Advantech Wastewater Monitoring System Solutions based on ADAM-3600

Nowadays, environmental requirements from the monitoring system foresee not only the retrieval of data from wastewater but also the consideration of wastewater as an energy source. The ADAM-3600 is a well-proven system that allows real-time monitoring of changes by receiving information on a common console from different locations, with the possibility to extend access and control via cloud technology. Controlling electric valves, collecting data from flow meters, measuring levels, and saturating water with certain chemical elements are tasks performed using hardware and software produced by Advantech.

The modularity of the ADAM-3600 allows for scalability and upgrading of units as required, such as was needed for the transition from 3rd to 4th generation mobile networks and might be with the transition to 5th generation. 

What for Advantech ADAM-3600 is possible to use?

Water treatment plant solution.  Reservoir water-level monitoring. Pipeline pressure detection and management. Sewage treatment.

Case Study #1 - Wastewater Monitoring System Connects Discharge Data to Multiple Cloud Platforms 

1.1 Background

To prevent environmental pollution from industrial and domestic sewage, some country's governments require factories and industrial parks to install automated wastewater monitoring systems. Advantech’s ADAM-3600 Edge Sensing Device-to-Cloud Solution provides data collection, preprocessing, and transmission forwarding, enabling system integrators to develop an automated wastewater monitoring system that complies with factory and government requirements.

1.2 System Requirements

According to some country's EPA (Environment Protection Administration) requirements, data must be transferred to the local environmental conservation authority’s monitoring centre at specific intervals. The system also had to be linked to the EPA’s public platform to provide real-time water quality data. In contrast to the customary multi-layer structured automated monitor system, the system integrator introduced cloud IoT technology and, with the currently market-preferred device-to-cloud solution, set the system to transmit data with the MQTT format from nearly 20 types of water quality sensors at various test stations to a unified management Microsoft Azure cloud platform. Data filtering and multi-point transmission features were implemented on the cloud platform to meet the information publication requirements of various governing authorities.

1.3 Project Implementation

Key components of the system:
1.3.1 The Advantech ADAM-3600 - industrial controller designed for remote management, data collection, monitoring, and process automation. 

1.3.2 WISE-PaaS/EdgeLink is an easy-to-configure gateway software designed by Advantech. It allows you to connect over 200 industrial IoT devices to various platforms. Using WISE-EdgeLink, you can monitor critical assets, track equipment performance, receive alarm notifications, and perform system management.

1.4 System Description

With only the ADAM-3600 intelligent RTU, which comes with built-in WISE-PaaS/EdgeLink intelligent IoT technology, Advantech was able to meet the system requirements for continuous automated monitoring and cloud management. Water quality data was collected from various sensor brands at different measuring points, linked by the ADAM-3600, and then summarized, averaged, resized, or otherwise preprocessed through WISE-PaaS/EdgeLink. Finally, the processed key data was transmitted via MQTT to the Azure cloud platform at the designated interval.

ADAM-3600 supports a wide temperature range (-40 to 70 °C) and has 20 analog and digital I/O channels onboard. The flexibility of two Ethernet ports and two Wi-Fi/3G/GPRS/Zigbee-compatible wireless communication mini PCIe slots enabled users to select the most suitable transmission method for device-to-cloud connections.

WISE-PaaS/EdgeLink played a key role in this application. It supported multiple communications protocols (e.g., Modbus, DNP3, RESTful, MQTT) to connect with currently installed PLCs and the various sensors employed for physical signal collection. In addition, before sending data to the cloud platform, it preprocessed data according to user settings, thus reducing the data transmission volumes.

1.5 System Diagram

Video about ADAM-3600 Link to YouTube [ 28 min, ENG]. 

1.6 Why Choose Advantech's ADAM-3600 for Seamless Environmental Monitoring?

Advantech’s ADAM-3600 with WISE-PaaS/EdgeLink is a leading device in the field of environmental conservation and can satisfy the needs of environmental monitoring. System integrators may achieve device-to-cloud connectivity with simple settings on this compact RTU and shorten program development times. The RTU also handles many hardware product configurations and simplifies maintenance work. For data transmission, the breakpoint resume function ensures data accuracy and completeness. Multiple interface and modularization designs offer users expansion options according to the intended application.

