Triton TR80 Turbidity Sensor with automated cleaning wiper

The Triton TR80 from Electro-Chemical Devices is a nephelometric turbidity sensor designed for use in water and wastewater.

Turbidity, the cloudiness or haziness of a water sample, is caused by particles suspended in the water, typically clay and silt. Since bacteria and viruses can be attached to these particles, turbidity has become a critical indicator of the overall water quality.

The Triton TR80 uses an optical method for determining the turbidity — a light beam is directed into the sample where it is scattered by suspended particles in the water. The amount of scattering depends on the amount of material in the water, the wavelength of light, and the size and composition of the suspended particles. The Triton TR80 uses a near infrared LED light source and the 90° scattered light method in accordance with ISO 7027/ EN 27027 to assure accurate turbidity values under standardized and comparable conditions.

The TR80 response depends on the size, shape and composition of the suspended particles. For this reason, mg/L, ppm and % Solids measurements must be calibrated with suspended solids from the waters to be monitored. Turbidity measurements (NTU, FNU) can be calibrated with calibration standards such as Formazine, StablCal or SDVB beads.

The Triton TR80 sensors are available in four (4) different ranges.

Designed for use in environmental, water treatment, or drinking water, the Triton TR80 is suitable for most aqueous applications. It is not suitable for use in organic solvents or in solutions with an extreme pH value, only use when the pH is between 2–12 pH. The temperature range for the sensor is 0° to 50°C.

TR80 Installation is accomplished with a 1″ stand pipe for immersion service, PVC flow cell for an in line flow through application, Valve Retractable, or De-Bubbler for Micro air bubble applications. Typically, applications of < 30 NTU range use a flow cell or de-bubbler assembly and must be calibrated as an assembly with the sensor for best accuracy.

The optical surface must remain clean for accurate measurements. The sensor sensing face of the TR80 should be oriented so that the flow of the water can clean and remove particles that could adhere to the sensor face. The TR80 incorporates an automated mechanical wiper design which can be programmed for frequency and duration. This can be utilized in any installation configurations such as: open tank using standpipes, immersion, pipe insertion and flow cells. In all installations the sensor should be able to be simply removed for standard maintenance.

Air bubbles in the water reflect light and will interfere with the measurement. Micro air bubbles can form when a water sample is depressurized. Care must be taken to ensure the water sample at the measurement point has a higher head pressure than the incoming sample. Water siphoning out from the measurement point can release dissolved gases in the flow cell and create noisy erratic readings. If air bubbles cannot be removed from the sample, an optional De-Bubbler flow cell can be used which removes air bubbles that are entrained in the sample flow.

The Triton TR80 sensors are factory calibrated in formazine, NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity units) and are ready to use in most clean water applications. The factory calibration is permanently stored in the sensor’s memory and these values are also used for diagnostic purposes throughout the sensor’s life. Additional nonvolatile memory is used to log user initiated calibration data.