Performance evaluation of the amperometric total residual oxidant sensor with the electrochlorination-based Ballast Water Management System.

Abstract

Nowadays, performance studies on the amperometric total residual oxidant (TRO) sensor are only in the bench test stage and have not been conducted under specific maritime conditions with Ballast Water Management System (BWMS). In this study, the application of the amperometric TRO sensor in land-based biological efficacy (BE) testing, operation and maintenance (O&M) testing, as well as shipboard (SB) testing, was explored by comparing with the existing di-phenylene-diamine (DPD) TRO sensor. The results showed that the average TRO measurement deviation between the amperometric sensor and the DPD sensor was within ±10% in valid BE test cycles and the O&M testing exceeding 47 operating hours. The TRO value measured by amperometric sensor exhibited significant fluctuations, but the improved control logic could achieve smoothing out the fluctuation, with stability comparable to or even higher than that of the DPD sensor. The practicality and reliability of the amperometric sensor in electrochlorination-based BWMS were further verified through SB testing.