If you manage or maintain a water or wastewater treatment facility, you know that clarifier downtime can be costly – and often completely avoidable. That’s where SmartGuard, Brentwood’s collector monitoring system for chain and flight scraper systems, comes in. Here’s all the information you need to know about it:
What is SmartGuard?
SmartGuard is an advanced monitoring system designed to protect chain and flight sludge collectors from mechanical failure by identifying early signs of system overload, flight misalignment, and sprocket motion loss. Unlike traditional shear pin or torque-based systems that only detect failure after it happens, SmartGuard gives operators a chance to address issues before critical damage occurs.
What Does It Monitor?
SmartGuard monitors both the motion and alignment of a collector, helping to prevent the following issues from turning into large scale system failures:
Collector chain or attachment link breakage or failure.
Collector chain skipped sprocket tooth or flight misalignment.
Chain derailment due to foreign object in the clarifier.
Overall system overload.
This wide-reaching control allows SmartGuard to function as a comprehensive protection system for your entire sludge collection setup.
How Does It Work?
SmartGuard operates using two key subsystems:
1.Sprocket Motion Monitoring (SMM)
Sensors located at the lower-rear idlers track sprocket motion. As the sprockets rotate, embedded magnets pass the sensors and send motion signals to the control panel, where a PLC evaluates timing on both sides of the collector. If motion falls outside preset limits, indicating a jam, overload, or obstruction, the system automatically shuts down. This monitoring allows the collector to stop after minimal chain travel, helping prevent damage to chains, flights, attachments, and other critical components.
2. ChainCheck™ Pin and Flight Monitoring
Sensors are installed near the head shaft where flights pass over. Each flight is fitted with a magnet-embedded pin at its attachment point. As the pin passes a sensor, alignment data is gathered.
ChainCheck software accurately determines whether the chain has skipped any sprocket teeth on one side or if the flights are misaligned, without the use of mechanical sensors. If the system detects a potential issue, it alerts the control panel and can initiate a system shutdown to prevent damage.
Why is SmartGuard Important?
Preventative maintenance is always more affordable than emergency repairs. SmartGuard helps water and wastewater plants:
Avoid costly downtime
Prevent chain, flight, and component damage
Detect early warning signs that other systems can’t
Protect against irregular sludge loads, concrete shifting, and dropped objects
By identifying problems before they lead to failures, SmartGuard offers peace of mind and increased equipment longevity.
Is SmartGuard Easy to Use?
SmartGuard is simple to install and easy to operate. It’s equipped with a control panel that integrates into your existing system or can serve as a standalone control hub. Real-time data and alerts are easily accessible, allowing you to stay on top of your system performance without extra hassle.
Why Choose SmartGuard?
Brentwood has decades of experience in water and wastewater treatment, and SmartGuard reflects that expertise. With its strategic sensor placement and innovative design, it delivers early detection, reliable protection against a wide range of failure causes, total system monitoring with one integrated solution, and is built for long-term protection – and for peace of mind.
Click here to learn more about SmartGuard and the evolution of collector monitoring systems.
Sensors are installed near the head shaft where flights pass over. Each flight is fitted with a magnet-embedded pin at its attachment point. As the pin passes a sensor, alignment data is gathered.
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