The River Humber on the east coast of England forms a large tidal estuary. It is also the site of the famous Humber Bridge, which is the third longest single span suspension bridge in the world. There is significant industry on both banks of the river, as well as the city of Kingston-upon-Hull along with its major port, which handles both passenger/car ferries and cargo ships.
Associated British Ports is the Statutory Harbour Authority and among its responsibilities is the navigation in the estuary. There is a requirement to monitor tidal information of the river as well as on the tributaries of the Ouse and the Trent, for the production of charts to ensure the safe navigation of vessels.
This tidal measurement was originally made with ultrasonic sensors installed in 'stilling tubes' to protect the signal from the environment. However, these were occasionally unreliable due to blockage by large amounts of silt caused by the tidal movement as well as intermittent damage to the tubes often causing the units to cease functioning altogether.
View of original stilling tube with broken section in river below
A solution was sought and after a trial period, a number of non-contact Vegapuls 68 radar level transmitters were purchased to monitor the constantly changing river levels in the estuary.
A radar level gauge is ideal for this application. Unlike ultrasonic devices it does not normally need the installation of a stilling tube as it is unaffected by wind, temperature variation or sea conditions. In the past, a low frequency radar with a wider beam angle may have been used for this type of application. However, this new higher frequency device has been installed with excellent results. The advantages of the Vegapuls 68 is its lighter weight, a 100 mm/4" antenna and plastic housing which offers a much simpler and lower cost mounting arm system. In addition, the tighter focusing and longer range (up to 70 m) of this high frequency device means a much-reduced possibility of false echoes from dock walls and bridge supports. Being a '2 wire', loop-powered device also means lower power consumption, again an advantage when used in remote locations especially when combined with Vega's PACTware software for remote set up, trending and diagnostics.
Vegapuls 68 installed under River Humber Bridge
The trial unit was installed and tested on the Humber Bridge caisson. Further units have since been ordered and installed with plans to provide data to both the harbour office and local environment agency to ensure the safety of ship movements and the monitoring of river levels.
For more information contact Alan Wynn, Vega Instruments SA, +27 (0) 11 958 1901, alan.wynn@za.vega.com
‘Control Talk SA’ podcast with Emerson on level measurement for the mining industry Emerson Automation Solutions
Level Measurement & Control
Reliable level measurement is critical to keeping South African mines safe, productive and sustainable, but harsh conditions can make accurate readings challenging. In this Emerson podcast, Shivam Misra explores how advanced radar technology and remote monitoring are helping mines improve measurement reliability while reducing operator exposure to hazardous areas.
Read more...Precision solutions for extreme conditions VEGA Controls SA
Pressure Measurement & Control
VEGA’s VEGAPULS radar sensors, VEGABAR pressure transmitters and VEGASWING level switches deliver reliable measurement in chemical storage environments handling corrosive acids, alkalis and volatile hydrocarbons, with ATEX and IECEx certification for hazardous zones.
Read more...The hydrogen economy is moving from concept to industrial reality VEGA Controls SA
Editor's Choice Pressure Measurement & Control
Scaling the hydrogen economy requires safe, efficient and tightly controlled processes across generation, storage, distribution and end use, underpinned by accurate instrumentation for pressure, temperature, level and flow measurement.
Read more...VEGA leads Africa’s next mining era VEGA Controls SA
Level Measurement & Control
Africa’s mines demand instrumentation that performs under extreme conditions, and VEGA’s level, pressure, point-level and density solutions are engineered to deliver exactly that. From flotation circuits to tailings management, its technologies help operations convert reliable process data into measurable gains in productivity, safety and control.
Read more...Inductive ring sensors monitor material flow in feeding technology ifm - South Africa
Level Measurement & Control
Inductive ring sensors detect metallic parts moving through tubes at up to 35 m/s, whatever their size, enabling precise counting, flow control and reliable detection of blockages or misfeeds.
Read more...VEGA pressure instrumentation supports resilient water network management VEGA Controls SA
Pressure Measurement & Control Flow Measurement & Control
As rapid urbanisation and climate pressures strain water networks across Africa, accurate real-time pressure monitoring has become a strategic necessity. VEGA’s pressure instrumentation helps utilities reduce losses, protect infrastructure and meet sustainability targets.
Read more...Groundwater level measurement using LoRa module Instrotech
Level Measurement & Control
Monitoring groundwater levels across large industrial sites is critical. Salzgitter Digital Solution was tasked with developing a fully automated and digital monitoring system using Long Range Wide Area Network technology.
Read more...Where corrosion meets control VEGA Controls SA
Level Measurement & Control
Reliable level measurement is essential in copper and cobalt processing, and at KCC, VEGA Controls is helping ensure uninterrupted operations with robust vibrating level switch technology.
Read more...Safety, hygiene and quality management for Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industry VEGA Controls SA
Level Measurement & Control
VEGA sensors support critical processes in pharmaceutical manufacturing such as fermentation, purification, formulation, filling, storage and CIP/SIP cleaning cycles. Their design ensures that pharmaceutical manufacturers can maintain sterility, reduce downtime and achieve consistent batch quality, even in demanding production environments.
Read more...Level measurement for hygienic applications Endress+Hauser South Africa
Level Measurement & Control
Endress+Hauser’s Liquiphant is considered to be the most reliable and safe point level detector in industrial plants. The latest generation of devices is ready for Industry 4.0 and, with the Liquiphant FTL63, is ideally suited for applications with hygienic requirements.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version