Flexar® Guided Wave Radar Reliably Measures Cement and Flyash
Flyash and cement powder can be difficult materials to measure within silos. The primary reason is the heavy amount of dust during filing. Measuring the level of these materials in their storage silos is important to cement production and users of cement such as concrete producers who also use flyash as an additive to concrete to improve the end product quality. For this reason, flyash processors, utilities that produce flyash, concrete producers and cement producers have all turned to guided wave radar and the Flexar® brand guided wave radar to measure the continuous changing level of flyash and cement powder in their storage silos. The success of Flexar guided wave radar in these applications has added to the proven nature of Flexar to continuously measure the level of dusty powders, even during filling.
The Flexar guided wave radar continuous level sensor uses TDR (time domain reflectometry) technology to continuously measure the level of a wide range of powders, granular and liquid materials. A continuous series of radar pulses is emitted and guided to the material surface by the heavy duty stainless steel cable probe. When the radar pulses reach the material surface they are reflected because of the change in dielectric constant. The time-of-flight of these radar pulses is measured and directly related to the distance measured.
Flexar continuous level sensors can provide RS485 digital communications output or 4-20mA/HART output. The RS485 can be connected to Monitor’s SiloTrack™ inventory management system. The 4-20mA/HART output can be connected into a plant control system or a local panel meter display. The Flexar unit can be powered by 115/230VAC or low voltage 24VDC.
Monitor Technologies LLC is a pioneer in the level measurement and monitoring of powders and bulk solids. For fifty years Monitor has developed, manufactured and applied a wider range of products and technologies to solve level measurement problems and to provide value driven products to a wide range of industries. For more information about the Flexar guided wave radar continuous level measurement sensor and other fine products from Monitor, please contact Joe Lewis or Emily Jones at 800-766-6486 in the USA or 630-365-9403. You can also visit our websites and Level Measurement blog at www.monitortech.com, www.flexar.info and www.typepad.monitortech.com.
Global Flour Processor Uses Flexar® Guided Wave Radar
A large global flour processor and food products company recently began using the Flexar® guided wave radar in a total of eighteen (18) silos and bins to manage their finished product inventory. Readings from these continuous level sensors is reported as being reliable and accurate, even during pneumatic filling, contrary to their previous measuring system. A previous non-performing ultrasonic system was replaced by the Flexar level sensors. Flexar guided wave radar level sensors were chosen as the best for pneumatically filled dust laden flour silos.
Eight (8) Flexar level sensors are installed in load-out silos that fill bulk trucks with processed and finished flour. These silos are 12ft in diameter and 35ft tall. The finished flour is pneumatically conveyed into these silos. During filling the internal environment of the silos is very dusty and turbulent. The finished flour in these silos is used for loading bulk transport trucks for distribution. In addition, ten (10) Flexar level sensors are installed in 40ft high bins that contain bran. This material is also sent by bulk transport to end users.
All of the Flexar level sensors are equipped with an RS485 digital communications output that is connected to a PC with a graphical user interface for inventory management purposes. Monitor’s SiloTrack™ inventory management software is used by the facility to monitor and manage material inventories of both the finished flour and the bran. SiloTrack allows for multiple user viewing and data access via LAN and this is how the facility will be using the software that provides a flexible, graphical user interface, alarms, report generation and history analysis functions.
Guided wave radar is especially well suited to level measurement applications of dusty powder materials even when measuring during pneumatic filling. Flexar guided wave radar utilizes TDR (time domain reflectometry) technology. Radar pulses are continuously transmitted down the sensor’s probe and guided to the material surface where they are reflected back to the electronics along the wave guide. The time-of-flight of the pulses is measured and directly related to the distance to the material surface and its level.
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