Long Range Level Control

Customer Ask: Silo Mixture Level Monitoring

The customer is an industrial building materials manufacturer who needs to monitor the level of a sand/gravel mixture in a silo, used to make concrete. This was typically accomplished by a worker looking into the silo. However, because of the thick dust created by the mixture, as it was poured into the silo, the readings were often inaccurate.

The temperature inside the silo ranges from 40°F to 110°F. It is well insulated from rain and wind. The silo is 40 feet tall with a circular diameter of 15 feet.

Application Requirements: 

• A sensing range of 10′ to 40′
• A non-contact sensor that can be used in an extremely dense, dust environment
• A sensor that is self-contained and easy to mount
• An analog output of 4-20mA
• A sensor with built-in temperature compensation

The Migatron Solution

We recommended the RPS-4000 long-range sensor, which meets all of the customer’s needs with its 2′ to 40′ range and 4-20mA analog output. This is a non-contact sensor that uses ultrasonic sound waves to measure distance. The RPS-4000 also has a temperature probe built into the transducer head. Migatron’s RPS-4000 is constructed with a sealed PVC housing and PVC sensing face, as well as a water-tight quick disconnect connector. The sensor’s sealed construction also resolved all environmental issues with the dust.