SYCON 2702

SYCON 2702 – Titration device for measuring water hardness

Why does water hardness need to be measured precisely?

In many areas of water treatment, simple limit value monitoring is not sufficient. If you want to operate a water softener or reverse osmosis system economically and safely, you need exact water hardness measurements – not just a good/bad statement. Only with a quantitative measured value can trends be identified, system performance assessed and regeneration cycles optimized.

A gradual increase in residual hardness indicates a decreasing capacity of the ion exchanger – long before a breakthrough occurs. Similarly, the retention value of the membranes in a reverse osmosis system can only be reliably assessed if the permeate and feed hardness are quantitatively known. Precise measurement enables predictive maintenance and avoids unplanned downtime.

What is the SYCON 2702?

The SYCON 2702 from RLS Wacon is a fully automatic online titration device for the quantitative measurement of total hardness or carbonate hardness (acid capacity KS 4.3) in process and industrial water. In contrast to the SYCON 2602, which only provides a limit value statement, the SYCON 2702 determines the exact hardness value within the selected measuring range for each analysis. In addition, the device monitors a freely programmable limit value and signals whether it is exceeded or not via potential-free relay outputs.

The SYCON 2702 has an analog current interface (0-20 mA or 4-20 mA) that can output the current measured value or the device status to a PLC or building management system. This makes it ideal for integration into higher-level control and monitoring systems.

How does the SYCON 2702 work?

The SYCON 2702 works according to the principle of the colorimetric titration method. For each analysis, a water sample is automatically fed into the measuring cell. The Reagent (H25 series for total hardness or C25 series for carbonate hardness) is then dosed into the sample step by step. A maintenance-free RGB full color sensor in combination with a white high-power LED evaluates the progressive color change.

The device calculates the exact hardness concentration of the water sample from the dosed amount of indicator. The measured values are shown on the graphic color display and automatically logged on an SD card. In addition, the current measured value can be transmitted to a PLC via the analog 4-20 mA output.

After the measurement, the measuring cell is automatically flushed with line pressure. Before each analysis, the color sensor uses a zero sample to automatically compensate for ambient light, contamination and turbidity. An integrated self-diagnosis with plausibility monitoring of the sensor data ensures additional operational safety. If limit values are exceeded, a control measurement can be repeated automatically to avoid false alarms caused by counter-ion effects.

Measuring accuracy and reproducibility

The SYCON 2702 achieves a measuring accuracy of ± 5 % of the measuring range end value of the Reagent used with a repeatability of ± 2.5 %. The analysis time is approx. 3 minutes depending on the degree of hardness and rinsing time. At least 10,000 analyses are possible per 500 ml bottle of Reagent – with a consumption of less than 0.05 ml per analysis for soft water. The measured values can be displayed in six units: °dH, °f, ppm CaCO₃, mmol/l, °e and °Zh.

Advantages of the SYCON 2702

• Exact determination of measured values by titration method

  Quantitative determination of water hardness – not just the limit value, but the actual hardness value

• High measuring accuracy: ± 5 %, repeatability ± 2.5 %

  Reliable results for process monitoring and documentation

• 11 measuring ranges for total hardness (0.012-30 °dH), 4 for carbonate hardness (0.3-22.5 °dH)

  Wide selection of H25 and C25 Reagents for every application

• Analog output 0/4-20 mA for PLC connection

  Measured value or status transmission to building management system, resolution < 100 µA, max. 750 Ω load

• Freely programmable limit value with control measurement

  Automatic repetition when limit values are exceeded to avoid false alarms

• Full color sensor with automatic zero adjustment

  Zero sample before every measurement – automatic compensation of ambient light, contamination and turbidity, no manual calibration needed

• Very low indicator consumption

  Less than 0.05 ml per analysis – at least 10,000 analyses per 500 ml bottle

• Fast analysis time of approx. 3 minutes

  More frequent measurement intervals possible than with the limit value method

• Simple commissioning using the installation wizard

  Step-by-step guidance on the 9-language graphic display

• Low maintenance effort

  Peristaltic pump technology and automatic rinsing – Maintenance set every 2 years or 30,000 analyses

• SD card for complete measured value logging

  All analysis results with time stamp – can also be used for software updates