VITENS AUTOMATED WATER LABORATORY
Automation of an entire water laboratory for unattended overnight operation.
System Overview.
Vitens Laboratorium in Leeuwarden, Holland required a ‘lights out’ laboratory that analysed water samples taken in the field that day. The system runs unattended overnight with results ready first thing in the morning. Samples are collected during the day by sample takers, the details of which are transmitted remotely by GPRS telecommunications to the LIMS database so the system knows what samples will be arriving. The sample takers dump the bottles onto a conveyor throughout the night and leave. From hereon in the bottles are handled, tracked analysed and disposed of automatically.
“This was an amazing project to work on. There is nothing else available that automates a water laboratory to this extent.” (Paul Chilton, Labman Senior Project Engineer)
Key Features.
Bottle Imaging & Weight
The bottle is checked for damage and contents (imaging and weight)
Automatic registration & Transport
Automatic registration and transport to appropriate lab
pH, Turbidity, Titrations, colour/UV & Conductivity
pH, Turbidity, Titrations, colour/UV, conductivity
Aquakem Analyser
Aliquots are analysed on-line using an Aquakem analyser
Tested Samples
Samples are tested for dissolved metals using ICP/MS
Aliquots Measurements
Aliquots taken for off-line measurements
Stored & Transferred Data
Data is stored and transferred to appropriate analysers
Automatic Colony Counting
Samples are prepared for automatic colony counting
Chilled Samples
Samples are kept in chilled stores
