Sensors & Controls

Providing long-term reliability

for Blackwater sensing.

Sensors & Controls

PROVIDING LONG-TERM RELIABILITY FOR BLACKWATER SENSING

1. Introduction
Contents
2. Problems for sensors...
3. ...and the issues they cause
4. Potential answers to the problems
5. A new approach
6. Proof
7. Conclusion

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1. Introduction Reliable measurement of all types of Black and Grey water tanks, without regular
inspection and cleaning of the level sensors, is an ongoing challenge.

Currently there are a number of differing products available that attempt to overcome the
unique difficulties of Blackwater measurement, including contact and non-contact sensors,
with some located on the outside of the tank.

Since 2006, the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) has required that new vessels have provision
for a holding tank to be fitted and conventions including MARPOL and HELCOM impose
restrictions on what can and cannot be discharged depending on vessel size and location.

Additionally, national legislation imposes restrictions on discharges and the facilities a vessel
needs for entering their waters. However, it is not a consistent picture and some additional
information can be found via the RYA and BoatUS Foundation.

These increasing requirements for holding tanks for Blackwater and in some cases Greywater,
mean that sensors are required to monitor the levels within these tanks, as overflow can have
unpleasant consequences for both the vessel user and the marine environment.

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2. Problems for sensors... Sensing the level of Blackwater presents a number of problems.

The first is simply what is contained within Blackwater. Apart from water there is primarily
human solid and liquid waste and paper. It could also contain cleaning agents, detergents and
other chemicals, depending on the individual circumstances. Obviously, the liquids/solids ratio
will vary, as will the state of decomposition.

This is an aggressive mixture and being on a vessel it can also be subject to considerable
sloshing around the tank, which means that any part of the tank or equipment in it can come
into contact with the contents.

Additionally, the contents could be in the tank for a number of days, plus there is the issue of
vessels being laid-up over winter. Although the tanks will have been pumped out before
storage, there is the likelihood that there will be a residue remaining in the tank for a prolonged
period leading to hardened deposits.

Finally, there is the fact that holding tanks are almost exclusively located in the bottom of the
vessel where access is difficult- typically access hatches can be located in kitchen and bedroom
floors-with little or no space around the tanks. This also results in the tanks being an irregular
shape which complicates the ability of sensors to provide a true volumetric measurement.

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3. ...and the issues they cause The two principal effects these harsh conditions have on sensors are accuracy and
reliability. Failure of either of these attributes can have obviously undesirable effects.

Accuracy can be affected simply by pieces of paper within the tank sticking to a sensor and
blocking inlet/outlet holes. This can occur even if the sensor has an additional outer shield to
protect the sensor from the solid contents in the tank.

More widely, any sensor with moving parts - (e.g. floats or swinging arms) - or those with holes
to allow a flow of liquid to be measured can stick or clog from accumulated solids residue,
leading to a false level measurement.

Even non-contact sensors such as Ultrasonics can slowly be coated with solid matter from
sloshing in the tank which dries to render the sensor inoperable. The effect of an accumulation
of dried material on surfaces can also affect the accurate measurement from a sensor by, for
example, causing floats to completely seize up.

A combination of human waste and chemicals also forms a very corrosive mixture which will
quickly corrode any metallic components including, over time, some stainless steels. If a sensor
is manufactured from a poor quality plastic , the surface could become pitted and cracked,
which will not only affect the smooth operation of a float, but also provide a ‘key’ for dried
residue to accumulate.

Inaccuracy or unreliability will ultimately lead to an incorrect reading which, if it results in

overfilling, will end with the tank overflowing either through an inspection hatch or through
the lavatory. The consequences of this do not require any elaboration.

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4. Potential answers to the problems The actions to help prevent sensor failures currently centre on periodic maintenance,
which can involve accessing the tank.

Cleaning either the tank or the sensor, or both, on a regular basis is the best way of minimising
the likelihood of sensor failure. There are many methods suggested for cleaning a tank, from
adding fabric softener through to putting ice cubes into the tank to scour it out. However, as
a minimum it is widely recommended to quarter fill the tank with fresh water and take the
vessel out to slosh the water around and then empty, preferably each time the holding tank is
pumped out.

There are also chemical additives that can be added to help keep the tank clean and minimise
sludge build-up. For particularly contaminated tanks using a high pressure water jet through
the tank inspection hatch is also suggested, as is making sure the tank vent points are kept
clear.

