---
title: Smart PFM EXD Overview
description: A look at the Smart PFM EXD and what makes it stand out over traditional sample analysis techniques.
---

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1. [Knowledge Base](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge)
2. [SMART PFM Exd](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/smart-pfm-exd)

# Smart PFM EXD Overview

## A look at the Smart PFM EXD and what makes it stand out over traditional sample analysis techniques.

### **Smart EXD PFM 107 Overview**

Designed for installation in potentially explosive atmospheres, the SMART PFM EXD delivers the same measurement performance, functionality and outputs as the standard SMART PFM107, while providing the flameproof protection required for hazardous-area applications. 

![](https://hub.rivertrace.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Nov-10-2026-11-16-21-6047-AM.png?width=432&height=722&name=image-png-Nov-10-2026-11-16-21-6047-AM.png)

 

### **Overall construction details**

**![](https://hub.rivertrace.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Nov-10-2026-11-21-27-8345-AM.png?width=670&height=392&name=image-png-Nov-10-2026-11-21-27-8345-AM.png)**

### **Key Features**

**The SMART PFM EXD offers:**

- Hazardous-area certified flameproof Ex d enclosure
- Advanced microscopy-based oil-in-water measurement
- Automatic measuring cell cleaning
- Continuous real-time oil concentration monitoring
- 4-20 mA analogue output for remote indication and control systems
- Two configurable oil alarm relays
- Local LCD display with user interface
- Verification sample kit availability
- Five-year calibration interval
- Compliance with MEPC.107(49) requirements

The Smart PFM107 meets or exceeds all requirements set out by [MEPC.107(49)](https://rivertrace.com/library/mepc-10749-bilge-discharge/). The specifications in the table below are for our standard offering. 

![Smart PFM 107 data](https://hub.rivertrace.com/hubfs/image-png-Mar-17-2022-09-47-32-45-AM.png)

### **Typical Applications**

The SMART PFM107 EXD is particularly suited to applications where sample conditions are difficult, variable or highly contaminated.

### **Marine Applications**

**Common marine applications include:**

- Bilge water monitoring
- EGR drain water monitoring
- Machinery space drains
- Process drain monitoring
- Oily wastewater treatment systems

### **Offshore and Industrial Applications**

Typical industrial applications include:

- Produced water monitoring
- Refinery wastewater treatment
- Process water discharge monitoring
- Tank cleaning systems
- Industrial wastewater treatment plants
- Chemical processing facilities

### **When Should You Choose a SMART PFM107?**

The SMART PFM107 is particularly beneficial where:

- Water composition varies significantly
- High turbidity is regularly encountered
- Algae or bacterial growth affects sample quality
- Cleaning chemicals, detergents or process additives are present
- Conventional oil-in-water monitors are prone to false alarms
- Reliable oil measurement is required under challenging operating conditions

### **Verification Kit**

To support onboard performance verification, Rivertrace offers a Verification Sample Kit containing certified 10 +/- 3 ppm ppm and 20 +/- 3ppm  ppm reference samples.

These concentrations have been selected to straddle the typical 15 ppm alarm threshold, allowing operators to demonstrate that the analyser permits discharge below the alarm point while correctly preventing discharge above it.

The verification kit provides a simple and practical method of confirming analyser performance between calibration intervals.

The Factory calibration is valid for 5 years. The calibration can only be performed by Rivertrace at the Rivertrace factory or by specially trained and certified engineers on-site, renewing the calibration certificate for a further 5 years. 

 

### **How the SMART PFM107 Works**

The SMART PFM107 utilises backlit microscopy combined with advanced image analysis algorithms to directly identify and quantify oil droplets within a water sample.

A diffused light source illuminates the sample as it passes through the measuring cell. A digital imaging system captures a series of microscopic images which are analysed by proprietary software to determine:

- Oil concentration
- Oil droplet size
- Particle count
- Oil density within the sample

The calculated oil concentration is continuously displayed on the monitor LCD screen and transmitted through the available outputs.

### **Why** **choose Microscopy over traditional oil-in-water measurement techniques?**

Although the Smart PFM has very similar function to the Rivertrace Smart Bilge monitor and  OCMs from competing manufacturers, the Smart PFM107 is a very different analyser when it comes to performance, primarily designed for applications that call for an MEPC.107(49) approved analyser to be used in applications that fall outside of the standard bilge water discharges.

Typically, there are two main measurement techniques employed to measure oil in water, being **UV fluorescence** and  **scattered light**. These technologies are very common, with scattered light technology being far more widely utilized, and can perform very well in the right applications. 

