VEGAPULS 64 Measures Accurately in Sulfur Melting Tanks
For over fifty years, a major U.S.-based company in the sulfur fertilizer industry has developed and sold crop performance products that serve the agricultural and industrial markets. This company operates three North American manufacturing facilities, including the world’s largest sulfur bentonite plant in Irricana, Alberta, Canada.
The Irricana facility features ten sulfur pastille silos and two agitated sulfur melting tanks. Sulfur melting tanks can present a range of measurement challenges to plant operators, largely because the tank’s conditions can cause many issues depending on the type of measuring instrumentation utilized. In this particular case, the company was using a guided wave radar to measure level in its melting tanks. While guided wave radar can be an effective instrument for measuring liquids, in this application the radar experienced many issues, like frequent loss of signal due to constant vibration in the tank, and a need for many maintenance calls. Sometimes the hardware issues in the radar were severe enough to require a replacement unit. After costs piled up from maintenance calls and replacement units, the company sought alternative methods of level measurement for their tanks.
Accurate measurement without the headaches
Exploring a better method of level measurement, the company sought out the expertise of VEGA. After the company explained the issues with their current solution, VEGA investigated a smarter solution to meet their measuring needs. Because conditions in the melting tank caused continued maintenance and hardware failures with the guided wave sensor, VEGA determined that a non-contact radar solution would be the best fit for the sulfur company.
VEGA and the company determined the VEGAPULS 64 high frequency non-contact radar sensor to be the right fit for the melting tanks’ measurement needs. The VEGAPULS 64 operates at a transmission frequency of 80 GHz, emitting a narrow beam angle that worked well with the sensor’s mounting location between the tank’s wall and agitation rod. With its dynamic range of 120 dB, the sensor was able to easily detect the elemental sulfur, despite the sulfur’s lower dielectric constant (Dk). Any potential measurement issues caused by buildup were mitigated by the VEGAPULS 64’s Sensitivity Time Control (STC) feature, which blocks out unwanted reflections caused by close-range buildup and ensures continued measurement accuracy.
Increased Efficiency, Increased Safety
The VEGAPULS 64 delivered accurate and reliable measurements without the hassle of continued maintenance requirements. Thanks to the benefits of non-contact 80 GHz radar, the company is now able to utilize a larger percentage of space in their melting tanks, leading to greater operational efficiency. Most importantly, the new sensors from VEGA facilitate increased safety, since operators no longer have to check the level within the tank.
Non-contact 80 GHz radar sensors like the VEGAPULS 64 allow for greater operational efficiency than older radar technologies. Their narrow beams angles and precise signal focusing deliver highly accurate measurements even in complex applications with agitators, like in the agitated sulfur melting tanks. With VEGA’s assistance, this company was able to discover how 80 GHz radar technology fosters efficiency.
Via Vega