Another alternative is to use sensors that are applied to the outside of the tank getting over the
issues of clogging and contamination. The only factors to be aware of here is that installing and
accessing them could be very difficult in the confined spaces at the bottom of the vessel and
that they do not work on metallic tanks. They also need to be kept clear from any metallic
objects, a minimum clearance of 50mm is typical.

However, depending on the type of sensor and its location within the tank, even these
measures may not be sufficient to keep the sensor clean enough to maintain reliable operation.
Indeed, a high pressure water jet or some of the additives that can be added to the tank may
either damage or degrade the sensor further, inhibiting its operation.

To solve the problems of long-term sensor reliability and accuracy in such a difficult
environment, really requires a sensor that is designed specifically for the Blackwater tank that
addresses all of the problems that the sensor will confront.

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5. A new approach The three principal factors that prevent a liquid level sensor in a Blackwater tank from
providing reliable, maintenance-free measurements are coating, corrosion and clogging.

Gill Sensors & Controls has created a new Blackwater level sensor that tackles these problems
head-on, using a proven capacitive measurement technology, combined with innovative
thinking.

Firstly, capacitive measurement is a solid-state technology and does not use any moving parts.
Consisting of a smooth probe without any holes for fluid flow in it, the sensor immediately
defeats the complication of the sensor becoming jammed or clogged by solids preventing
operation.

Secondly, by covering the probe in a non-stick, chemically inert coating means that the sensors
operation and performance will not be degraded by a build-up of dried solids over time. It also
means that it is unaffected by the corrosive effects of the waste and any chemicals which may
have also been added to the tank.

These principal features ensure that by eliminating the cause and effects of coating, corrosion
and clogging the sensor does not require the periodic cleaning or maintenance that other
sensors require.

Capacitive measurement also delivers additional performance benefits. The measurement

reading is a continuous, step-free output from empty to full rather than providing only one, two
or three measurement points that many sensors offer.

The probe element of the sensor which goes into the tank has also been engineered to be
robust and rigid enough to withstand the considerable forces that will be placed upon it by
sloshing of the contents in rough seas.

Finally, the outputs from the sensor have been configured to make sure it is compatible with
existing gauges and systems display screens.

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6. Proof To ensure that the new Gill Blackwater sensor does provide the resilience to coating,
corrosion and clogging that the application requires, it was essential that it was tested
over an extended time period in demanding conditions.

To this end a prototype sensor was installed on an automated test rig that would prove it would
not require cleaning or facilitate the build-up of any black water deposits on the sensor probe
such that a change in sensor output would occur.

The probe was dipped into Blackwater for 5 seconds and then allowed to air dry for 120
minutes in a continuous cycle. The probe was visually checked for a build-up of scum/debris.

After 12 months of testing the voltage output of the sensor was unchanged. Additionally, there
was no evidence of corrosion on any component or scum/debris build-up on the sensing
probe.

The testing is ongoing to cover a 24 month period.

The Blackwater storage tank with After 6 months it can be seen

the access cover removed showing that the sensor probe was clean
the typical contents the sensor was and free from scum/debris
tested in. build-up.

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PROVIDING LONG-TERM RELIABILITY FOR BLACKWATER SENSING

7. Conclusion The need and legislative requirement for Black and Grey water holding tanks on vessels
is increasing and, consequently, so is the need for sensors to monitor the levels of
liquid in these tanks. Reliable and accurate sensors are required for any application but,
because of the unpleasantness of the contents of Blackwater tanks, these attributes
become even more critical to prevent overflow and spillage.

There are a number of sensors available that use a selection of technologies to measure the
levels within these tanks. However, the typical contents of a Blackwater tank provides unique
challenges that means these sensors can struggle to provide long-term, reliable measurement
without regular maintenance interventions.

Gill wanted to determine if these difficulties could be overcome to provide users with the
reliability and accuracy they require. By exploiting their experience of capacitive technology
and combining it with innovative materials to eliminate the problems Blackwater poses to
sensors, Gill have developed a product fit for purpose.

It is one thing to produce a product that works in the unrealistic environment of a factory, but
another to prove it in a long-term test in a real environment. By putting the new sensor through
a rigorous test procedure in true Blackwater, you can be confident that a real answer has been
developed to this long-standing and challenging problem.

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Notes Notes

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Gill Sensors & Controls Limited

Unit 600 Ampress Park,
Lymington,
Hampshire, UK
SO41 8LW

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