Ash Pond pH Measurement with Solar-Powered Engineered Solution

Ash pond pH and ORP monitoring and leachate treatment keep power plants in compliance with strict federal and state regulations. Typically, ash ponds are located far from the main plant, and therefore personnel continuously need to leave the plant to do pH and ORP calibrations and troubleshooting. This is a significant drain on time and exposes technicians to potentially unsafe working conditions.

Optimizing Ash Pond pH and ORP Sensors

Sensor connections to the analyzers found at ash ponds are typically non-submersible and susceptible to corrosion. To avoid moisture getting into the sensor connection, many manufacturers will “pot” the cable into the sensor. Customers then need to remove wires and pull cables when performing maintenance or sensor replacement when using sensors with integrated cables.
Digital Memosens® technology from Knick uses inductive and completely submersible connections, making them ideal ash pond pH and ORP sensors. When using Memosens smart digital technology, techs can perform all calibrations in the analyzer shop or lab. For example, when customers want to replace a sensor, they take a pre-calibrated sensor into the field. They quickly swap by disconnecting the inductive Memosens cable and connecting the new sensor. The sensor automatically shares calibration information with the transmitter, and the system is ready to measure without additional steps.

Solar Power pH Transmitter with Wireless HART Compatibility

Stratos Pro transmitters offer intuitive operation with color-coded user guidance for digital Memosens and analog sensors. The transmitter also provides extensive diagnostic functions with Memosens sensors. In addition, due to the low power consumption, the Stratos Pro makes a perfect solar-powered system. Another benefit is the one-button operation when exchanging pre-calibrated sensors. This minimizes the time personnel needs to spend out in the field for routine maintenance.
The M4 Knick solar-powered system is an “off-the-shelf” solution that makes expanding the system and acquiring spare parts very easy. Customizable battery features make the system perfect for areas of the country where multiple cloudy days are common. For example, this photo shows a system that utilizes the  Pepperl+Fuchs Bullet — loop-powered wireless transceiver. The Bullet is HART compliant and has the ability to send HART variables wirelessly to the HART wireless gateway. Lastly, multiple Bullets can act as a “mesh” network which means that each one can receive and transmit the signal of any other Bullet in the network effectively acting as a repeater to cover long distances.

What will be your Return on Investment?

• Reduced Sensor Replacements & Maintenance Costs: Due to the valuable diagnostics data received from the M4 Knick SE 555 and Stratos Pro transmitter, you will greatly reduce the need for calibrations and the frequency of sensor replacement. Therefore you will need to use fewer sensors.
• Reduced Wiring Costs: M4 Knick suggests using a Pepperl+Fuchs Bullet (a loop-powered Wireless HART adapter). Since the solar power system uses an onboard battery, the customer reduced their installed cost as there was no need to run conduit across the plant to the main control room.
• Less Exposure to Hazardous Conditions: The lower frequency of calibration frequency and greater reliability yields fewer trips to the Ash Ponds. As a result, this reduces the risk to plant maintenance personnel.