A better focus on bitumen tank level
Bitumen is always a difficult product
to measure, challenging with high
temperatures, build up, splashing,
sublimation and ready adhesion. Its
handling safety parameters are also
very high, with comprehensive safety
guidelines from bitumen suppliers’
organisations and industry regulators. As
part of this, effective, reliable level control
for tanks is therefore of paramount
importance.
An 80 GHz radar is proving a worthy,
proven solution for bitumen storage tank
levels at Chase Protective Coatings at
Rye, on the South coast of East Sussex. In
the spring of 2016 they installed one of
the first of a this new generation of radar
level sensors in the UK.
It has been in operation ever since,
already providing a ‘long term’ testimony
for what is still a relatively new
technology. This application also provides
a valuable insight to where the difference
lies between various radar frequencies.
Chase make coated products for industrial
use. For over 70 years they have made
a material difference by developing high
performance Industrial Coatings, tapes,
adhesives and sealants that are marketed
under brand names recognized as the
most trusted in their respective industries
for high reliability applications. Among the
product lines produced at the Rye plant
are cold applied bitumen tapes for light,
meant that it detected too many ‘false VEGA supplied their latest 80 GHz
reflections’ for the sensor to deal with. technology radar sensor: VEGAPULS
The result was that below a certain point 64, on a sale or return basis. It was
and PVC pipe wraps. it was impossible to measure the level put forward for two main reasons;
in the vessel, as the ‘echo picture’ was its performance with build up and its
One of their bitumen storage vessels too confusing. This caused problems for focusing. Build up on sensors when
was not a ‘new vessel’ by any means, production planning (how much is left?) measuring bitumen is always a challenge
at around 6m high, not particularly tall and concerns for safety during filling (how to overcome, from splashing during
either. The previous level device on much can we put in?). A new solution filling and the sublimation of tar fumes
it was another manufacturer’s 6Ghz was sought. They still wanted, ideally, a from heating during storage. The high
technology radar transmitter. It had non contact device that could measure sensitivity electronics in this latest
never been able to measure the full the level all the way down and be easily technology has the benefit that even
vessel contents, because a very wide installed, without contact to the product. heavy build up has minimal affect on
medium and heavy duty pipe wrapping,
along with other specialist tapes,
moulding compounds, grids, marine tapes
beam angle and some internal plates
24 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk
sensor performance, and it has worked