Product category:
Level and tank contents instrumentation
News Release from: Krohne | Subject: BM 700 FMCW
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 February 2003
Radar level measurement on milk bottling
machine
Dairy Crest of Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, is the first dairy manufacturer in the UK to install a specially adapted radar level measurement system from Krohne on its plastic bottle bottling machine
The innovative system has not only overcome the problems of milk foaming which was adversely affecting level measurements, it has also significantly improved process efficiency, productivity and hygiene standards Dairy Crest uses a rotary bottling machine to fill large numbers of bottles per minute with milk
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 14 Aug 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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The bottles are filled from a rotating header tank which rotates with the filler carousel.
The header tank is also being continuously filled and emptied simultaneously.
This continuous movement results in a large amount of foaming.
In the past, mechanical control systems fitted to the machine failed to control the level and have caused leakages from seams in the storage tank.
To solve these problems, Krohne worked closely with the Dairy Crest Engineering Manager, Phil Hoden, and installed a BM 700 FMCW (frequency modulated continuous wave) radar level measurement system which incorporates a unique stainless steel 'stilling well antenna'.
This special 1 inch dia stainless steel tube shields the radar beam from excessive foaming and guides it to the surface of the milk.
Based on the Archimedes principle, the level inside the tube is exactly the same as that in the header tank resulting in continuous accurate level readings.
Using a 4-20mA output, the level meter sends a signal to a control valve on the inlet to the milk storage tank to accurately control the level of milk in the tank to within an inch or so.
The whole system has meant that Dairy Crest can now run the bottling machine faster, increasing productivity and efficiency.
As the level in the storage tank is much more accurately and tightly controlled, it also ensures that there is no spillage, minimising product wastage and giving higher standards of hygiene.
Krohne has designed the system so that it can be easily integrated into the Dairy Crest 'Clean-in-Place' system.
FMCW level measurement offers many advantages over other radar systems such as high repeatability and accuracy.
It also uses a higher band width of the microwave signal, leading to improved reflection separation resulting in the reliable reduction of interfering signals.
A higher transmitting frequency also gives a greater signal efficiency for comparable antenna sizes.
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