VEGAPULS 69 Excels in Food & Beverage Industry
At BBP, we are proud to serve a large variety of industries. Today on the blog we highlight the success of VEGAPULS 69 and its impact in the food and beverage industry. In this application story from VEGA, you’ll learn how instrumentation from VEGA delivers precise measurement in the production of chocolate.
VEGAPULS 69 Process
“Square. Practical. Good.” Everyone knows the chocolate bars from RITTER SPORT. Quality, safety, and power have top priority in their production. The process starts with the storage of raw materials in six stainless steel silos. Three silos have milk powder and the remaining silos have lactose. From there, the ingredients are distributed before being weighed and blended together.
The environment in the silos is not friendly for level gauges. Temperatures inside can be very high. This places special demands on the sensors. When the silos are being filled, pressure rises if the filters get clogged. VEGABAR 82 pressure transmitters and VEGAVIB 63 are then used together for overfill protection. Together, these instruments protect against excessive pressure and overfilling in the vessel. When filling the silos via compressed air, it causes the milk powder or lactose to whirl up. Those materials then settle everywhere, even on the measuring instruments. Exact measurement of the level is absolutely necessary despite these conditions. Until recently, a sensor based on guided microwave technology had been used for level measurement. The company used capacitive methods for point level detection. New silos were later installed and RITTER SPORT was looking a state-of-the-art solution.
Reliable Measured Values
When VEGA suggested VEGAPULS 69, the Waldenbuch chocolate maker was amazed. The sensor provided accurate measuring and distinct echo curves. This non-contact radar sensor operates at a high frequency of 80 GHz. Because of the high frequency, the DN 80 antenna creates a beam angle of only 3° instead of 10°. As a result, focusing and detection improved. In addition, the instrument is unaffected by buildup, dust and internal vessel installations. Because of focusing and large dynamic range, VEGAPULS 69 detects solids reliably at distances of up to 120 m. Although the 11 meter-high silos at RITTER SPORT are not very high, the given range of the sensor shows the performance of this measurement technology. The level measuring process is also fast: The cycle time is less than one second with an accuracy of ±5 mm.
Accurate Results
The swivel mount with rinsing air connection also convinced users. The selected flange version is made with a swiveling holder of high-quality stainless steel. It allows the sensor and antenna to align in a range of ±10°. The user also benefited from the app developed by VEGA. The app adjusts the angle of inclination for the best installation. Only the silo data need to be entered: The app then automatically calculates the correct tilt angle. After that, the smartphone or tablet is placed on the instrument. The display allows the user to quickly and easily align the radar sensor by means of the swiveling holder. The supplied rinsing connection clears the antenna of any buildup and delivers reliable measured values.
RITTER SPORT found the option of parameterizing the sensor with the display and adjustment module PLICSCOM via Bluetooth very clever. The sensor relies on PLICSCOM for measured value indication, adjustment, and diagnosis. The Bluetooth function now makes it possible to adjust the sensor wirelessly from a distance of approx. 25 m. Smartphones and tablets can access the adjustment functions for radar sensors.
Learn more about VEGA and their products available from BBP.
