Performance Optimisation and Cost Reduction through Advanced Process Control

Water service managers are often under pressure to deliver the seemingly competing objectives of both improving plant performance and reducing operational costs. This paper showcases how the application of advanced process control can realise both these objectives. Using the Te Marua WTP as an example the paper will demonstrate how Wellington Water have improved performance and reduced annual operating costs by $650k per annum.

The advanced process control functionality in real time use at Te Marua WTP includes the following:

• Predictive coagulant and polyelectrolyte dose control;
• Predictive CO2 dose control;
• Automated source selection;
• Cost Measurement – Online costs, predicted cost to treat and cost sentinel to compare predicted cost to treat with actual online cost to treat;
• Online measurement of THM formation potential and HAA formation potential.