Online Oil-in-Water Monitors
Follow hydrocarbon changes continuously, support process alarms and investigate contamination between routine grab samples.
Continuous information for an operational decision
An online oil in water monitor is a starting point when operators need to know that a process condition has changed, rather than waiting for the next collected sample. The measurement should be linked to a clear action: investigate an oil leak, review treatment performance or assess a change at an intake. For a complete selection overview, read our oil-in-water monitor guide.
The TD-120 uses fluorescence to monitor a flowing water sample. PMA can help review whether its optical configuration, sample installation and calibration suit the hydrocarbon and water matrix. An installation should be specified as a complete sampling and response arrangement, not just an instrument on a wall.
Explore the relevant products
TD-120 online monitor
Continuous oil-in-water measurement with a remote flowcell and outputs for plant monitoring. Configuration is application dependent.
Portable verification
Use a TD-560, or a TD-550 for suitable targets, to investigate collected samples alongside the continuous measurement.
Specify the measurement and the response together
Representative sample delivery
Choose a sampling point that represents the water you intend to protect or control. Review sample-line length, flow, pressure, temperature and conditioning needs: transport to the sensor contributes to the overall response time.
Calibration and alarm settings
Identify the likely hydrocarbon and agree the expected normal background. Alarm thresholds should reflect the process and the actions operators will take; a single generic setpoint is not appropriate for every site.
Plant integration and upkeep
Review the available 4–20 mA output and optional communications against the control-system requirements. Include access for checking and cleaning the flowcell, verification samples and a procedure for responding to unexpected readings.
Frequently asked questions
Where is continuous oil monitoring useful?
Typical starting points include produced-water treatment, refinery wastewater, cooling systems and condensate applications. The suitability of a particular installation depends on the hydrocarbon, water matrix, operating conditions and required measurement range.
Does a fast sensor guarantee an instant plant alarm?
No. The complete response includes sample transport, conditioning, sensor response and control-system handling. Review the whole sample path when the intended action depends on detecting a short contamination event.
Will one calibration cover every oil?
Not necessarily. Different hydrocarbons can produce different fluorescence responses. A representative calibration and an understood background are important, particularly where the oil composition or process stream can change.
Is the TD-120 a compliance-approved laboratory replacement?
Do not assume that an online reading replaces a required laboratory method. It can support operational monitoring and investigation; the relationship to a reporting method must be established for the application.
Related monitoring options
Produced-Water Oil Monitoring
Track oil carryover through produced-water treatment and combine continuous trends with targeted sample checks.
Refinery Wastewater Oil Monitoring
Investigate hydrocarbon carryover in refinery wastewater and choose monitoring around the stream, oil and operating decision.
Cooling-Water Oil Leak Detection
Monitor cooling-water hydrocarbon changes to support earlier investigation of heat-exchanger leaks and process contamination.
Portable vs online
Understand the differences between collected-sample testing and continuous monitoring.
Discuss your application with PMA
Share the target hydrocarbon, concentration range, sample flow, temperature and pressure, plus your required output and alarm action. PMA can review the complete online monitoring requirement.