Transducer Helps Food Factory to Save on Effluent Costs

Companies are charged on both volume and quality of the effluent being discharged and many either fail to appreciate the importance of accurate measurement or simply don’t know how to achieve a high standard of accuracy. The MCERTS scheme has introduced a way to benchmark the accuracy of a complete installation. Siris Environmental of Co. Durham installed the Duet transducer and its associated control unit to Premier Foods as part of an open channel measurement project. Siris led the project, supplying and installing the primary measurement device together with the flow and sampling equipment. As Simon Richardson of Siris put it: ‘Many companies see the MCERTS Certification Scheme as another additional expense, they often don’t appreciate that the scheme ensures accurate measurement of their effluent discharge and in this case we have proved that a well implemented installation can save real money.’ Paul Wiggins of the Environment Agency also commented: “It is excellent news that an industrial effluent flow monitoring installation meeting MCERTS requirements and using a MCERTS certified flow meter has had such a positive impact. Managing flow is crucial to effective effluent treatment, protecting the environment and can have considerable financial benefits to the industry” The Duet non-contacting ultrasonic transducer array was chosen for the high accuracy achievable. DUET uses two transducers a known distance apart, and by comparing the returning signal from both transducers, variations in the speed of sound are dynamically compensated for. This was critical to the success of the project. A 2mm variation in measurement accuracy would result in an error of 40 cubic meres per day.