Disinfection
Groundwater, well water and spring water may contain micro-organisms: the disinfectant must be dosed continuously and in proportion to the flow rate.
Systems
Drinking water
Water intended for human consumption, whether from a well, a spring or the water supply network, must be disinfected and kept with a disinfectant residual throughout the distribution network. The systems dose the disinfectant in proportion to the volume of water or to the measured residual, up to the multi-parameter systems for waterworks.
- Hypochlorite, dioxide or monochloramine
- Residual chlorine and Redox
- Waterworks and contact tanks
Requirements
The requirements
Residual in the network
A disinfectant residual protects the water throughout the distribution network up to the points of use; continuous measurement keeps it constant.
pH
pH affects the effectiveness of chlorine: it must be monitored and, where necessary, adjusted.
Turbidity
In waterworks, turbid water can be diverted to drain before the contact tank.
Typical layout
Operating diagram of a disinfection plant
Our
Disinfection systems
Each system has its own page with the diagram, the components and the operation.
Volumetric dosing
The most straightforward solution: the pulse-output water meter installed on the pipe carrying the water to be treated controls the dosing pump, which injects hypochlorite in proportion to the measured volume of water. Suitable for water of constant quality, with periodic checking of the residual.
Advantages
- Simple, straightforward solution: the water meter controls the pump directly.
- Dosing proportional to the flow rate, with no probes to calibrate.
Limitations
- It does not measure the residual: suitable for water of constant quality, with periodic checking of the chlorine.
Residual chlorine
The LDsCL controller continuously measures the residual free chlorine with an amperometric cell and controls the hypochlorite pump in proportion to the measured value, up to the set point: the residual remains constant even when the flow rate or the water quality changes.
Advantages
- Free chlorine measured continuously in mg/l with the amperometric cell.
- The residual remains constant even when the flow rate or the water quality changes.
Redox control
The LDsRh controller measures the Redox potential, which indicates the disinfecting power of the water, and doses hypochlorite up to the set point. It uses a high-linearity electrode for drinking water.
Advantages
- Measurement of the disinfecting power of the water with the high-linearity electrode for drinking water.
- Simple and economical solution.
Limitations
- Indirect measurement: it reads mV, not mg/l of free chlorine.
- The reading depends on pH and conductivity and must be checked periodically with the chlorine test.
Chlorine dioxide
The LOTUS AIR generator produces chlorine dioxide on site from hydrochloric acid and sodium chlorite, in an automatic cycle and at ambient pressure, with dosing in proportion to the volume of water and/or to the measured residual.
Advantages
- Always fresh product, in small quantities, with virtually no by-products.
- Considerably cheaper precursors: on-site generation becomes cost-effective in the medium term.
- Dosing by water meter, by residual measurement, by 4/20 mA signal or by Redox, also at several points.
- INAIL suitability opinion: reduction of up to 28% in the annual premium.
Limitations
- Cost-effective where water consumption justifies its adoption.
Monochloramine
The MDS system continuously produces monochloramine from two reagents of known concentration, ammonia and hypochlorite, dosed together with the dilution water into a PVDF reactor; the water meter on the pipe controls its dosing.
Advantages
- High stability: it also protects extensive and complex networks.
- pH-independent action, low aggressiveness, cost-effective for large volumes.
Limitations
- System suited to hospitals, care homes and facilities with high water consumption.
Waterworks with Centurio PRO
Ideal for waterworks where all the key water parameters must be monitored with a single controller, such as volumetric dosing on the filling of the contact tank, analysis of the turbidity, conductivity and pH of the water, as well as residual control dosing by means of an amperometric cell.
Advantages
- A single controller for chlorine, turbidity, tank level and water meters.
- Dosing proportional to volume with correction based on the measured residual.
- Remote control and data logging.
Limitations
- Ideal for use in public waterworks.
Remote control
System remote control
The controllers can be remotely controlled bidirectionally (read and write) from the web portal, from PC, tablet and smartphone: viewing of measurements, modification of set points, dosing and alarms, receipt of alarms and download of logs. Alternatively, integration into your PLC via Modbus is possible.
Ethernet
Connection to the web portal via network cable: measurements, set points, dosing and alarms accessible from PC, tablet and smartphone.
Wi-Fi
Wireless connection to the web portal, with the same functions as the cable connection.
