Full Scale Study of Automatically Controlling Polymer Dosages Through Measurement of Floc Structure, 1992 Environmental Conference Proceedings

The high costs associated with municipal and industrial sludge dewatering operations have prompted innovations. One such inovation is the Flocsonde which is being developed to provide automatic monitoring and controlling of polymer dosing in sludge dewatering operations. The unit functions by using an infrared transmitter and receiving device to monitor the dimensions of moving floc structures of the conditioned sludge. These signals are compared and a corresponding electrical signal is sent to the controller where adjustments are made to the polymer pumps. The unit was installed at a municipal plant in Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina.

Automatic polymer dosing in sludge dewatering is particularly important due to the high costs associated with polyacryamides cost and regulations surrounding landfill requirements and consistant cake dryness needed for power boiler incineration.

Initial data shows an average of 10 percent reduction of polymer consumption while the average cake dryness became more consistant. Overall costs of dewatering and incineration also showed a reduction. Modifications are being made to the Flocsonde system in an attempt to further decrease polymer consumption and provide a cost effective program.