Houston, TX – In the October meeting of the Houston Material Handling Society, Joe Lewis of Monitor Technologies LLC spoke about “Recent Directions in Level Monitoring & Measurement for Bulk Solids” and reminded the group of approximately 40 area engineers, representing nearly 1,000 years of material handling expertise, that while their companies may see them simply as a cost of doing business, they must take the initiative to show their employers that they indeed drive business performance improvements through process optimization. Quoting from a recent editorial in a key automation magazine Mr. Lewis said that “engineers must step up and assume a leadership role within their companies by helping drive new levels of business performance”. He further stated that the reason many companies don’t understand the true value of engineering is “because most financial systems cannot measure the improvements you generate”.
In the talk that Mr. Lewis presented to the HMHS group of engineers he discussed two directions in level measurement and monitoring of bulk solids where engineers can demonstrate the type of value they bring to their employers. These include the use of “self-validating bin level monitors” to prevent silo spills due to unknown high level indicator failures, and tips to ensure successful use and installation the most popular continuous level measurement technology for bulk solids, the guided wave radar level sensor. For more information please download the Word document and PowerPoint presentation from Mr. Lewis’s Level Measurement blog post at www.monitortech.typepad.com or contact Mr. Lewis at jlewis@monitortech.com or 1-800-766-6486.
Spotlight: True Fail-Safe Level Switch
SafePoint®
"True" Fail-Safe Level Switch
The
SafePoint rotary paddle level switch with a self-validating design
detects material presence plus continuously monitors its own ability
to function. The analysis includes sensor health and system power
failure, which makes the SafePoint truly “fail-safe”.
The SafePoint incorporates patented use of Hall-Effect technology,
dual outputs to indicate both material presence and unit health,
and microcontroller technology to continuously protect bulk solids
processing and storage from the consequences of unknown sensor
failure by providing immediate indication of a sensor failure
and confirmation of proper operation.
Other practical features of the SafePoint include rugged construction,
motor shut-off when paddle becomes impeded to maximize motor life, twist On/Off
cover for bolt free removal, and local status indicating light (except hazardous
location models)
A practical application for the SafePoint would be to use this "true"
fail-safe product if undetected sensor failure could result in a
catastrophic process problem.
