The April Technology Evening was kindly sponsored by Endress+Hauser and Alwin Lutchman gave the meeting an interesting and entertaining presentation entitled ‘Understanding automatic tank gauging’. Alwin has been employed with Endress+Hauser for 12 years and is the business driver for Inventory Management Solutions.
Branch committee member Lucky Penduka (right) thanks Alwin Lutchman after the presentation.
He showed the audience various techniques for measuring the level of liquids and solids in tanks, and then concentrated on two high accuracy types: servo and radar. Their accuracy of measurement was covered and examples of the potential cost of measurement errors in large storage tanks was highlighted, showing the justification for installing accurate and repeatable measuring systems on such tanks. Operation of a servo gauge was demonstrated using a working model, and its ability to measure not only a liquid surface level, but also a liquid/liquid interface and the tank floor level were covered, as were its limitations in applications where the level in a tank changes relatively slowly and the fluid does not suffer from significant surface disturbance. Where disturbances could exist, Alwin mentioned the use of stilling wells to minimise their influence on the displacer.
The topic then moved on to radar gauges and their operating principle. As with the servo gauge, Alwin had a working model set up for demonstration and for inspection after his talk was finished.
During his presentation there were many questions from the audience, ranging from the reference method used to verify tank level gauges, to details of the principles used to sense the level and convert this to a signal. Much discussion centred around the sensing and conversion of the magnetically coupled drum position of servo gauges to a level measurement with an accuracy of less than 1 mm. Alwin noted that, at present, the reference method is the use of a manual dip, where an operator uses a dip tape through a hatch and the average of three consecutive dips is taken to be the true level. Many of his audience shared his concern that this method is prone to human error, and also that in many cases the dip tape accuracy has not been verified.
The talk was both interesting and informative as shown by the large number of questions, all of which were answered very capably with projections and examples to assist understanding. Alwin was thanked for his presentation, and the meeting adjourned to some networking over a good hot meal and drinks.
Read more...SAIMC: Durban branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The Durban branch of the SAIMC was pleased to welcome Vusi Sithole, managing member of Hybrid Control Corporation in Richards Bay, who presented\on the very pertinent topic of ‘Infrastructure monitoring and control for water loss management’.
Read more...SAIMC: Sunshine, swings and smiles: Durban Golf Day hits a high note Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
SAIMC
We say it every year, and we’ll say it again: May in Durban is hard to beat; but 9 May, when the Durban Golf Day teed off at Kloof Country Club, was something else. With sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 20s, it was a fantastic day, full of fun and great energy.
Read more...SAIMC User Advisory Council KS4I event: Bridging the industry/education divide
SAIMC
Horst Weinert, head of Didactic at Festo Southern/Eastern Africa, will be sharing some of Festo’s Didactic experiences of working across industry and education. He will cover training for productivity and employability in the public and private sectors, discussing especially the potential for inter-company training centres.
Read more...SAIMC: Johannesburg branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The local Johannesburg Branch of the SAIMC recently hosted a Technology Evening at Bryanston Sports Club on 9 April 2025.
Read more...SAIMC: Durban branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The April technology meeting for the Durban branch of the SAIMC was kindly sponsored by ProRisk, a subsidiary company of the Proconics Group of Companies. Process safety engineer, Guillaume de Swardt gave a fascinating presentation on the power of operational risk control by utilising CFD software.
Read more...SAIMC User Advisory Council KS4I event SAIMC Supplier Advisory Council
SAIMC
The SAIMC User Advisory Council started 2025 with its first event in the ‘Knowlege Sharing 4 Industry’ event series on the 19th of March.
Read more...Knowledge Sharing 4 Industry
SAIMC
In proud partnership with Innomotics, SAIMC will be hosting the first Knowledge Sharing 4 Industry event for 2025.
Read more...Getting your OT data into the cloud – the why and the how
SAIMC
As users recognise the benefits of a digital transformation strategy for their industrial plants and systems and start to adopt it, they soon face the challenge of getting operational technology data securely and reliably to a cloud service provider of their choice.
printer friendly version