Thames Water Utilities Limited

Thames Water Plc

David F James

John Melvin Reid

Robert B Nason

Apparatus 1 for monitoring impurity in a liquid, specifically toxin(s) in activated sewage sludge, comprises a vessel 2 with a plurality of chambers 3 and 4 through which the liquid (sludge) is circulated in use to promote mixing, and a compartment 5 in the vessel in fluid communication with the chambers 3 and 4 and adapted to promote a quiescent settlement zone from which liquid is removable.

Apparatus and a system for monitoring impurity in a liquid

The invention relates to an automatic apparatus, computer controlled, for monitoring the settlement of solids in a liquid, specifically sludge in effluent from a sewage treatment plant. The apparatus enables the determination of the parameter known as the Stirred Specific Volume Index (SSVI) of the sludge. The apparatus includes a standard cylindrical vessel for receiving the sludge, and opposed banks of the LEDs and sensors which monitor the settlement height of the sludge as it settles in the liquid. Stirring is effected by an eccentric stirrer controlled by a Hall Effect device and the output from the sensors is fed to an electronic circuit fed by a computer for providing a determination of SSVI and hence control of a sewage works.

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Hornchurch, United Kingdom

David F James