Apparatus for detecting and measuring foam forming compounds in aqueous solutions

An apparatus for detecting and measuring foam in wastewater, comprising:

• a vertically positioned tubular column having an inner wall, said tubular column having first and second openings disposed within an upper portion of said tubular column;
• a programmable logic controller for generating a plurality of control signals, said programmable logic controller enabling and controlling operation of said apparatus by generating said plurality of control signals;
• a fill valve having an inlet port for receiving a sample of said wastewater and an outlet port connected to the first opening of said tubular column, said fill valve, responsive to a first of said plurality of said control signals, opening to allow said wastewater to pass through the first opening of said tubular column and flow down the inner wall of said tubular column to a lower portion of said tubular column;
• an air supply source, responsive to a second of said plurality of control signals, generating compressed air;
• an air valve having an inlet port connected to said air supply source to receive said compressed air, a first outlet port connected to the second opening of said tubular column and a second outlet port, said air valve being activated by a third of said plurality of control signals;
• said air valve diverting said compressed air through the first outlet port thereof and the second opening of said tubular column into said tubular column when said air valve is deactivated, said air valve directing said compressed air through the second outlet port thereof when said air valve is activated;
• an aeration stone positioned in the lower portion of said tubular column, said aeration stone having an inlet port connected to the second outlet port of said air valve to receive said compressed air directed through the second outlet port of said air valve;
• said aeration stone upon receiving said compressed air from said air valve generating air bubbles within said wastewater causing a formation of said foam within said tubular column;
• a drain valve having an inlet port connected to the lower portion of said tubular column and an outlet port, said drain valve, responsive of to a fourth of said plurality of control signals, opening to allow said wastewater and said foam to drain from said tubular column;
• a spherical shaped float positioned above the lower portion of said tubular column, said foam raising said spherical shaped float in an upward direction within the upper portion said tubular column;
• an ultrasonic sensor positioned at the top of said spherical column, said ultrasonic sensor generating ultrasonic waves, said ultrasonic sensor measuring time of travel for said ultrasonic waves between said ultrasonic sensor and said spherical shaped float, said ultrasonic sensor providing an analog signal which is a function of foam height within said tubular column;
• a pair of photo optical sensor positioned in alignment on opposite sides of the upper portion of said tubular column to measure a density for said foam within the upper portion of said tubular column;
• a first of said pair of photo optical sensors directing a beam of light through the upper portion of said tubular column, said beam of light when directed through the upper portion of said tubular column providing an indication of the density of said foam within the upper portion of said tubular column;
• a second of said pair of photo optical sensors receiving said beam of light and providing a foam density indicating signal representative of the density of said foam within the upper portion of said tubular column;
• said programmable logic controller simultaneously deactivating said air valve and opening said drain valve diverting said compressed air from said aeration stone to the upper portion of said tubular column forcing said wastewater and said foam out of said tubular column through said drain valve.

An apparatus for detecting and measuring foam in wastewater, comprising:

• a vertically positioned tubular column having an inner wall, said tubular column having first and second openings disposed within an upper portion of said tubular column;
• a programmable logic controller for generating a plurality of control signals, said programmable logic controller enabling and controlling operation of said apparatus by generating said plurality of control signals;
• a fill valve having an inlet port for receiving a sample of said wastewater and an outlet port connected to the first opening of said tubular column, said fill valve, responsive to a first of said plurality of said control signals, opening to allow said wastewater to pass through the first opening of said tubular column and flow down the inner wall of said tubular column to a lower portion of said tubular column;
• an air supply source, responsive to a second of said plurality of control signals, generating compressed air;
• an air valve having an inlet port connected to said air supply source to receive said compressed air, a first outlet port connected to the second opening of said tubular column and a second outlet port, said air valve being activated by a third of said plurality of control signals;
• said air valve diverting said compressed air through the first outlet port thereof and the second opening of said tubular column into said tubular column when said air valve is deactivated, said air valve directing said compressed air through the second outlet port thereof when said air valve is activated;
• an aeration stone positioned in the lower portion of said tubular column, said aeration stone having an inlet port connected to the second outlet port of said air valve to receive said compressed air directed through the second outlet port of said air valve;
• said aeration stone upon receiving said compressed air from said air valve generating air bubbles within said wastewater causing a formation of said foam within said tubular column;
• a drain valve having an inlet port connected to the lower portion of said tubular column and an outlet port, said drain valve, responsive of to a fourth of said plurality of control signals, opening to allow said wastewater and said foam to drain from said tubular column;
• a spherical shaped float positioned above the lower portion of said tubular column, said foam raising said spherical shaped float in an upward direction within the upper portion said tubular column;
• an ultrasonic sensor positioned at the top of said spherical column, said ultrasonic sensor generating ultrasonic waves, said ultrasonic sensor measuring time of travel for said ultrasonic waves between said ultrasonic sensor and said spherical shaped float, said ultrasonic sensor providing an analog signal which is a function of foam height within said tubular column;
• a pair of photo optical sensor positioned in alignment on opposite sides of the upper portion of said tubular column to measure a density for said foam within the upper portion of said tubular column;
• a first of said pair of photo optical sensors directing a beam of light through the upper portion of said tubular column, said beam of light when directed through the upper portion of said tubular column providing an indication of the density of said foam within the upper portion of said tubular column;
• a second of said pair of photo optical sensors receiving said beam of light and providing a foam density indicating signal representative of the density of said foam within the upper portion of said tubular column;
• said programmable logic controller simultaneously deactivating said air valve and opening said drain valve diverting said compressed air from said aeration stone to the upper portion of said tubular column forcing said wastewater and said foam out of said tubular column through said drain valve;
• said programmable logic controller being connected to said ultrasonic sensor to receive said analog signal, said programmable logic controller being connected to the second of said pair of photo optical sensors to receive said foam density indicating signal, said programmable logic controller processing said analog signal and said foam density indicating signal to generate an alarm signal;
• and
• an indicating light connected to said programmable logic controller to receive said alarm signal, said alarm signal illuminating said indicating light to alert a user of said apparatus that foam concentration within said wastewater is above a predetermined threshold of approximately 15 ppm of aqueous foam forming film.