Chemical Technology November 2015

Minimal size, many talents

Precise measurement of consumable fuels in automobile industry

KOBOLD Instrumentation, represented in South Africa by Instrotech, a Comtest Group company, was asked to look into, and supply a solution to an on-going ‘headache’ for an established Japanese automotive company – how to accurately record the exact quantity of fuel received on-site, daily. In order to track every single part and consumable needed to get the 28 000 cars this manufacturer produces monthly, up and run- ning, it goes without saying that the logistics department’s records have to be highly accurate and instantly accessible. One of the most important consumables is fuel, both gasoline and diesel. These fuels are not only used for car testing, but also for utility purposes like fork- lifts, emergency electric generator, inter-plant transportation, etc. The flow and level metering of the fluids, had always been of concern to management. The automotive company routinely purchases fuel, which arrives at the plant site by fuel truck. It is unloaded and stored in several dedicated storage tanks. The existing gear flow meters had been running for more than 10 years and the operation was handled by a single field operator, using simple log book. The level meters were even more traditional, using only mechanical floats and simple ‘on- the-tank-side’ scale. KOBOLD’s aim was to provide the automotive company with more accurate measurement, while minimising human error and providing on-line data acquisition, which also generates a separate report for management use. In order to improve the quality of measurement, KOBOLD also urged their distributor to provide the customer with ad- equate air eliminating units, which resulted in the entire flowmetering piping system being modified. KOBOLD proposed using their TME coriolis mass flow meters and NMC capacitance level transmitters, integrated with a PC-based centralized data acquisition unit, to be located in the Logistics Room, thus giving the company a completely new flow metering and level measurement system for the client’s truck unloading and storage system, which has been running effectively since installation. For more information on Kobold’s TME coriolis mass flow meters and NMC capacitance level transmitters for precise measurement of consumable fuels in automobile industry, contact Instrotech on +27 10 595 1831 or sales@instrotech.co.za

Are you looking for compact, accurate and highly versatile hygienic level switches? OPTISWITCH 6500 and 6600 are the answer. Based on over 90 years of experience in industrial process instrumentation, KROHNE level switches continue to set the industry standard for minimally invasive sensors. The Pulsed Width Modulation (PWM) technology unique to the OPTISWITCH 6500 and 6600 can accurately distinguish between media with very similar characteristics. It makes these truly multi-talented switches the solution for both high and low level alarms in liquids as well as solids – even liquids with changing characteristics. Very compact, virtually maintenance free, fully FDA compliant and 3A-certified, the OPTISWITCH 6500 and 6600 are at home in a broad range of hygienic applications in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, transport, water and marine industries. When size and versatility matter, these are the robust precision instruments that fit and last.

KROHNE – Level measurement is our world.

KROHNE South Africa 8 Bushbuck Close Corporate Park South Randtjiespark, Midrand Tel.: +27 113141391 Fax: +27 113141681 Cell: +27 825563934 John Alexander j.alexander@krohne.com www.za.krohne.com

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Chemical Technology • November 2015