As a process management tool, the practical application of the information captured and graphically displayed by RoTRACK are myriad and, to a significant extent, limited only by the imagination of the user. Some of the more common applications and uses which are typically employed by system users include:

• Timely and Informed Decision Making

  RoTRACK provides line managers with the information necessary to rapidly and easily monitor system performance in real time, or historically. System performance can be monitored either while at the office, remotely from home, or while on business travel to confirm satisfactory performance; to assess the critically of any alarm condition, or to anticipate a maintenance requirement prior to when it becomes a serious problem. The timely availability of accurate and easily understood performance data enables managers to make rapid, well informed decisions concerning maintenance, corrective action for alarm conditions, or how best to cope with changing demands from water users.

• Monitoring of Multiple Systems From a Central Location

  Managers, whether working for a service company or at a large industrial site with multiple systems in operation, often have a critical need to be able to monitor multiple systems from a single - and frequently remote - location. The RoTRACK system allows a manager with multi-system responsibility to view and assess performance for multiple systems; whether located across town, across the country, or over-seas; without leaving his office. The system can also be easily configured to automatically "check-in" at remote locations at regular intervals for routine monitoring and reporting updates.

• Predict Critical Maintenance for Improved Reliability and Minimal Disruption

  Membrane and deionization systems rarely crash without providing prior warning which can be observed in data plots. Trending and trend analysis, therefore, is an invaluable tool to avoid unscheduled shutdowns, quality issues arising from off-spec water, and an atmosphere of crisis management. For many critical applications, system crashes can place high revenue stream manufacturing operations at considerable risk. Properly used, RoTRACK can minimize (if not eliminate) system crashes by providing accurate and timely plots of declining trends - so that timely corrective action can be taken prior to system failure. Critical maintenance items, such as filter backwashes, RO membrane cleanings, and ion exchange regeneration can be predicted and maintenance scheduled with a minimum performance loss, disruption, and the associated costs arising from urgent maintenance activities.

• System Optimization for Improved Operating Economics and Reliability

  High purity water systems can be expensive to operate and maintain. This is particularly true where membrane and resin life are shortened due to operational problems which could have been avoided by proactive management. It is fundamental to proactive management that accurate, timely data be available; and presented in an easily understandable format. RoTRACK has proven itself an invaluable tool to optimize reverse osmosis membrane performance, to extend membrane life, and to maximize ion exchange resin service cycles.

• Diagnosis and Troubleshooting Using Historical Tending and Analysis

  Accurate data is fundamental to understanding and correcting operational or reliability problems. RoTRACK generated historical trending plots provide the graphical displays necessary for in depth analysis to identify operational problems which lead to failure. Pretreatment, pH, and conductivity excursions can be readily observed and such events correlated to performance declines. The alarm report can readily highlight process parameters that are not well in control. This information is especially useful where off-site expertise may be required to solve a particular problem.