PULUODY OPC-2300 Online Waterborne Particle Counter

Overview

The PULUODY OPC-2300 Online Waterborne Particle Counter is an industrial-grade, real-time liquid particle monitoring system engineered for continuous, unattended operation in critical water treatment and process environments. It employs the light obscuration (LO) principle—where particles suspended in flowing liquid pass through a precisely collimated dual-laser narrow-beam optical sensing zone, generating transient signal pulses proportional to their cross-sectional area—to deliver quantitative, size-resolved particle concentration data. As a seventh-generation implementation developed under PULUODY Analytical Testing Group’s UK-based core technology framework, the OPC-2300 integrates high-stability photodetection architecture with temperature-compensated fluidics and pressure-rated wetted path design. Its primary deployment scope includes municipal drinking water facilities, wastewater reclamation plants, pharmaceutical water systems (PW, WFI), beverage production lines, and ultra-pure rinse stations—where compliance with particulate limits defined in ISO 4406, USP , and EU Annex 1 mandates traceable, auditable, and statistically robust particle counting.

Key Features

• 7th-generation dual-laser narrow-beam optical sensor with improved signal-to-noise ratio and reduced coincidence error at high concentrations
• Modular sensor configuration: interchangeable detection modules (A, B, C, H–N) enabling application-specific range selection from 0.1 µm to 2000 µm
• Real-time continuous sampling with flow-controlled bypass loop; no sample dilution or offline preparation required
• Integrated industrial LCD display with intuitive membrane keypad interface for local configuration, alarm threshold setting, and trend review
• Dual-output capability: isolated RS-232 serial communication for SCADA/DCS integration and 4–20 mA analog output for PLC-driven visual indicators or control relays
• Ruggedized IP65-rated enclosure with stainless-steel wetted parts, rated for continuous operation at up to 10 bar pressure and 60 °C fluid temperature
• Onboard data logging (≥30 days at 1-min intervals) with timestamped event tagging for alarm triggers, calibration actions, and maintenance logs

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The OPC-2300 is validated for use with low-viscosity aqueous media including potable water, deionized water, filtered process water, and clarified effluent streams. It is not intended for use with viscous fluids, emulsions, or suspensions containing air bubbles or highly absorptive pigments that compromise optical transmission. The instrument supports configurable pass/fail logic aligned with international standards: ISO 4406 (code-based reporting), ASTM D6786 (for hydraulic fluid cleanliness), ISO 11171 (calibration standard traceability), and USP (subvisible particle testing in injectables). Optional firmware modules allow embedding of customer-defined acceptance criteria—including multi-channel binning rules, cumulative/differential histograms, and alarm escalation protocols compliant with GMP/GLP audit requirements (e.g., 21 CFR Part 11 electronic record integrity).

Software & Data Management

The integrated embedded software provides local configuration via touchscreen or serial command set (ASCII protocol), supporting adjustable sampling duration, flow rate compensation, background noise subtraction, and automatic zero-drift correction. Raw pulse data are processed using proprietary pulse-height analysis algorithms to minimize sizing bias from non-spherical or translucent particles. Exported datasets include CSV-formatted time-series records with particle counts per size bin, total counts, and statistical summaries (mean, median, standard deviation). Optional PC-based PULUODY ParticleView™ software enables remote monitoring, historical comparison, SPC charting (X̄-R, CUSUM), and automated report generation compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 documentation requirements. All data modifications are logged with operator ID, timestamp, and reason code to satisfy GLP/GMP audit trail expectations.

Applications

• Real-time monitoring of filter integrity in municipal water distribution networks and membrane bioreactors (MBRs)
• Quantitative assessment of filtration efficiency across cartridge, sand, and ultrafiltration units
• Early detection of microbial shedding or biofilm detachment events via sub-5 µm particle surge analysis
• Validation of final rinse water quality in pharmaceutical clean-in-place (CIP) cycles
• Trend-based wear debris analysis in closed-loop cooling towers and boiler feedwater systems
• Supporting risk-based quality assessments per ICH Q5C and EU Annex 1 for water-for-injection (WFI) systems

FAQ

What particle sizing standards does the OPC-2300 support out-of-the-box?

The instrument natively implements ISO 4406:2017 coding logic and ASTM D6786 particle count classification. Calibration verification follows ISO 11171 using NIST-traceable latex sphere suspensions.
Can the OPC-2300 be installed directly into pressurized pipelines without external pumping?

Yes—it features a pressure-rated inlet manifold compatible with inline tee-connection and optional pressure-reducing flow control valves for direct integration into main distribution lines up to 10 bar.
Is the system compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for electronic records?

When configured with optional audit trail firmware and paired with PULUODY ParticleView™ v3.2+, full Part 11 compliance—including electronic signatures, role-based access control, and immutable log archiving—is achievable.
How often does the optical sensor require recalibration?

Under normal operating conditions, annual calibration against certified reference materials is recommended; however, built-in self-diagnostic routines monitor laser power stability and photodetector baseline drift daily.
Does the OPC-2300 support remote firmware updates?

Firmware upgrades are performed via secure USB flash drive import or authenticated Ethernet connection using TLS 1.2 encrypted transfer protocols.