German-based manufacturer, Walter Rau, specialises in customised vegetable fat and oil production. In addition to producing frying fats, the company also produces specialty fats for the baking confectionary and dairy industries. It also services the non-food market, focusing on fuels for cogeneration units, biodiesel and diesel substitutes.
The production facility is located adjacent to a harbour allowing materials such as sunflower oil, palm oil and coconut oil to be delivered via barges. Materials are loaded directly from barges to heated storage tanks for further processing. The raw oil is drawn from the storage tanks and then processed in the refinery to consumable edible oil.
Challenge
The raw oil in the tanks must be stored within specified temperature ranges to avoid quality issues and crystallisation. Each tank contains integrated heating coils that, however, can interfere with level measurement. Operators at the facility were using conventional float systems and wanted a more reliable and accurate level measurement system. In addition to ignoring obstructions in the tank, they also required the transmitters be unaffected by ambient conditions such as temperature while keeping the overall expenses to a minimum.
Solution
The Siemens Sitrans LR250 was installed on two tanks. It is a 2-wire non-contacting radar transmitter that measures the level of liquids and slurries accurately and is unaffected by temperature and atmospheric conditions. The high frequency (25 GHz) makes the LR250 ideally suited for accurate level measurements of liquids in storage tanks.
The devices are programmed via an infrared handheld programmer and the available approvals allow its use in hazardous locations. Remote programming is via the universal Simatic PDM software, offering extensive diagnostic and analysis functions via HART protocol. Level readings or diagnostic information can be viewed on the local display, for example, echo curves can be shown graphically on the unit.
Process Intelligence and the Auto-False-Echo suppression feature automatically ignore interferences from vessel obstructions such as the heating coil. Density variations of the product over the fluctuating temperature changes can be used to enhance the level measurement accuracy. Operators at Walter Rau AG installed continuous temperature measurement devices at different points in the storage vessels. The readings from these temperature devices combined with the measurement variables in the Siemens PLC and temperature versus density curves for the different products are calculated together to give the most accurate level readings possible. Level measurement inaccuracies caused by density changes become a thing of the past.
Benefits
Operators at Walter Rau AG are satisfied with the Sitrans LR250 for their level measurement needs. The 2-wire transmitter meant that no additional wiring was required and the small antenna allowed installation directly on the existing nozzles. Extensive welding and emptying and cleaning of the vessel was not required.
Integrating the Sitrans LR250 in the communications network gives Walter Rau operators precise and accurate readings of level in all of their storage tanks on a continuous basis. The system is maintenance free and provides reliable results regardless of the process conditions.
Siemens and HighByte partner to scale industrial AI Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Siemens is expanding its Industrial Edge ecosystem through a partnership with HighByte, enabling customers to connect, contextualise and transform data from operational technology and information technology sources to build AI models and applications at scale.
Read more...3D electrical systems design workflow for electromechanical innovation Siemens South Africa
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking IT in Manufacturing
Siemens has announced new 3D electrical design capabilities within its Capital software, enabling electrical and mechanical engineers to work concurrently in a shared 3D environment to reduce late-stage design changes and accelerate time to market for complex electromechanical products.
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...Building scalable hydrogen energy solutions Siemens South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Siemens has announced that H2 Core Systems, a startup focused on modular hydrogen-based energy systems, is using the Siemens Xcelerator platform of software and automation portfolio to design and manufacture compact, highly efficient hydrogen energy systems that generate and store clean energy where it is needed.
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.
Read more...Bringing physical AI to the factory floor by deploying humanoids in industrial operations Siemens South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
Siemens and Humanoid have marked a landmark milestone in the journey to bring physical AI from vision to industrial reality. Humanoid’s humanoid robothas been successfully tested in operations at Siemens’ electronics factory in Germany, performing autonomous logistics tasks.
Read more...Siemens ecosystem strengthens data and AI integration Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens has announced significant expansions to its Industrial Edge ecosystem, accelerating data and AI integration and releasing enhanced cybersecurity functionalities. These enable a seamless integration of IT and OT environments, optimise processes and reduce operational disruptions.
Read more...Level measurement of an acid dosing tank at a WWTP
Level Measurement & Control
Ferric chloride and other acids are essential chemical substances in water and wastewater treatment. To control the dosing of acid solutions, an Australian wastewater treatment plant uses a special container to store, mix and add these chemicals. The company opted in favour of KROHNE’s OPTIWAVE 1540 radar level transmitter
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