Regulatory monitoring
MEA's systems are suitable for use in capturing data to show compliance with the operating conditions laid down by bodies such as the Environment Protection Agency. Each system can be fitted with a range of sensors. Sensor values can be monitored in real time and the system can be programmed to respond to out of tolerance conditions, for example by triggering an alarm or driving a sampler.
INDUSTRIAL LAWS - ODOUR MONITORING AND PLUME DISPERSION
Processing plants and factories which produce odours are often required to monitor wind conditions on the site in order to track the dispersion of produced gas plumes. These applications require high performance wind sensors, capable of operating in very low wind conditions. In these applications MEA uses a sonic anemometer. The sonic anemometer requires no maintenance (other than occasional cleaning) and has an MTBF of over 10 years. The other parameters important for plume dispersion are solar radiation and temperature. MEA supplies first or second class pyranometers for solar radiation measurement precision matched thermistors for temperature measurement at differing heights.
MAST
MEA can supply a range of free standing and guyed masts. The industrial station employs a 10m tilt down mast for easy serviceability. Although guyed masts may be cheaper to purchase, the cost of servicing sensors on a guyed mast over the station's life time will usually exceed any initial saving.
Sensors are mounted on stand-offs from the main mast. The temperature sensors for an odour monitoring station are installed at 2 and 10m heights. Solar radiation sensors are installed at 2m. The logger enclosure is installed at eye level for easy access.
SENSOR SPECIFICATIONS
| Wind Speed | 0 - 65 m/sec |
|---|---|
| Range | better than ±2% |
| Accuracy | |
| Resolution | 0.01 m/sec |
| Threshold | 0.05 m/sec |
| Wind Direction | |
| Range | 0-359° |
| Accuracy | ±3° |
| Resolution | 1° |
| Threshold | 0.05 m/sec |
WASTE WATER MONITORING
Industry accounts for around 10% of total water use, with much of the waste water ending up being discharged into the sewage system. The discharge of industrial waste is regulated by the State water operators, with strict conditions on water quality to minimise the impact on treatment plants.
In the past much of the monitoring has revolved around manual samples which must be analysed in a laboratory - an expensive and time consuming process. To make matters worse, most problem events are short term - for example owing to a process failure - and may be missed completely by a manual sampling regime.
MEA's continuous monitoring systems allow key water parameters - EC, pH, DO, turbidity - to be monitored in real time. Alarms can be generated if any parameters exceed specified safe bands. The alarms can generate SMS messages to system operators or be fed via relays to a shut down system. MEA's systems can also be used to drive grab samplers to take individual or composite water samples which can later be subjected to detailed testing.