Level Measurement & Control


Measuring vessel contents in the chemical industry

December 2011 Level Measurement & Control

During the production of chemicals it is necessary to store widely different products.

From liquid to solid form

Raw materials must be stocked in order to ensure continuous production; intermediate products have to be temporarily stored before being further processed; and finished products have to wait somewhere until they are shipped. All this makes accurate measurement of vessel contents an absolute necessity. Specialist level sensor manufacturer Vega has the right products for different applications in this industry.

Guided microwave for bulk solids containers and solvent vessels

Some basic products used in the production of chemicals come in powder or granulate form. Vega’s guided microwave sensor, the Vegaflex 61, is particularly suitable for level measurement of these materials in medium sized silos. The sensor is completely independent of product characteristics, dust generation and air currents from pneumatic filling. The robust sensor version Vegaflex 62 is available for applications in which strong extraction forces arise.

Modern facilities in the chemical industry are often geared for the production of a number of different products. Irrespective of product characteristics, the implemented level sensor must deliver accurate, reliable measurement data. This is where the Vegaflax 61 can also be used, and depending on the application and mounting position, rod or cable versions are available. For products with poor reflective properties or for extremely high accuracy requirements, the Vegaflex 65 with coaxial rod has proven to be an exceptionally good solution.

Level detection of powder substances

The Vegawave 62 is the ideal solution for reliable level detection of all types of powdery substances. The switching point of the sensor can be adapted precisely to individual requirements by using customised cable lengths.

Level detection with Vegaswing 63

Beside continuous level measurement, level detection constitutes an important security feature on storage tanks. Many new sensors for continuous level measurement are now certified for overfill protection, but a second physical measuring principle ensures optimal safety as well as redundancy.

Vegaswing 63 with non-contact radar sensor
Vegaswing 63 with non-contact radar sensor

Because of the many ways it can be applied, the vibrating level switch, Vegaswing 63, is ideal for all measurement tasks connected with the storage of liquids. The recurring test according to the Water Resources Act is performed simply by pressing a key on the signal conditioning instrument. The sensor then corresponds to SIL requirements.

For more information contact John Groom, Vega Instruments, +27 (0)11 958 1901, [email protected],



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