We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to browse this site you agree to our use of cookies. More info.
There is a growing need for plastics because these products are increasingly being used as an alternative for metals and other types of materials in the electrical, electronic, automotive, and construction sectors.
Generally, plastic converters and plastic producers will preserve plastic pellets in narrow and tall silos, which present a challenge to all radar and ultrasonic beam spread technologies ABB laser level transmitters have narrow beams, which allow them to be effectively used in this sector with scores of installations made over the last decade.
Figure 1. Storage silos for plastic pellets. Image Credit: ABB Measurement & Analytics
Plastic manufacturers generally constitute large chemical and petrochemical firms that manufacture and deliver raw plastic material, largely in the form of pellets, to the remaining supply chain.
Such firms value live inventory reporting and automation solutions, and they have utilized level measurement for blending or storage silos. Manufacturers of plastic products also utilize level measurements in day bins or storage silos for inventory management.
Tall and narrow storage silos pose a challenge to any beam spread technology. Laser level has been successfully used in this application because of its narrow beam and potential to quantify right down to the base of the silo, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Narrow beam emitted by the LLT100. Image Credit: ABB Measurement & Analytics
Laser beams are narrow (less than 0.3° divergence) and produce a tiny spot on the surface, usually less than 30 cm even at extended ranges. A standard installation is demonstrated in the following sections.
Using a swivel flange, the LT100 laser level transmitter is placed on a spool piece to accurately aim at the base of the silo. A dust tube is also employed for better protection. For plastic applications, a metal mounting flange or plate should be used and the same should be correctly grounded to the silo to help disperse static build-up.
Another major benefit of using lasers in such applications is that silos of day bins are generally the same as illustrated below. Laser levels are different from other technologies and only had to be configured for the initial silo.
This configuration can subsequently be used for all the remaining silos, rendering installation and commissioning faster, easier, and cheaper.
Figure 3. Typical installation. Image Credit: ABB Measurement & Analytics
Apart from its LLT100 laser level solution, ABB also provides a complete turnkey solution with a customized user interface, PLC control panel, I/Os, displays, etc. As illustrated in Figure 4, this kind of solution is usually delivered to silo manufacturers as part of a full-solution package during the expansion or construction of plants.
Figure 4. Turnkey solution. Image Credit: ABB Measurement & Analytics
Figure 5. Day bins. Image Credit: ABB Measurement & Analytics
The LLT100 laser level transmitters provide several advantages for these applications:
For LLT100 laser level transmitters, plastics manufacturing and processing offer one of the most fascinating markets with many opportunities across the world.
Tall and narrow storage silos employed in this sector are highly challenging for radar and ultrasonic spread technologies but are ideal environments for lasers because of their narrow beams and potential to fully measure to the bottom of the silos.
With scores of installations made over the last 10 years, ABB laser level transmitters have enjoyed remarkable success in this application.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by ABB Measurement & Analytics.
For more information on this source, please visit ABB Measurement & Analytics.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
ABB Measurement & Analytics. (2021, December 10). Creating Easier, Faster and Less Costly Level Measurement for the Plastics Industry. AZoSensors. Retrieved on May 09, 2022 from https://www.azosensors.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2223.
ABB Measurement & Analytics. "Creating Easier, Faster and Less Costly Level Measurement for the Plastics Industry". AZoSensors. 09 May 2022. <https://www.azosensors.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2223>.
ABB Measurement & Analytics. "Creating Easier, Faster and Less Costly Level Measurement for the Plastics Industry". AZoSensors. https://www.azosensors.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2223. (accessed May 09, 2022).
ABB Measurement & Analytics. 2021. Creating Easier, Faster and Less Costly Level Measurement for the Plastics Industry. AZoSensors, viewed 09 May 2022, https://www.azosensors.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2223.
Do you have a question you'd like to ask regarding this article?
AZoSensors speaks with Niraj K. Jha from the Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty at Princeton University. This interview explores the research proposing a framework called CovidDeep. CovidDeep combines efficient deep neural networks with commercially available wearable medical sensors for pe
This International Women's Day, we speak with Dr. NAko Nakatsuka, a Senior Scientist at ETH Zurich's Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
AZoSensors speaks with Kaylee Hakkel from MantiSpectra, a vertically-integrated spin-off of the Eindhoven University of Technology, about her research into developing a near-infrared sensor that dramatically simplifies spectral sensing.
Columbia Models SI-702AI and SI-702AIHP are biaxial force balance inclinometers designed with an output circuit configuration made for use in 4–20 mA data transmission systems.
State-of-the-art Polytec QTec Scanning Vibrometers for vibration measurements in the field of research and development.
The SV600 fixed acoustic imager allows the user to detect air and gas leaks or changes in sound signatures.
AZoSensors.com - An AZoNetwork Site
Owned and operated by AZoNetwork, © 2000-2022