Level and Pressure Measurement in Wastewater Treatment Plants

Level and Pressure Measurement in a Wastewater Treatment Plant: A Key Operational Challenge

At The Grand Reims Wastewater Treatment Plant, the treatment process is based on three main stages, each requiring reliable level measurement and pressure measurement.

The process is structured as follows:

• Pre-treatment: removal of debris (plastics, bottles, etc.) through screening, followed by sand and grease separation
• Biological treatment: stimulation of naturally occurring bacteria to break down organic matter and form sludge
• Clarification: separation of sludge from water in clarifiers, before sludge treatment and reuse (e.g. land application, when compliant)

In this configuration, level measurement in wastewater treatment plants and industrial pressure measurement are essential to ensure efficient process control.

4–20 mA Signal Conditioning: Ensuring Reliable Level and Pressure Measurements

On this installation, many field instruments — including wastewater level sensors, lime tank level sensors, and pressure sensors — operate using 4–20 mA current loops with 2-wire technology.

The TELIS 9150U1 universal transmitters from JM Concept provide critical analog signal conditioning functions:

• Power supply for 2-wire sensors
• Signal conversion and adaptation
• Galvanic isolation to protect equipment
• Improved immunity to electromagnetic disturbances

These 4–20 mA transmitters are used for monitoring water levels, lime tank levels, and process pressures.

Result: accurate and robust level measurement in wastewater treatment plants, fully adapted to harsh industrial environments.

Industrial Data Acquisition: Centralized Architecture with MIPLINE

The conditioned signals are then transmitted to a MIPLINE industrial data concentrator, which acts as the core of the industrial data acquisition system on this site.

This architecture enables:

• Centralized collection of field data
• Reliable analog signal transmission to the PLC
• Simplified wiring and system integration
• Structured industrial data acquisition

The MIPLINE operates as a true data acquisition gateway, directly connected to the plant’s control system.

Local Visualization: Display of Measured Values with XALIS 9000U1

In addition to centralized supervision, the installation also integrates XALIS 9000U1 displays.

These devices provide:

• Local display of measured values
• Direct reading of level and pressure data on-site
• Support for operation and maintenance teams

Operators benefit from dual access to data:

• Locally via XALIS displays
• Centrally via the PLC system

Supervision and Control of the Wastewater Treatment Plant

All data from level measurement and pressure measurement are transmitted to the PLC for real-time monitoring and control.

This industrial data acquisition system supports:

• Pump control
• Tank and clarifier level management
• Monitoring of chemical inputs (such as lime)
• Optimization of treatment cycles

Reliable signal conditioning and data transmission are key to ensuring efficient wastewater treatment plant automation.

Optimizing Water Process Instrumentation and Data Reliability

The combination of TELIS 9150U1 transmitters, MIPLINE data concentrators, and XALIS 9000U1 displays provides a robust solution for wastewater treatment applications:

• Reliable 4–20 mA current loops
• Accurate level and pressure measurements
• Optimized industrial data acquisition
• Simplified automation architecture
• Improved operation and maintenance efficiency

Signal Conditioning and Data Acquisition for Wastewater Treatment: A Practical Case Study

This feedback from The Grand Reims Wastewater Treatment Plant highlights the importance of a fully controlled measurement chain — from field sensors to supervision systems.

With TELIS transmitters, MIPLINE data concentrators, and XALIS displays, the plant benefits from a reliable, scalable, and high-performance measurement and data acquisition infrastructure.

FAQ – Instrumentation and Data Acquisition in Wastewater Treatment Plants

Why use 4–20 mA transmitters in wastewater treatment plants?

They ensure reliable transmission of analog signals from level and pressure sensors, while providing isolation, stability, and compatibility with industrial control systems.

What is the role of a data concentrator?

A data concentrator centralizes signals from multiple sensors and transmits them efficiently to a PLC for supervision and control.