Essential in many industrial processes upon which we all depend is accurate level measurement. It’s required in any industrial process employing liquid or solid raw materials; usually in storage or during processing second-by- second. The only connection that you might think there is between brewing and pharmaceuticals is that you’ll need the painkillers is if you sink too many pints over the weekend! However, both rely heavily on the use of accurate level switch technology to assure production is to a consistently high standards.
Level Transmitters are used in beer making where fresh barley is reserved in silos that are always being emptied and refilled. Vital to getting each recipe right is knowing exactly how much is in each silo without constantly opening and reopening. This is also true in terms of the pharmaceutical industry as umpteen dry ingredients for medicines are kept in vessels for varying periods. It is critical to know how much how much to draw off and what is left to make sure to draw off and what is left. The technology used is ideal for liquids that are either too hot or too corrosive to measure through direct contact, like bitumen and as there is no contact required, they are very hygienic.
Ultrasonic level In all production processes measuring technology has made great inroads exploited a variety of solids, from powders to granules. Where non-contact measurement is key to determine the avoidance of contamination. An ultrasonic piezo electric transducer generates a short sound pulse, which is transmitted to and reflected from the product surface. The elapsed time period between transmission and reception of the signal is measured and converted into level or volume. The most sophisticated (and not necessarily the most expensive either) ultrasonic level sensors use dynamic signal processing software to filter out obstructions, agitator blades and false signals for a highly accurate level measurement.