The case at a glance
Region: North America
Industry: Chemical
Customer: Multinational Chemical Specialty Company
Challenge: Accurate radar monitoring of blending processes during inclement weather
Product: SITRANS LR250 Flanged encapsulated antenna (FEA)
Main benefits:
• Accurate tank level readings
• Easy installation and programing saves time and money
• Reduced repair costs
Challenge
From blizzards to tornadoes to hurricanes, bad weather can cause problems. But a rainy day or a typical thunder storm should mean “business as usual.”
That wasn’t true for a U.S. Midwestern location of a multinational chemical specialty company based in Germany. When the weather was rainy, their radar level transmitters for monitoring their blending processes were failing.
An instrument tech for the unit’s manufacturer visited multiple times to change o-rings and seals. The repairs cost the company thousands of dollars but failed to solve the problem.
Finally, the company realized the origin of the problem: moisture coming into the electronics where the electronics and horn come together and seal. The problem occurred during heavy rains and in the winter when materials “shrink.” This caused the unit’s data transmissions to malfunction.
Solution
That’s when Craig Kuchta, a Lesman Instrument Company representative, came in to help find a solution. Kuchta proposed the Siemens SITRANS LR250 Flanged encapsulated antenna (FEA), a 2-wire, 25 GHz pulse radar level transmitter for continuous monitoring of liquids and slurries in storage and process vessels. The device is designed to stand up to corrosive or aggressive materials, to a range of 66 feet. And the flange encapsulated antenna seals the process and keeps aggressive chemicals from damaging the horn antenna. Representatives of the chemical company were immediately convinced of the benefits of the Siemens solution.
Kuchta arrived with a LR250 demo unit, and the project engineer asked him to leave it for testing. The LR250’s start-up programming features a graphical local user interface (LUI) that improves setup and operation by including an intuitive Quick Start Wizard, and echo profile displays for diagnostic support. The device was installed and performed successfully after only a few minutes of programming. The company purchased the demo unit on the spot, and ordered five additional units for installation.
Conclusion
The chemical specialty company can now accurately read chemical tank levels and realize better material management, while avoiding false shutdowns and expensive repair costs.
Now that the company has seen firsthand the advantages of Siemens’ engineering and reliability, it plans to convert to Siemens equipment as devices age and fail. And the chemical producer is now looking at new applications where Siemens can help them realize a competitive advantage.
