Automated water-level measurement

Automated water-level measurement can be achieved by deploying pressure transducers that can be set to log data as frequently as every second if required. Loggers also record temperature and are able to compensate for altitude, water density, temperature and barometric pressure. These are routinely used when undertaking hydraulic tests on a well but are also useful to provide accurate, regular, longterm water level data and are invaluable for groundwater flow direction calculations. 

Starch slurry make-down systems are designed to prepare a uniform suspension, using batch or continuous systems. In modem paper mills, automated batch or continuous systems are used. Water content and bulk density will affect the flow of dry starch.90 In the batch slurry system, weighed increments of starch are drawn from the silo and periodically added to a measured quantity of water in the make-up tank. The suspension is screened and automatically pumped to a larger storage tank on demand by a level transmitter. Continuous make-down of starch slurry is accomplished by simultaneously feeding starch and water at controlled rates into the slurry make-down tank. The dry starch is metered with a volumetric screw feeder. The slurry is screened before dispersion by batch or continuous cooking. 

Methods of measurement have been reviewed (Kuntz and Kauzmann, 1974 McLaren and Rowen, 1951 Poole and Finney, 1986). Hydration levels are often established by isopiestic equilibration of protein samples against concentrated salt or sulfuric acid solutions of known water vapor pressure. A difficulty with this method is the long equilibration time, possibly several days, which is likely a consequence of the sample size (typically 100 mg or larger). Wilkinson et al. (1976) have described an automated sorption isotherm device transducers are used for the measurement of vapor pressure and sample weight. Gascoyne and Pethig (1977) used a resonating quartz crystal microbalance to study the hydration of bovine serum albumin and other proteins. Rao and Bryan (1978)... 

A calibration curve for the determination of F in municipal waters is illustrated in Figure 2.8. The 40 mV difference in electrode response to two different water supplies, one with and the other without added fluoride, is easily measured. This measurement system can be readily automated for continuous monitoring of fluoride levels. 

This final point is exemplified in Figure 21.5, which shows the measurement of a flow injection peak of NIST 1643C potable water CRM, using an automated simultaneous pulse/analog EDR system. It can be seen that the K and Ca are at ppm levels, which requires the use of the analog counting circuitry, whereas the Pb and Cd are at ppb... 

The application of FIA and biosensors in environmental analysis is attractive because enzyme biosensors operate on the principle of inhibition. The process is economical because only small quantities of substrate are required and because the incubation, reaction and reactivation times can be controlled. The process can therefore yield high reproducibility. This method has been used to measure insecticide levels in sea water [269], Finally, FIA is particularly suitable for the construction of automated systems. 

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