Sugar production

Discharge of the sugar beet at the unloading station

Sugar beets are transported in lorries and poured onto conveyor belts that transfer them to washing and cutting stations. Several non-contact sensors are situated above the belt to monitor the profile of the material on the conveyor belt.

Level measurement of solids with VEGASON 63

Ultrasonic sensors are an economic solution for profile monitoring. The emitted ultrasonic waves are reflected by the product. The integrated electronics evaluates the distance to the product surface and thus the height/volume of the product on the conveyor belt. The transmitting power of the instruments is set to a level that is not influenced by fog, wind or humidity. VEGASON 63 has a special mounting bracket that allows optimal positioning to suit the geometry, i.e. incline, of the measured product. The installation and wiring costs are considerably reduced thanks to service-proven two-wire technology. Set-up and adjustment is as easy as the subsequent continuous operating of the instrument.

From sugar beet to sugar crystal

“Yellow thin juice” is extracted from the raw juice of the sugar beet. This “thin juice” is transported to the evaporator station. Excess water is evaporated out in several stages. The resulting thick juice contains between 65 to 70 % solid material. Level measurement in the evaporator is critical. The evaporation process is aided by vacuum and heat input. The liquid in the evaporator boils violently and produces a great amount of vapour. The density of the juice changes dramatically during the evaporation process.

Non-contact level measurement with VEGAPULS 63

Non-contact radar sensors of the VEGAPULS series are particularly suitable for level measurement in sugar evaporators. The VEGAPULS 63 sensor with PTFE encapsulated horn antenna is virtually unaffected by contamination caused by the juice. The instrument is pressure and vacuum resistant, even in case of dynamic or shock pressure. Radar is insensitive to temperature and can provide reliable measuring results up to a process temperature of 150°C (302°F). Thanks to the encapsulated antenna, the instrument can be easily cleaned and meets the requirements of FDA regulations.

VEGASON 63

	Non-contact measurement
	Measuring range up to 15 m (49.2 ft)
	Suitable for abrasive products

VEGAPULS 63

	Non-contact measurement
	Wetted parts of PTFE
	High chemical resistance