**UV fluorescence** is extremely accurate when measuring known oils in known water, often offering +/- 0.1ppm accuracy estimates and better, depending on measurement range. It is important to read the small print with these analysers as the conditions that must be met to achieve these accuracies are typically very difficult to achieve in a real working environment, outside of laboratory conditions. This is ideally suited to drinking water applications and similar, where the composition of the sample is regular and predictable, without unknown contaminants. The downside to this technique is that when unexpected substances within the sample fluoresce, such as cleaning chemicals, soaps and BOP fluids, the UV fluorescence technique can give hugely inaccurate results. High calculated readings can be common and discharges of oil-free fluids can be prevented due to these false readings. 

**Scattered light** is predominantly used in bilge discharge or other dirty water applications where unknown substances may be found within the sample. This technique gives average to good accuracy across a wide range of sample conditions, however, anything that scatters light within the sample has the potential to increase the oil content reading (Solids behave very differently to oils and other light scattering contaminants so can usually be largely ignored by the algorithms calculating the oil content) . Accuracies around +/- 2.0ppm and better are usual and are generally quite reliable when used in the field. If a substance does not change the clarity of the sample, it is unlikely that the analyser will detect the substance as an oil or any other component that will raise the calculated value. The Achilles heel of scattered light measurement techniques is that if the sample contains non-emulsifying soaps, bacteria, algae or other contaminants that alter the turbidity of the sample, the monitor is likely to overread, preventing discharges of fluids that may be perfectly suitable to discharge. 

Here is where the Smart PFM, using Microscopy as its measuring technology steps up. 

**Microscopy** excels due to the silhouette of the oil content being visibly identified and measured, the optical clarity of the sample has very little impact on accuracy and is immune to algae, bacteria, dissolved chemicals and dissolved solids hindering the data capturing under the microscope, up to circa 160 NTU.

The Smart PFM107 continuously monitors and regulates the image intensity and sharpness at the digital camera that is obtaining the images of the sample through the microscope. As the turbidity of the sample fluctuates, the power to the backlight strobe increases and decreases to maintain a clear image suitable for shape detection of particles within the sample. 

![Smart PFM 107 readings](https://hub.rivertrace.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Mar-17-2022-11-34-28-92-AM.png?width=670&name=image-png-Mar-17-2022-11-34-28-92-AM.png)

As a high level overview of the method of image analysis, there are three main categories that particles fall into.

**Free Oil**  particles are typically spherical and give a circular silhouette with a dark centre.  

**Solids** can appear in many forms and are typically irregular with a dark centre. 

**Gas** bubbles within the sample behave like a lens and focus the backlight into a very bright centre. Often, the centre of a gas bubble is brighter than the surrounding clear water. 

This technique offers all of the advantages and positive behaviours of scattered light technology with the additional benefit of  handling the turbid water that can usually be found in applications where water may stay static for extended periods of time, harbouring algae or bacteria blooms or water that has been contaminated with other chemicals, BOP fluids etc. that will increase sample  turbidity up to approximately ~160 NTU.  Chemicals and other non-oil based substances that fluoresce will also pass through the Smart PFM107 unnoticed, resulting in a very reliable measuring technique that will not leave the operator with a quantity of water that they cannot discharge due to false high readings. 

### [Maintenance schedule](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/smart-pfm-mk1-maintenance-schedule)

The SMART PFM107 EXD has been designed for minimal operator intervention and incorporates an automatic measuring-cell cleaning cycle. Cleaning intervals can be configured through the user interface to suit application requirements.

**Routine maintenance should include:**

- Visual inspection of the analyser
- Verification of sample flow
- Inspection of sample tubing and fittings
- Periodic verification using the Rivertrace Verification Sample Kit

 

### Spare parts

| **Item** | **Quantity** | **Part number** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Cell wiper ring** | **1** | **111722** |
| **Cleaning Kit** | **1** | **111023** |
| **Desiccators** | **2** | **112070** |
| **LCD display module** | **1** | **111580** |
| **3 way valve (24V AC/ DC)ATEX  S/S** | **1** | **111694** |
| **ATEX Pilot Operated Solenoid valve 5/2, (24V DC)** | 1 | **111928** |
| **Calibration verification Kit** | **1** | **112137** |

 

 

 

- [Smart ODME](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/smart-odme)
- [SmartBilge](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/smartbilge)
- [Smart Bilge+ Plus](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/smart-bilge-plus)
- [Smart PFM](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/smart-pfm)
- [OCD CW](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/ocd-cw)
- [Smart ESM](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/smart-esm)
- [OCD Xtra](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/ocd-xtra)
- [Smart 50M](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/smart-50m)
- [Smart Turbidity](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/smart-turbidity)
- [Sample conditions and general techniques](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/sample-conditions-and-general-techniques)
- [General FAQs](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/general-faqs)
- [Key MEPC Regulations and Rivertrace Solutions](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/key-mepc-regulations-and-rivertrace-solutions)
- [OCD CM](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/ocd-cm)
- [SMART PFM Exd](https://hub.rivertrace.com/knowledge/smart-pfm-exd)

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