Several bulk solids and powders are known for their unreliable performance. Sometimes they flow freely; sometimes, they do not. It is not uncommon for slide gates to misbehave. When they are supposed to be closed, they may not be completely closed, which allows material to escape.
.jpg)
Conveyors and feeders should introduce material into a process, but it may be difficult to make sure of this. These are just some of the scenarios where an indication of flow or no flow can be the reason that a product is successful, fails, or even breaks the law.
Flow Detect 2000 for Preventing Cross-Contamination
The inexpensive single-piece Flow Detect 2000 is a flow/no flow detector that includes a sensing element, output and power connections, and user adjustment controls in one NEMA 4X enclosure.
This tightly-packed sensor assists in the prevention of cross-contamination by making sure that flow has halted before new material is brought into the flow stream.
It is perfect for establishing the flow conditions of powders and solids in gravity chutes, pipelines, feeders, bucket elevators, or conveyor belts.
It reduces the chances of conveyors running empty, downtime as a result of blockages, loose slide gates which can cause equipment failure and production loss, or no material flow to-and-from a process.
It is appropriate for use in the majority of industries, including the plastics, power, mining, cement, food, milling, grain, and food industries. It is suitable for meals, pellets, granules, solids, and powdered materials.
Applications and Advantages
The Flow Detect 2000 can assist in the prevention of possibly harmful and costly FSMA, USDA, or FDA compliance issues at facilities manufacturing food for animal or human consumption.
Discretionary North American Class II, Division 1 Groups E, F, and G, and ATEX Zone 21 hazardous location approvals are available for operations needing further protection from explosive dust.
This flow/no flow device is commonly used among livestock feed manufacturers who aim to make sure that only particular feed additives are introduced to particular blends of commercial feeds.
Additives that are harmless to one species are not always beneficial to another species and could cause potential danger. If a mistake happens, it could cause harm to animals and could incur USDA fines.
The Flow Detect 2000 functions as a preventive control to decrease the chance of cross-contamination and guarantee that an incorrect ingredient is not being introduced into the production system.
Installation and Functions
The Flow Detect 2000 is installed through a 1 to 1/4” NPT opening. It does not come into contact with the flow stream and is entirely non-intrusive. It employs microwave Doppler technology for very precise motion detection which can pass through non-metallic materials.
This gives the device the ability to see through a glass process seal, a plastic pipe, or the wall of a wooden chute to identify the material within the encasement.
It contains a switchable filter to decrease the impact of vibration and to ensure the identification of fast-flowing and moderate materials.
A single analog relay output conveys the flow or no flow status to a PLC and has the selection of utilizing both normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC) contacts. The LED indicator lights signal the status of the device to the end-user.
Know the Flow
- Ensure that flow has stopped entirely before starting a new process
- Adhere to regulations that stop the cross-contamination of ingredients
- Ensure that the ingredients specified for one process are not used in another process
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by BinMaster.
For more information on this source, please visit BinMaster.