Feature sponsored by Flow, level & control
their processes running as efficiently as possible without the fear of detrimental events like overfills. Needless to say, level sensor malfunctions can be inconvenient at best, and in some cases can even be disastrous. In the case of this shingles manufacturer, plant personnel had to take on the task of level measurement themselves when their sensors malfunctioned. This meant climbing up on the asphalt tanks to manually check the product level. Not only are manual measurements generally less precise than those obtained through purpose-built level sensors, they also can be risky. In this case, climbing the tanks required more safety precautions, especially during winter months when snow would cover the ground and steps leading up to the tops of the tanks. These risky climbs came to be too frequent when the company failed to receive service or support for their malfunctioning sensors, and so the search for a new sensor supplier began. That is when the company got in touch with VEGA.
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RELIABILITY + SAFETY = 6X Experts at VEGA assessed the shingles manufacturer’s heated asphalt tanks to determine what level measurement solution would best fit their needs. A good sensor would need to stand up to the high temperatures of the asphalt vapors and be resistant to the buildup caused by these vapors. Additionally, the tanks required a maximum measurement range of at least 60 feet from the mounting location that was already in place above the tank. The solution came in the form of VEGA’s latest non-contact radar sensor, VEGAPULS 6X. The 6X is designed to meet the needs of any level measurement application; each sensor is built according to the needs of the application. VEGAPULS 6X can withstand process temperatures as high as 450°C, easily above the temperature output by the asphalt vapors. As for the measurement range, VEGAPULS 6X would have no problem reaching 60 feet down, as it tops out at
evel measurement is a critical function of most manufacturing operations, and asphalt shingles are no exception. When stakeholders and plant personnel have a clear picture of their inventory, they are able to keep
DELIVERING SAFER, MORE RELIABLE MEASUREMENTS IN ASPHALT STORAGE TANKS
A major manufacturer of roofing and insulation products in Alberta, Canada produces asphalt shingles at one of their plants in Calgary. In this plant, the company maintains four heated asphalt storage tanks. The plant utilises level sensors to help keep track of the amount of asphalt in the tanks in order to manage inventory as efficiently as possible. Until recently, these level sensors caused a number of headaches for the company: not only would the sensors not obtain reliable readings, but finding service or support for the malfunctioning sensors proved nearly impossible for plant personnel. That all changed when the company reached out to VEGA.
maximum distance of 393 feet (120m). When presented with the benefits of VEGA’s sensor, the company agreed to place one on each of their four asphalt tanks.
THE VEGA DIFFERENCE While the company’s old malfunctioning sensors certainly caused major issues, some of these challenges could have been avoided if they had been able to obtain service and support for the ailing equipment. To ensure they found a level measurement partner that would be able to offer better service and expertise, they entrusted the commissioning and setup of the new sensors to VEGA service personnel. This task would be a good testing ground for VEGA’s service: the company was badly in need of new sensors, so commissioning and setup would need to be done as quickly as possible. Fortunately, VEGA was more than up to the task. VEGAPULS 6X is designed to be simple and intuitive, from the point of purchase to usage in the field. And with PLICSCOM, VEGA’s display and adjustment module, setting up
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April 2023 Instrumentation Monthly
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