Preventing the loss of precious raw material
Food manufacturers have a variety of storage silos and tanks for their diverse raw materials. From liquid media to solids of various grain sizes, each medium has its own properties and requirements when it comes to storage.
Due to rising raw material costs, the monitoring of these raw materials takes on a specific significance. Any loss or waste, whether due to quality degradation or damage, increases costs. In order to maintain competitiveness, it is essential for the Food & Beverage industry to improve their yields and reduce production losses. In short, efficient production must be achieved.
Process measurement in silos for bulk solids
Advanced process measurements allows process engineers to eliminate guesswork from their production.
©Endress+Hauser
Level measurement
Efficient storage management systems require fast and reliable access to the amount of product available. Filling must be monitored continuously and precisely to avoid overfilling. Manual measurements are time- and labor-consuming and increase operational costs.
One of the most common technologies used for continuous level measurement in storage tanks is free-space radar. Vibronic point level detection for high- and low-level alarms in the tank is a proven technology. The main advantages of both methods are their simple installation and easy commissioning.
©Endress+Hauser
Temperature monitoring solution
Detect exothermic reaction and avoid product degradation
Organic raw materials exposed to environmental contaminants risk undergoing chemical reactions, which involves an increase in temperature. These exothermic reactions can lead to product degradation and inevitably introduce ignition and explosion risks.
Endress+Hauser’s temperature monitoring solution is comprised of several components, such as multipoint temperature instruments, system components, software and services, to ensure versatility for temperature profiling in tanks and storage applications. The temperature measurement solution provides continuous measurement and automatically detects any temperature variation for quick action to avoid product loss.
The temperature monitoring solution consists of the following products:
- The iTHERM TMS31 MultiSens helps to continuously monitor the temperature profile by providing a high number of measuring points.
- The Advanced Data Manager Memograph M RSG45 provides on-site visualization, calculation and reliable connectivity.
- Fieldgate FXA42 ensures the monitoring of field devices with digital or 4 to 20 mA interface across silos and locations.
- Edge Devices of SGC series
- Online software SupplyCare hosting
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Moisture monitoring
Monitor moisture and gain process transparency
All raw materials contain a certain amount of water. Moisture content not only determines quality of products, but it also affects shelf life and price due to product weight. Legal requirements provide the framework. Continuous monitoring of moisture ensures product quality and effective bulk solids handling. Inline moisture measurement is an excellent resource to gain process transparency and receive real-time information.
The use of the Solitrend MMP44 enables:
- Direct moisture measurement in the material, even at hard-to-reach places
- Continuous recording and monitoring of moisture content and temperature
- Improved and more accurate process control during all steps
- Improved process stability and thus lower product losses (overdrying/underdrying)
- Cost savings due to improved energy efficiency (due to less overdrying)
©shutterstock/mileKorn
Dust filter monitoring
Monitor dust filters and avoid manual inspections
Dust collectors entrap particulates from bulk solids handling and processing plants, avoiding air contamination which plays a crucial role in preventing environmental and health issues. Depending on the properties of the collected dust, these dust particles will accumulate, leading to filter inefficiency, overloading, and an even higher risk of equipment breakage.
Benefits:
- Real-time data and identification of filter breakage
- Automatic cleaning of filters based on actual conditions
- No need for manual inspections
- Increased operational efficiency
Inline measurement using differential pressure transmitters effectively monitors filter conditions and determines the right time for maintenance or filter cleaning.
Process measurement in liquid tanks
Advanced process measurements allows process engineers to eliminate guesswork from their production.
©Endress+Hauser
Level measurement
Liquid storage efficiency requires fast and reliable access to necessary production materials. To avoid overfilling or to prevent the pump from running dry, it is important to closely monitor the filling and emptying of storage tanks. There are various inline measurement technologies for continuous level measurement and limit detection in tanks, such as free-space radar, guided radar, vibronic and more.
Shutterstock/Strandperle
Temperature monitoring
Depending on which liquid medium is stored in the storage tank, temperature monitoring is essential to prevent the proliferation of microorganisms. Endress+Hauser offers various inline temperature measuring devices to ensure precise monitoring.
©Endress+Hauser
Buildup monitoring
Detect buildup early and ensure product safety
Undesirable buildup can also occur in tanks when storing media. In the process, layers are deposited that are usually very thin. Even fine layers can cause problems during filling, emptying or efficient energy transfer. How can these layers be reliably detected without having to open the container? How can the extent of contamination, and thus any impairment of product quality, be avoided?
Endress+Hauser’s Liquitrend QMW43 provides secure detection, quantifying and qualifying buildup and fouling in filled tanks regardless of the media properties.
©Endress+Hauser
Inventory management solutions
Manufacturing companies typically do not measure and display stock values consistently. Inventory data is often handled manually, resulting in duplication of labor and data errors. Consequently, many companies resort to assumption-based decision making which leads to high stock levels and inventory costs. Solutions for inventory control guarantee simple monitoring and visualization of tanks, silos and containers to solve these challenges.
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