90 times
  • Only requires 18 litres per hour, lowering sample volumes and wastage
  • Active data logger for history, remote monitoring and diagnostics
  • ME43 industrial gateway supports Profinet, Ethernet and Modbus TCP
  • Pre-mounted and wired for plug and play installation

Increased data accuracy and faster response

The OALAB with the MS02 Chlorine Cube offers T90 times of 30 seconds and below, providing users with faster identification of data trends and chlorine spikes. For comparison, traditional amperometric sensors and colorimetric analysers offer a T90 time of around 2 to 3 minutes.

The increased speed of OALAB means operators can react faster to changes in chlorine levels. This can help protect product quality or ensure a reduction of chlorine contact time for reverse osmosis or electro-deionisation systems downstream. Furthermore, the accuracy of OALAB means better decision making regarding carbon filter capacity, programming changes, backwashes and maintenance.

Less maintenance, reduced recalibration

The MS02 in OALAB is also a low maintenance solution. Traditional amperometric sensors use an electrolyte for pH buffering that degrades over time and leaches into the water affecting measurement. Heavy elements can form scaling on the working amperometric electrodes, which must be periodically removed with abrasive paper. However, the MS02 uses a membrane above its cell to eliminate this build up and maintenance procedure. Furthermore, the system requires no replenishment of reagents like colorimetric analysers and doesn’t use any electrolyte within the free chlorine amperometric cell.

With no electrolyte, the MS02 is also immune from becoming poisoned, which in amperometric probes, causes chlorine measurement drift at the inlet to the carbon filter. At the outlet, where the need to check for the absence of chlorine (typically referred to as zero-chlorine) is preferred, the MS02 is combined with an electrolyte filled chamber away from the measurement cell which provides a floating zero point, preventing polarization.  This configuration also avoids adding a costly chlorine source to the process.

These benefits provide a significant reduction in OPEX, with Bürkert customers reporting MS02 Chlorine Cubes working perfectly for over 2 years in drinking water applications with no maintenance or recalibration.

A standardised design with flexible options

OALAB provides measurement support for the following parameters:

  • pH
  • ORP (Redox)
  • Conductivity
  • Free chlorine
  • Zero-chlorine
  • Chlorine dioxide
  • Turbidity
  • Iron*
  • Nitrate*
  • SAC (UV254)*

*Not compact cube designs

Connect with one of our chlorine measurement experts today and see how we can optimise your industrial carbon filtration by calling +44 1285 648720 or email sales.uk@burkert.com.

Type 8906

Online water analysis system

Type 8906
  • Water analysis configured in accordance with customer’s wishes
  • Continuous analysis of drinking water and industrial process water
  • Based on the modular Bürkert cube and backplane technology
  • Fieldbus connection for versatile industrial communication, data exchange via mobile gateway
  • Extremely low-maintenance and long service life thanks to MEMS technology