New sensor from ABB offers accurate turbidity and suspended solids measurement
ABB has launched the ATS430 turbidity and TSS sensor, latest in its range of Aztec digital sensors for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment applications.
Featuring ABB’s EZLink technology, the sensor provides ultra-stable and accurate measurement of turbidity and total suspended solids up to 4,000NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) or 100,000mg/l.
Unlike conventional turbidity and TSS sensors, the ATS430 requires no servicing throughout its operational life, enabling it to offer a low cost of ownership.
The ATS430 is suitable for use across a range of industries subject to regulatory effluent discharge consents, including municipal potable and wastewater treatment plants, pulp and paper, food and beverage, oil and gas, and marine and mining.
The MCERTS-approved sensor comes pre-calibrated, making it ready to use as soon as it is taken out of the box.
Set-up is straightforward, with the EZLink technology enabling quick connection to an AWT440 digital universal transmitter, which automatically recognises and configures the sensor.
With no need for wiring or complicated configuration, EZLink eliminates the time and cost associated with installation, including the requirement for a specialised engineer to get the ATS430 up and running.
The ATS430’s fully-sealed design means there are no O-rings, seals, or gaskets to replace, making it a truly service-free device.
The sensor is also highly resistant to fouling, with a choice of polished stainless steel or corrosion-resistant titanium sensor bodies.
An added measure against high fouling environments is the inclusion of an optional automatic wiper on the sensor face, which helps to remove fouling from the scratch-resistant sapphire optical windows.
If a wiper system is fitted, the ATS430 monitors usage and alerts the user when replacement is due, and the wiper itself can be replaced in a matter of seconds, enabling the sensor to be put back into service quickly.
Downtime is further minimised by the provision of a sensor verification and calibration kit for the ATS430, which eliminates the need for the use of chemical standards that can be costly, hazardous, and difficult to prepare.
The kit comes with a range of different calibration discs that have been calibrated against primary turbidity standards at the factory.
A key feature within the ATS430 is its adaptive TSS calibration function that provides a simpler, faster way of obtaining reliable TSS process calibrations and avoids sudden shifts caused by non-representative sampling or incorrect laboratory results.
The ATS430's compact 40mm diameter size makes it well-suited for a range of installation options.
Using the integral thread, the sensor can be easily mounted to a pole system for open tank and channel installations, chain mount system, or directly into a pipe or flow cell.
This flexibility is further enhanced by the sensor's wide measuring range, together with its robust design, which is able to withstand temperatures up to 60°C and pressures up to 10 bar.
The option of a titanium sensor body also enables the ATS430 to be used in aggressive media and corrosive environments such as salt water.
Up to four ATS430 turbidity and TSS sensors can be connected to a single AWT440 universal transmitter, or can be mixed with other devices from the Aztec 400 range such as the ADS430 optical dissolved oxygen sensor.
Available in two- or four-channel options and with a choice of communication protocols, the AWT440 enables monitoring at multiple points without the need for purchasing and installing separate transmitters.
