Development of an on-line monitor for mercury

Author

Edward B. Flanagan

Date of Award

3-1986

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Electrical Engineering

Major Professor

Donald W. Bouldin

Committee Members

R. E. Bodenheimer, M. J. Roberts

Abstract

At the Oak Ridge Y-12 plant, a weapons production facility operated by Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. for the Department of Energy, mercury contamination problems indicated the need for a real-time automatic analyzer for mercury in effluent waters. The project for designing, and building such an instrument was taken on by the Instrument Development Group of the Y-12 Plant Laboratory.

The instrument is capable of real-time on-line analysis of mercury in effluent water without the continuous need of an analyst. Other capabilities include remote reporting in case of an over limit condition, self-diagnostics of various instrument failures, and automatic self calibration.

The mercury monitor consists of a small, inexpensive single board computer which controls a medium complexity wet chemistry procedure for mercury analysis. The computer is programmed to implement instrument control, data acquisition, data manipulation, and reporting functions.

Recommended Citation

Flanagan, Edward B., "Development of an on-line monitor for mercury. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1986.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/13692