Product category:
Level and tank contents instrumentation
News Release from: Siemens Automation and Drives | Subject: Pointek CLS 200
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 April 2005
Innovative level measurement on Scotch
with foam
Siemens has delivered an innovative tip sensitive level measurement probe at William Grant and Sons Distillers, to allow round the clock whisky distilling, under legal control
Siemens has delivered an innovative level measurement solution at William Grant and Sons Distillers The Grant company has produced fine Scotch whisky at the Dufftown Distillery in the Highlands of Scotland since 1866 and is known for its best-selling single malt Glenfiddich whisky
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 10 Apr 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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William Grant and Sons relies on quality ingredients and careful process monitoring - both of which are vital to the art and science of whisky making.
Its production process begins when malted barley and water are mixed in a mash-tun, a round metal vessel with mechanical stirrers, to produce wort (sugar solution).
Wort is cooled and pumped into pear-shaped fermenting vessels called wash stills where operators add yeast and the mixture produces wash (weak spirit).
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The wash is distilled to strengthen and purify the spirit.
The spirit is then matured in oak casks for a minimum of eight years (often longer) to become Scotch.
In the wash stills, prior to vaporisation, foam is produced that can result in boiling high levels of froth mixing in with the "low wines" from the first stages of distillation.
To control the foam, the burners must be turned off, then restarted as the foam dissipates.
The Dufftown plant wanted to automate the wash still operation to control foam.
Because foam is neither liquid nor air, it has traditionally been impossible to detect with older level measurement equipment such as floats or vibrating forks.
To solve this problem the distillery installed a Siemens Pointek CLS 200 instrument on the neck of each wash still.
When foam reaches the tip of the instrument probe, the CLS 200 detects it and automatically turns off the burners.
It restarts the burners when the froth level diminishes and the sensor is clear.
Pointek instruments use a unique inverse-frequency approach to capacitance technology that ensures accurate, reliable, and repeatable level detection.
Traditional capacitance devices measure voltage drop or current flow and are affected by changes in material properties, but Pointek sensors monitor the effect of capacitance based on frequency change.
Because even small level changes create large changes in frequency, the result is better resolution and accuracy.
The CLS 200 has a high frequency oscillator with the sensor encapsulated in the probe tip.
The sensitive tip is a very accurate and repeatable switchpoint, and the probe is unaffected by material build-up, humidity or moisture.
The device is easy to install and calibrate.
Reliable level detection helps the plant deal effectively with the foam produced in the wash stills, preventing spills and protecting the process.
One of the other major benefits is consistency of distillate because the burners operate only when needed.
This also reduces staff and maintenance requirements, freeing the operators for other duties, and allowing production to continue on weekends.
"This technology helps us ensure quality product and enhance efficiency," said Willie Thomson from the Dufftown Distillery.
"It's an ideal meeting of our time-honoured traditions with modern technology.".
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