Flow, level & control
Wireless level measurements for bulk solids
By Ursula Barth-Modreker, freelance editor for Endress+Hauser
The Micropilot FWR30 cloud-based level measurement instrument has opened up new fields of application. While the FWR30 has been employed to date in plastic containers and for liquids, it now measures the level of solid materials in containers or silos made from plastic and metal. The measurement data and other parameters are sent in digital form via wireless connectivity to the Endress+Hauser Netilion cloud, where the information can be retrieved from anywhere and at any time.
U
sers of mobile silos, tanks or containers are familiar with the problem: if the containers are being
transported or located at a remote site, monitoring the fill levels is highly difficult. Users often have to rely on manual measurements or estimates. With difficult-to-access containers, or if there is no connectivity to the plant network or no access to power, users frequently resort to guesswork. Sinking inventories, such as for construction or aggregate materials, are often discovered when it is too late – or worst case after the containers are empty. As a result, production and processing easily come to a halt.
Inaccurate measurements, or even false
measurement values, can result in high additional costs, such as urgent deliveries caused by imprecise container logistics. Conversely, if excess material is delivered, costs are incurred for emptying the silo. Such empty and special runs can easily amount to six-figure losses per year. Monitoring the fill levels has not been the only challenge however. Portable containers can also disappear out of sight or become lost altogether.
DigiTal solUTioN FoR iNvENToRy MaNagEMENT With the cloud-based Micropilot FWR30 radar sensor, Endress+Hauser has developed a user- friendly, digital solution for the remote monitoring of tanks and fill levels. In combination with the Netilion IIoT ecosystem, users of mobile silos, tanks and containers can access fill levels at the push of a button. The measurement data is recorded in individually-definable intervals and can be retrieved via the instrument’s cloud connection at anytime, and from anywhere. The flexibility of the digital services means that the level sensor can be easily integrated into an existing system. The digitalisation of the level measuring point significantly simplifies the management of inventories, as well as logistics and warehouse processes. Overall, the new information can be used for better route planning, precise fill levels and as a result, optimisation of the supply chain. Thanks to the analysis of precise GPS data,
users of the Micropilot FWR30 always know where their storage tanks or containers are located. The position data helps prevent container loss or aggravating searches. The 80 GHz IIoT sensor is battery-operated and boasts a battery life of up to 10 years. An external power source is not required, which simplifies mobile measuring points in particular.
18 October 2021 Instrumentation Monthly
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