In the cement industry, the problems associated with accurately measuring cement levels in massive silos due to the concentration of dense dust at the Lafarge cement production facility in Lichtenburg have been overcome with the installation of the Siemens Sitrans LR400 level measurement radar. Following an initial test period with a single unit that is still working faultlessly two years later, the company placed an order for 22 Sitrans LR400s.
Koen Joubert, managing director of Siemens distributor, SJ Selective Controls, says that although there is a great deal of competition in the level measurement market with a number of different technologies and products available, rigorous evaluation by Lafarge established that no other device was able to match the accuracy and reliability of the Sitrans LR400 in that difficult operating environment.
"Because of the nature of cement storage, there is a lot of dust swirling around within the silo, making accurate level measurement extremely difficult," says Joubert. "After testing various ultrasonic and rope level measurement systems with little success, we installed a Sitrans LR400 level measurement system that makes use of radar technology to precisely measure the level of cement in the silos. Not only has the unit delivered consistently accurate measurements, it has continued to work without any problems at all in very adverse conditions."
Confirming this opinion, Giel Steyn, instrument foreman at Lafarge, said the Sitrans LR400 had been tested by the company in France with much success, prompting the local operation to follow the same route. "We also tried a number of other radar level measurement devices, but kept getting incorrect level readings," says Steyn. "After testing the LR400 for a year and a half, it is still operating perfectly over two years later."
Andrew Wasserman, product promoter for Siemens Automation and Drives, says the ability of the Sitrans LR400 to penetrate dust makes it ideal for applications on flour, fly-ash, carbon black, powders and other dusty materials. "In the cement industry, homogenising silos produce extreme dust conditions as material is constantly fed and aerated for proper mixing," he says. "The Sitrans LR400 even penetrates severe dust to provide reliable readings that help improve plant efficiency and reduce operating costs."
He adds that high power, high frequency and narrow beam angle combine to produce excellent reflection characteristics and exceptional measurement performance on virtually any solids medium, regardless of the particle size, with the strong signal-to-noise ratio and advanced echo-processing technology producing reliable readings even through severe dust. "The Sitrans LR400 is also virtually unaffected by vapours, high pressure or extreme temperatures, making it highly reliable even in adverse conditions," he said.
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