A Case Study of Automating Scrubber Controls

摘要

Incoming hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and odor loading to foul air scrubbers vary throughout the dayand from minute to minute. A constant chemical feed rate cannot adequately treat odorousspikes, or alternatively, chemicals are overused if targeted to treat the peak loading levels. Thiscan result in objectionable chemical odors to the surrounding community. The Orange CountySanitation District (OCSD) installed automated control systems on 27 scrubbers. In starting upthe automated systems, solutions were developed to deal with design, mechanical andinstrumentation shortcomings. The objective of this project was to optimize the operation of thescrubbers by consistently reducing odors emitted from the scrubbers and overall chemical usage.This case study presents the process used to identify problems, the solutions implemented, andlessons learned.