Measuring Cleaning Agent Levels in the Pharmaceutical Industry

The application

In the production of pharmaceuticals, complex organic mixtures are frequently left behind as residues. Cleaning the reactors and production plant for further processing is therefore a particular challenge. The cleaning agents used are kept in transport containers in the maintenance station for the cleaning plant. Because consumption is relatively low and discontinuous, the requirements are difficult to plan. That often leads to empty tanks and so to the interruption of cleaning plant operation. This situation lead to the requirement for continuous level monitoring in the transport container with a local display and switch contacts for a minimum level signal. A potential solution using weighing cells was too complicated and expensive, and so was not implemented. The search, however, continued for a simple, reliable and economical solution to the problem.

The process data

The solution

A radar sensor VEGAPULS 61 is simply mounted on a mobile measurement frame using its mounting rail, and placed over the full transport container. It provides direct, contactless measurement of the liquid level from above through the closed plastic container cover.
 
A VEGAMET 391 signal conditioner is installed locally in a control cabinet and supplies the sensor. The current level can be read easily at any time on the large, well-lit LCD display. Integrated switch contacts signal the minimum level in good time so that the next container can be made ready. The 4 ... 20 mA output signal supplies the logistics planning department with the latest readings.

Your advantages

	High availability of the cleaning plant thanks to reliable measurements
	Economic use of the container volume by varying the minimum level to suit the application
	No service effort, because measurement is absolutely maintenance-free
	Current level can be read easily at any time on the large, well-lit LCD display
	Comfortable logistics planning due to continuous measurement