Case study #2 - An OPC UA Solution for Wastewater Treatment Monitoring System

2.1 Background

Wastewater treatment involves a variety of processes and equipment, including screening, pumping, aeration, sedimentation, filtration, neutralization, chlorination, residual removal, sludge digestion, and effluent discharge. These operations require an automated monitoring system to ensure that all equipment functions properly. Such systems are crucial for protecting workers from potential exposure to pollutants, pathogens, or harmful chemicals.

For many years, Advantech has played a significant role as a supplier of data acquisition modules and other necessary products for developing intelligent SCADA systems in sewage treatment projects across Taiwan and globally. Their latest offerings support Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA), aiming to reduce costs associated with engineering and maintaining IoT networks while enhancing data security from field devices to cloud storage.

2.2 System Requirements

Deploying a remote system to monitor environmental and equipment operations at a wastewater treatment facility encounters significant environmental challenges. This is because numerous processing units within the plant are situated outdoors across a large area, making it challenging to establish data acquisition and transmission capabilities. Additionally, control units and older equipment located indoors may operate on disparate communication protocols, necessitating their integration to facilitate efficient data sharing.

2.3 Project Implementation

ADAM-6300 OPC UA-supported remote I/O module (e.g ADAM-6317-A1 OPC UA and Security Remote I/O_AI Module)
ICR-2431 4G/LTE cellular router / ICR-4453 5G router & gateway
ADAM-3600 all-in-one intelligent RTU
MIC-710AI edge computer
WISE-EdgeLink supported industrial gateway ECU-1000 series and switch (conditional)

2.4 System Description

Advantech recommends the ADAM-6300 series data acquisition I/O module for monitoring outdoor installations. This module supports wireless communication through cellular routers like the ICR-2431 or ICR-4453, and utilizes a daisy chain topology via Ethernet connection for simplified installation, reducing the need for additional switches. Equipped with a specially designed MCU, the ADAM-6300 module is Modbus-ready and supports OPC protocol, enabling it to gather parameter data from various field sensors and transmit this data directly to edge servers or cloud-based SCADA systems, eliminating the requirement for protocol gateways and thereby lowering deployment and maintenance costs. The ADAM-6300 module also features robust data security with encryption and certificate-based authentication provided by the OPC UA standard, supplemented by an additional security chip integrated into Advantech hardware.

Meanwhile, for indoor areas of wastewater treatment plants, Advantech's ADAM-3600 I/O system serves as an excellent choice. It functions as an iRTU (intelligent Remote Terminal Unit), capturing data from PLCs and other legacy equipment, and converting it into OPC UA format for seamless integration with cloud-based SCADA systems and AI-driven edge servers, ensuring reliable security. The ADAM-3600 system is equipped with an Arm-based processor and WISE-EdgeLink software, offering extensive protocol support including Modbus, PLC, MQTT, and OPC UA.

For those interested in implementing AI capabilities in their facilities, Advantech recommends the MIC-710AI edge server. This device facilitates the development of AI applications, enabling predictive maintenance and providing valuable insights for enhanced operational efficiency.

2.5 System Diagram

2.6 Why Choose Advantech for Your OPC UA Integration Needs?

OPC UA offers a cohesive platform for integrating diverse cross-platform devices, facilitating secure, direct communication between operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT). It has emerged as a highly cost-effective solution for deploying comprehensive environmental and equipment monitoring at scale. As a global leader in automation technology, Advantech offers a broad range of hardware and software products that fully support OPC UA. Partners across various markets can leverage these offerings to develop customized SCADA solutions, maximizing cost efficiency, flexibility, and scalability.

Water Conservation and Water Treatment Solution Catalog

Read about other Cloud-Enabled Remote Equipment Monitoring for Water and Wastewater Treatment Solutions in the "Water Conservation and Water Treatment Solution Catalog."

Download Water Conservation and Water Treatment Solution Catalog [ENG, .pdf]

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