Asphalt, which is manufactured in asphalt mixing plants for the construction and road building industry, consists mainly of bitumen and gravel of different grain sizes. Other materials, such as binders, sand, stone chips and special additives are also mixed in.
Depending on the temperature and the mixing ratio, the final product is either a tar-like liquid or a relatively solid material. Composition and properties vary depending on what the asphalt is used for.
The mixture is prepared in an electronically controlled process in which the individual components are brought together in a specific order and mixed. Temperatures up to 180°C, steam, intense filling noise, different repose angles as well as the extremely sticky and abrasive product place heavy demands on the level measuring system.
In order to maintain the quality of the asphalt mixture for an extended period, the asphalt is stored in temperature controlled containers. Vega’s radar sensor VegaPuls 68 monitors the level continuously without touching the medium and unaffected by the difficult conditions, ensuring a smooth production process.
VegaPuls also monitors the level during filling and emptying. The level data is forwarded to the downstream VegaMet 381 signal conditioning instrument and displayed there. This unit also provides a switching contact as dry-run alarm to prevent the feed unit from running empty. By using these systems in conjunction with one another, optimal utilisation of the costly container volume is ensured.
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