# US 11,906,426 B2 · Suspended solids measurement of wastewater > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,426 B2 - Document ID: US11906426B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/058,618 - Filed: 2019-06-27 - Published: 2021-07-08 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-29 - Assignees: Hach Company - Applicants: Hach Company - Inventors: Robert Francis Dabkowski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906426B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/53: within a flowing fluid, e.g. smoke - G01N 21/532: {with measurement of scattering and transmission} - B01D 21/32: Density control of clear liquid or sediment, e.g. optical control {; Control of physical properties} - C02F 1/5209: {Regulation methods for flocculation or precipitation} - C02F 2209/10: Solids, e.g. total solids [TS], total suspended solids [TSS] or volatile solids [VS] - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract The invention provides a method and a system for measuring suspended solids in wastewater, including: introducing an aqueous sample into a measurement system, comprising at least one length of tubing; pumping, using a pump, the aqueous sample through the at least one length of tubing; and measuring, using at least one optical sensor, a quantity of suspended solids in the aqueous sample wherein at least one optical sensor is coupled to the length of tubing in a position to measure the quantity of suspended solids while the aqueous sample is located in the at least one length of tubing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for measuring suspended solids in wastewater, comprising: introducing an aqueous sample into a measurement system, comprising at least one length of tubing; pumping, using a pump, the aqueous sample through the at least one length of tubing; measuring, using at least one optical sensor, a quantity of suspended solids in the aqueous sample, wherein at least one optical sensor is coupled to the length of tubing in a position to measure the quantity of suspended solids while the aqueous sample is located in the at least one length of tubing; and injecting, using another pump, a defoamer into the aqueous sample before the pumping, wherein an amount of the defoamer is based upon the measuring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises a progressive cavity pump. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous sample is effluent from a centrifuge of a dewatering process for wastewater treatment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising providing instructions to a polymer dispensing system coupled to the centrifuge to adjust an amount of polymer dispensed within the centrifuge based upon the measuring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one length of tubing comprises three lengths of vertical tubing connected by couplers allowing for alternating directions of flow of the aqueous sample within the lengths of tubing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting the defoamer into the aqueous sample at a location between a dewatering centrifuge and the at least one length of tubing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement system comprises a pressure valve that releases gas pressure within the measurement system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement system comprises at least one fitting selected from the group consisting of: a WYE fitting and a TEE fitting, positioned in the at least one length of tubing and wherein the optical sensor is located at the at least one fitting. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling, using a solenoid, a flow of the aqueous sample within the measurement system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing instructions to introduce wash water into the measurement system. ### Claim 11 A system for measuring suspended solids in wastewater, comprising: at least one optical sensor; at least one length of tubing; at least one pump; a memory device that stores instructions executable by the processor to: introduce an aqueous sample into a measurement device comprising at least one length of tubing, pump, using the at least one pump, the aqueous sample through the at least one length of tubing; measure, using the at least one optical sensor, a quantity of suspended solids in the aqueous sample, wherein the at least one optical sensor is coupled to the length of tubing in a position to measure the quantity of suspended solids while the aqueous sample is located in the at least one length of tubing; and inject, using another pump, a defoamer into the aqueous sample before the pumping, wherein an amount of the defoamer is based upon the measuring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the pump comprises a progressive cavity pump. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the aqueous sample is effluent from a centrifuge of a dewatering process for wastewater treatment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising providing instructions to a polymer dispensing system coupled to the centrifuge to adjust an amount of polymer dispensed within the centrifuge based upon the measuring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one length of tubing comprises three lengths of vertical tubing connected by couplers allowing for alternating directions of flow of the aqueous sample within the lengths of tubing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising injecting the defoamer into the aqueous sample at a location between a dewatering centrifuge and the at least one length of tubing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the measurement system comprises a gas pressure valve that releases pressure within the measurement system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the measurement system comprises at least one fitting selected from the group consisting of: a WYE fitting and a TEE fitting, positioned in the at least one length of tubing and wherein the optical sensor is located at the at least one fitting. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising controlling, using a solenoid, a flow of the aqueous sample within the measurement system. ### Claim 20 A product for measuring suspended solids in wastewater, comprising: a storage device having code stored therewith, the code being executable by the processor and comprising: code that introduces an aqueous sample into a measurement device comprising at least one length of tubing, code that pumps, using at least one pump, the aqueous sample through the at least one length of tubing; code that measures, using at least one optical sensor, a quantity of suspended solids in the aqueous sample, wherein at least one optical sensor is coupled to the length of tubing in a position to measure the quantity of suspended solids while the aqueous sample is located in the at least one length of tubing; and code that injects, using another pump, a defoamer into the aqueous sample before the pumping, wherein an amount of the defoamer is based upon the measuring.