Autonomous Foam Monitoring and Control for VCHT Systems Navy SBIR FY2012.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2012.2 Topic No.: N122-131 Topic Title: Autonomous Foam Monitoring and Control for VCHT Systems Proposal No.: N122-131-0706 Firm: Luna Innovations Incorporated 1 Riverside Circle Suite 400 Roanoke, Virginia 24016-4962 Contact: Fritz Friedersdorf Phone: (434) 220-0148 Web Site: www.lunainnovations.com Abstract: Vacuum collection, holding and transfer (VCHT) systems are used on the newest Navy ships to reduce collected sewage volume to achieve desired holding capability when operating in littoral waters where discharge is restricted. Vacuum collection systems use sewage powered ejectors to discharge urinal and water closet waste into holding tanks that are vented to atmosphere. These high velocity multiphase flows from sewage powered ejectors can cause foam buildup. Luna and our team members BIW, Evac and Nalco propose to resolve the holding tank foaming issues by developing an automated foam detection and control system that is compatible with existing and future VCHT systems. The foam control system will be based on novel induction sensors with embedded processing to automatically recognize foam generation. The sensor will be robust to survive the demanding VCHT environment, and sensitive enough to discriminate foaming from fouling and normal tank conditions. When a foaming event is detected, the system will initiate delivery of environmentally compliant defoamer and antifoaming agents via an automated chemical delivery system that is integrated with the VCHT system. Benefits: A successful product development effort will result in a monitoring and foam control system for shipboard sewage collection and treatment systems. Although the delivery system and chemicals used to control foam will be specifically tailored to retrofit and forward fit to Navy VCHT systems, similar foam control systems would be applicable to cruise ships and other commercial cargo or personnel carriers. Any vacuum collected non-oily wastewater (including sewage) system will also have foam-generation issues and should benefit from the developed product. The sensor and monitoring system have very broad applicability to any industrial process where foam control is important such as pulp and paper, paint, industrial wastewater treatment, food processing, refineries and petrochemical plants. Return