Description: A 15-year journey to process automation
Wastewater treatment at the 2.8-billion L/d (740-mgd) Blue Plains facility is provided by a complex set of processes. Average flow is 1.4 billion L/d (370 mgd). The treatment processes, including nitrification, denitrification, gravity filtration, sodium hypochlorite disinfection, and dechlorination produce a very high-quality effluent.
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Word count220
Description: A 15-year journey to process automation
DC Water designed the PCS work in multiple phases to coordinate with ongoing capital improvement projects (CIPs). For the phased approach to be successful, PCS aspects such as installation and configuration of the distributed controller units (DCUs) had to be closely coordinated with ongoing design and construction projects.
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Word count538
Description: A 15-year journey to process automation
DC Water knew it needed to be self-sufficient at the end of the project. Beginning with the system programming, DC Water staff participated in control strategy development. A methodology evolved that focused on balancing staff involvement across project phases to achieve knowledge transfer and staff acceptance of the project while managing the effect on staff time.
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Word count430
Description: A 15-year journey to process automation
The PCS project as completed in 2014 established the foundation system, ready for expansion to add new process facilities and to add new features. Since then the PCS team has made several process additions and upgrades, including changes to
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Word count342
Description: A 15-year journey to process automation
DC Water’s multimedia effluent filters were rebuilt approximately 8 years ago. This rebuild occurred in collaboration with a graduate student from the University of Cincinnati. The experiment was a prognostic project that used multiyear historical data and neural networks to try to predict when a filter failure might occur. What has been learned is that each filter has its own operational...
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Word count132
Description: A 15-year journey to process automation
Low-cost IoT sensor technology can be used to gather useful information quickly and inexpensively. One example is this grit pump application. Operators suspected that clogging of the suction was contributing to premature failure of the pumps. These 15-hp submersible pumps did not meet the original 100-hp guideline to use a power monitoring transducer for power monitoring. If the current draw...
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Word count399
Description: A 15-year journey to process automation
Technology is changing at an increasing rate. But that does not mean that the older technology has outlived its usefulness. DC Water already has begun the process of predicting how long PCS capabilities can perform at the current level and when better capabilities may be needed. Assessing possible risks, planning for intermediate and long-term solutions, and providing for CIP budgets will be...
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Word count215
A 15-year journey to process automation