What happens when the trackers aren't tracking?

Problems within pneumatic conveying systems can quickly cascade into large production issues for facilities. These can cause disruptions to batch products, overflows can create cross contamination between products or processes, and blockages can damage equipment or create safety hazards including combustible dust hazards. So it's understandable that fill level indicators are carefully monitored on bins or hoppers in manufacturing processes. 

However, what can be done if these indicators malfunction for some reason? Having a fail safe or backup monitoring source for these systems has proven a wise investment for many facilities. 

Using Triboelectric Flow Monitors As Backup Monitoring

In order to avoid problems when fill level indicators fail, plants should consider supplementing these systems with secondary triboelectric monitoring of material flow rates. These monitors use electrically isolated metal probes inserted into the duct (either a metal probe intruding into the process flow or a flush mounted non-obtrusive ring detector). Material passing the sensors generates a pico amp signal which is relative indication of the amount of material passing through the pipe or duct. This data can then be output to show either a Flow/No Flow reading or a More Flow/Less Flow reading. These systems are used to monitor flow rates in various industrial processes and work with many different materials. 

With triboelectric flow rate monitoring, plants can receive the usual benefits as well as have an additional line of monitoring data to protect against level indicator failure. By monitoring the flow rates with a TRIBO.dsp system, operators could receive alerts when the flow rate slows down (More Flow/Less Flow) or when it stops altogether (Flow/No Flow), which would indicate a blockage caused by an overflowing bin or hopper.

An alternative configuration would monitor for a longer period of material flow than the normal process would suggest. This would allow technicians to take immediate corrective action and remedy the situation before serious problems begin to occur. 

Conclusion

By incorporating triboelectric material flow monitoring, plant operators can have an extra line of defense against material level indicator failures and protect their processes and systems from the damage and lost production they cause. 

Would you like to learn more about the benefits of triboelectric material flow rate monitoring? Contact Auburn Systems today to discuss  your application!