Data acquisition and control in an automated NF membrane apparatus

The control and optimization of manual membrane apparatus have been tedious due to difficulty in maintaining constant operating parameters such as feed flow rate, pressure and permeate flow rate for constant pressure and recovery modes of operation. Manual systems increases labor cost, requires frequent supervision and increases the risk of error. Hence, the automation of membrane systems has now become a necessity. It improves operation conditions, plant performance, assists supervision and reduces the risk of human error. Data can be easily acquired for long time by using data acquisition software and accurate control can be achieved.;Hence, in this study, a fully automated nanofiltration membrane apparatus have been used for constant pressure and recovery modes of operation. LabVIEW, powerful and versatile graphical programming software was used to facilitate control of operating parameters by PID controller and for data acquisition of operating parameters. Number of experiments at constant pressure and recovery mode has been carried out to demonstrate the advantages of automated systems over manual systems in terms of data acquisition and control. Statistical analysis of fluctuations of process variables (feed and permeate flow rates, pressure) over set point has also been carried out to prove the accuracy of control.