Red Arrow Products Company LLC has replaced unreliable capacitance-based level measurement devices with guided wave radar (GWR) transmitters from Emerson Process Management. The Rosemount 5300 Series GWR is used to monitor the level of wood oil in a process tank and features advanced diagnostics that continuously monitor the GWR probe for signal degradation caused by product build-up. The accurate and reliable data provided has enabled Red Arrow to schedule its maintenance to clean the probe, reducing costs and increasing throughput by avoiding unexpected shutdowns.
“过去，由于探针故障或涂层问题，偶尔会发生意外停工将使我们的过程扰乱我们的过程 - 降低产品吞吐量并增加能源使用，”Barry Schardt，Red Arr Equipment Manager / Electrical Engineer。“由于我们在大约1年前安装了艾默生的导向波雷达发射器，因此我们在生产过程中没有过早停工，因为探针失败。”
Red Arrow produces Natural Smoke Condensates and flavorings at its manufacturing facility in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The wood oil is held in a 1.5-meter-tall collection tank that must maintain a constant level in an evaporation process. The level in the tank was being measured using a sensor based on capacitance technology. Although this technology usually performs well in applications that operate at high temperatures and with viscous/sticky products, coating issues were causing unreliable level measurements that resulted in unplanned shutdowns.
This is a particularly challenging level application, as the tank operates under vacuum conditions and the measurement device is subject to vapors and mist that normally cause level measurement problems. Red Arrow also had concerns about the problem of build-up of a sticky tar-like substance on the probe in the tank, which could cause signal degradation.
为了解决这些问题，红色箭头将基于电容的设备升级到罗斯蒙特5300 GWR，具有单个刚性探头和信号质量指标（SQM）。GWR器件不受压力和蒸气空间条件的变化的影响，并且SQM提供诊断信息，其直接与探针上的涂层相关并改变表面条件。可以将这些值分配为过程变量并随时间跟踪。
红色箭头人员可以跟踪信号质量Metrics and use the data to maintain ideal operating conditions, improving product quality over extended continuous run periods. The reliable level measurements have reduced operational costs by minimizing the risk of unscheduled shutdowns or equipment damage caused by inaccurate level measurements. Maintenance costs have also been reduced by enabling a preventive maintenance program that extends the period between shutdowns to carry out cleaning of the probe.
