Food Industry Batch Level Control

Many food processing facilities employ batch processes in their production facilities where the operator starts with an empty vessel and create the final product by adding multiple ingredients.

The batch process requires the operator to know the amount of each ingredient added to the blending vessel. Point-level controls speed the process by establishing setpoints at each ingredient fill point,  often accomplished with several level sensors, each detecting one ingredient.

Batch food processing applications are challenging. The sensor must include sanitary fittings and CIP (Cleaned In Place) design. In many cases, the ingredients and final products are dense and sticky, wreaking havoc on some technologies such as mechanical switches and tuning forks. Products in the blending vessel may be thick and could cause damage to fragile sensors. Finally, many batch processes are agitated, causing false tripping due to splashing material. 

As you can tell, proper level sensing technology is critical. Choosing the wrong technology will cause ruined batches, costly downtime, and the possibility of overfilling.

The Drexelbrook Multipoint II offers the best solution for batch process control applications in the food industry.

Drexelbrook, a leading manufacturer of level controls, recommends its RF Admittance Multipoint II. It provides a total solution for the batch processing of food. The RF Admittance Multipoint II is a single sensing element and a single mounting point from the top of the vessel using a sanitary Tri-Clamp fitting and has no moving parts to wear out or get hung up. The Multipoint II sensor is a 3A sanitary designed steel rod with Kynar or TFE insulation developed for CIP procedures. RF Admittance Cote-Shield driven shield circuitry ignores heavy coatings on the sensing element, preventing false alarms. The Multipoint II consists of three independent DPDT relays, and control points are set anywhere along the vertical sensing element.

Drexelbrook Multipoint II Advantages:

• 3A designed sanitary sensing elements
• No moving parts
• 3 control points on one vertical sensing element
• Cote-Shield circuitry eliminates false alarms due to coatings
• Designed to endure Clean In Place (CIP) demands

For more infomration in New England, contact Piping Specialties / PSI Controls. Call 800-223-1468 or visit https://psi-team.com.

All Stainless Steel Ball Valve and Actuator Systems

Ball valves control flow by rotating a spherical ball within the valve, which contains an opening or port, through which liquid can flow when turned to align with the flow direction. When the ball rotates 90 degrees, the port becomes perpendicular to the flow direction, preventing fluid from passing through the valve. Stainless steel construction is advantageous in a flow control ball valve because it is highly corrosion and contaminant resistant, requiring less cleaning and maintenance and often providing a longer service life. 

Stainless steel pneumatic actuators are available in spring return, double acting, fail open, and fail close configurations. A corrosion resistance surface - resistance to most corrosive materials - is one of the advantages of using a stainless steel actuator. The stainless steel pneumatic actuator is excellent for heavy-duty automation, especially in corrosive environments. Stainless steel actuators with a durable stainless steel body manufactured to NAMUR standards continue to perform in the harshest environments. 

Piping Specialties' stainless steel actuated ball valves provide exceptional accuracy and dependability in flow control and open/close operations, critical in manufacturing, chemical, oil & gas, wastewater, processing, and other applications. 

Piping Specialties is committed to providing the most suitable valve for your application. For more information about stainless steel valves, call 800-223-1468 or visit https://psi-team.com.

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The REOTEMP Model W Explosion Proof, Field Mounted, HART Temperature Transmitter

Process control instrumentation monitors and controls a process to maintain proper functioning standards and keep it within a proper functioning and safe operating range. Process variables are the parameters or quantities maintained to keep the process within desired and acceptable limits. Instrumentation systems compare process variables to a desired setpoint and then produce offsetting and corrective control outputs. 

Typical process variables are level, flow, temperature, density, pH (acidity or alkalinity), mass, and conductivity. 

Temperature is a measurement of how hot or cold something is, whether it's an object or a process medium. The temperature setpoint is the process variable's target value for optimum control, quality, and safety. In a process where the temperature stays within plus or minus 1 degree Celsius of 100℃, the setpoint is 100. 

Temperature transmitters are instruments that convert a weak thermocouple or RTD signal to a robust analog (4-20mA or HART) or digital (Profibus or Fieldbus) signal. The temperature sensor and the final control device communicate through the transmitter. Since transmitters provide more robust analog or digital outputs, external signal conditioning and amplification devices are eliminated, thus lowering costs.

The REOTEMP Model W Explosion Proof Field Mounted HART Temperature Transmitter includes a local display, HART compatibility, and a 4-20mA output. The field-mounted transmitter is available as a complete RTD or thermocouple assembly customized to your process. 

The REOTEMP Model W includes linearized temperature measurement with TC and RTD sensors (Pt100 and Ni100) inputs, local display, HART communication, and 4-20 mA analog PV output for individual, difference, or average temperature measurement. It can handle two RTD or TC input sensors, and up to 63 transmitters (HART 7) can connect in a multidrop communication setup.

For more infomration about REOTEMP products in New England, contact PSI Controls / Piping Specialties, Inc. Call 800-223-1468 or visit https://psi-team.com.

Submersible Level Transmitters

AMETEK’s Submersible Level Transmitters are one of the most complete lines in the industry for measuring industrial and water/wastewater plant level. From the low cost Model SDT with a light weight 316 Stainless Steel body that can measures levels up to 345 feet, to the Model 575 and 675 with a 316 Stainless Steel body and Hastelloy diaphragm that can measure up to 690 feet with CSA intrinsically safe approval for hazardous locations, such as lift stations, process sludge tanks, AMETEK offers a series of different products to meet your level needs.

For more information in New England, contact PSI Controls or Piping Specialties. Call 800-223-1468 or visit https://psi-team.com.

“V” Port Ball Valves for Control and Simplicity

A-T Controls / Triac "V" Series Ball Valves are ideal for achieving more precise control while maintaining simplicity and sealing features. A-T Controls offers 1/2" – 4" 3-piece and 1/2" – 6" flanged sizes. Standard "V" notch angles are 30°, 60°, and 90°. While manual valves are available, A-T Controls specializes in automating them to meet your specific control needs. 

V-port valves provide more accurate and consistent control than traditional round ported ball valves.
A-T Controls manufactures "V" port valves with the control port cast and machined into the ball rather than the seat, resulting in significantly improved flow characteristics and the elimination of the need to replace seats. The 30° option provides finer tapered control throughout the valve rotation, while the 60° and 90° options offer a higher Cv as well as controlled flow. 

The V7 valves come standard with a PTFE seat, while the V8, V9, and FVD9 V-port valves come standard with a 50/50 STFE seat. The 50/50 SST powder/PTFE blend provides both strength and superior sealing properties.

For more information, contact Piping Specialties, Inc / PSI Controls. Call them at 800-223-1468  of visit their website at https://psi-team.com.

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