Instrumentation and Control for Water and Wastewater Processes

Learn the important principles, trends, and technologies to improve instrumentation and control systems in your water and wastewater facilities and processes.  This course includes:

• Key principles and industry terms
• Control hardware, HMI, and SCADA systems
• Pressure, flow, level, temperature sensors
• Integration of process and instrumentation needs
• Control strategies for pumping, aeration, chemical feed, and other processes
• Documentation and commissioning
• Avoiding errors in selection and application
• System costs
• Case studies and class workshops

• Water and wastewater professionals
• Plant managers and operators
• Consulting engineers
• Federal agencies and military bases
• System integrators and manufacturers

Overview of I&C for Water and Wastewater

• What are we measuring and controlling? And why?
• Key I&C terms in the industry
• Categories of instruments and control elements
• Integration into a working SCADA system

Field Monitoring Instruments

• Flow, pressure, level, temperature
• Pros and cons of different types
• Where/how are they typically installed
• Typical costs

SCADA, Controllers, and Control Algorithms

• RTU, DCS, PLC and PID controllers
• SCADA and HMI systems
• Telemetry systems
• Transmission, storage, and use of data
• Software considerations
• Typical costs

Pumping Applications

• Daily and peak operations
• Flow rates, pressures, well levels
• Alternatives, pros, cons, costs

Final Control Elements

• Electric motors, starters
• Valve and gate operators
• Variable frequency drives (VFDs)
• Costs

Analytical Instruments for Process Monitoring

• Online sensors for aeration control, solids control, chemical control
• Sensing devices and how they operate
• Location and mounting
• Components and costs

Aeration, Disinfection, Other Applications

• DO control, blower control, protection
• Filters and clarifiers
• Disinfection

Documentation and Commissioning

• Specifications, loop descriptions, I/O points
• Process and instrumentation diagrams
• Testing, reporting

Case Studies and Examples

• I&C examples and problem solving

• “Really engaging presenters and instructors”.
• “The program was top notch.  Thank you.”
• “An absolutely superb seminar.”
• “The information on VFDs was invaluable!”
• “Welcomed my questions and gave me great info to help me understand.”

Thomas Jenkins

Tom Jenkins PE is president of JenTech, Inc. He previously served as chief wastewater design engineer with Dresser Roots and as the founder of ESCOR (Energy Strategies Corporation). Tom is a professional engineer and a graduate of Marquette University, in mechanical engineering. He has extensive experience in developing wastewater control systems and technology. He is a co-author of the Water Environment Federation Manual of Practice #32, Energy Conservation in Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities, and an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.