How to Get Longer Life Out of Your pH Sensor

If measuring pH levels is essential to your work, you’ve probably often wondered how to get a longer life out of your pH sensors. They’re a necessary part of the work, but the more frequently they have to be replaced, the higher those maintenance costs mount.

Sensor Size and Why it Matters

Ideally, you want your submersible pH sensor to have a full-inch internal diameter. Increasing the junction surface area of your submersible pH sensor reduces plugging for easier maintenance. The one-inch configuration provides for a substantial increase in electrolyte volume. This increase in volume will result in increased life for your submersible ph sensor. Using this larger internal diameter is a fantastic way to retain an accurate readout while still getting longer life out of your pH sensor.

Keeping Contaminants Out

Without proper precautions, ions can migrate from the process to the reference cell. This results in a “poisoning” that causes a measurement drift. Particulate particles found in slurries can also clog the device and prevent measurements related to the reference. A well-designed insertion pH sensor will take steps to prevent this. One very durable pH sensor design involves using wood as a filtration system. Borrowing from nature in this way allows the sensor to remain effective for longer. This filtration system is highly effective at extending the life of your sensors and saving you money in the long run.

Prevent Fouling Through Use of Coatings

You can utilize a configuration using flat glass for your insertion pH sensor. Avoid using any kind of guarding for processes that tend to scale or coat. This configuration reduces the available surface area to limit contaminants that can begin to build up during the process. The result is a much more durable pH sensor that will last longer and provide accurate results. There are also surface treatments that can help to mitigate scale and other film buildups. All of these coatings and treatments are highly effective at extending the life of your sensors without compromising the accuracy of the readouts.

Having accurate readings from your pH sensor is essential to running your business. If you’re tired of replacing pH sensors and the costly delays that follow, IC Controls is working hard to minimize wear and tear with our durable pH sensor. Our products have been purpose built for the rigorous demands of processed water industries so check out our website today to see how our products can improve your maintenance budget.