4G
Connection via the cellular network for installations without a local network, with alarm notification by SMS or e-mail.
Modbus RTU
Integration into your PLC via serial port.
Modbus TCP/IP
Integration into your PLC or SCADA via Ethernet network.
0-4/20 mA output
Current signal proportional to the measured value, for remote monitoring or for controlling pumps and other instrumentation.
The NIMBUS portal
A single account brings together all registered installations, each with its own devices: the web portal, free of charge and with no subscription, can be accessed from PC, Mac, tablet and smartphone and allows every parameter to be both viewed and changed, with an encrypted connection and protected access.
Overview
On a single screen: probe readings, chemical levels, pump activation thresholds and active alarms, with the status of installations and devices (normal, warning, alarm, standby, not connected).
Installation map
Installations appear on an interactive map with their status and open with a click; for each one, the local weather conditions and temperature are also shown.
History and charts
Archive of measurements and alarms, available for consultation at any time with charts and numerical reports exportable in Excel format.
Alarms and notifications
Alarm thresholds for readings, dosing, faulty probe and out-of-range readings, with notification by e-mail or SMS depending on the communication system; a warning is also issued when an installation remains disconnected beyond the set time.
Set points and dosing
Remote modification of the set points, of the dosing pump activation thresholds and of the corresponding hourly flow rate.
Inputs and outputs
Status of relays, pulse outputs, digital inputs and current outputs, with the name assigned to each connection.
Maintenance calendar
Tasks are scheduled by installation or by device and assigned to technicians; a reminder is sent by e-mail two days before the due date. Each task is shown as scheduled, due, overdue or completed.
Team and permissions
The main account has full access and creates the technicians’ accounts, each enabled only for the assigned installations and devices; the last login and activity of each technician are visible.
Reports and activity log
Reports on devices, tasks and technicians, downloadable in PDF or CSV with the customer’s logo; the log keeps the history of operations and disconnections.
Customisation
Logo, main colour and light or dark theme; the tiles on the main screen can be rearranged by dragging them. Two installations can be displayed side by side for comparison.
Guided registration
Each device is added through a guided procedure: the model is recognised automatically and associated with the installation, together with the technician to be contacted.
PLC integration
As an alternative to the portal, the Modbus RTU or TCP/IP port allows integration into the plant supervision system.
Installations
Installation examples
Systems are supplied pre-assembled and tested, in the form best suited to the plant room: on a panel, in a cabinet or on a skid (with cover, in a box or on a frame), also tailor-made. Some examples.
On a panel
Controller, pumps, probe holder and accessories mounted and wired on a wall panel.
In a cabinet
System panel and chemical tanks housed in a single cabinet.
Wall cabinet
Pipework, pumps and electrical panel in a wall cabinet with door.
Skid with cover
Skid with raised stainless steel frame and protective PMMA cover.
Skid in a box
Skid enclosed in a box with door, with the chemical tanks at the base.
Skid on a frame
Skid on a frame with doors, pre-assembled and ready for connection.
On the tank
Dosing pump mounted directly on the tank: the most compact solution.
In the plant room
Wall installation in the plant room, with the chemical tanks on the floor.
Pumps, controllers or components supplied by the customer can also be fitted, with custom dimensions, back panel and electrical panel. Dosing stations and skids →
Which one to choose
From the simplest to the most complete solution
For chlorine and other disinfectants the basic solution is the dosing station; to dose according to the concentration actually present in the water, measuring controllers are used.
Dosing station
The simplest solution: the pump doses at a constant rate or in proportion to the volume of water measured by the pulse-output water meter.
Details → LDsRh
Dosing based on the Redox potential of the water: an economical solution, based on an indirect measurement.
Details → LDsCL
The amperometric cell directly measures the disinfectant concentration in mg/l, ensuring maximum dosing accuracy.
Details →
LD Dual Parameter
Simultaneous management of two parameters, for example pH and chlorine, with a single controller.
Details → Centurio PRO
Management of up to 10 parameters and of all the pumps in the installation, with touch screen and remote control as standard.
Details → LOTUS AIR
Chlorine dioxide generator: it produces the disinfectant on site from the precursors and doses it in proportion to the water meter or to the measured residual.
Details →Technical advice
Describe your plant and the flow rate of water to be treated: we will propose the most suitable system.