Endress+Hauser’s new ceramic and metallic Cerabar M instruments were developed specifically for hygienic applications in dairies, breweries and pharmaceutical companies. Through its own experience and listening to customer feedback it knew that:
* Process temperatures in the food & beverage and life science industries have increased.
* Cleaning regimes are more intensive than ever.
* Simpler user interfaces were required.
* Globalisation required new and different process connections and international certification.
* Many existing components were no longer available and suitable replacements were required.
With these principles in mind, the first prototype instruments were constructed with the clear goal of producing perfect and repeatable application performance. Endress+Hauser has recently invested over €500 000 in a new test centre where many practical, real-life situations can be simulated to test new instruments and determine further optimisation potential. Here, the new Cerabar M instruments were put through their paces in a series of tests designed to ensure that these instruments offered the highest quality and safety standards.
Laboratory tests
Test electromagnetic compatibility: in the EMC laboratory the performance of the sensors was tested under harsh electromagnetic interference, surges and bursts with voltage interruptions and variations.
Result: Cerabar M complies with all relevant requirements of EN61326 and NAMUR.
Test ingress protection: the IP laboratory subjected the sensors to underwater immersion and high pressure and temperature water jets that simulate the demanding environments and cleaning regimes employed in hygienic industries.
Result: Cerabar M has housing and mounting arrangements with ingress protection options ranging from IP64 through to lP68 and even lP69K.
Test condensation chamber: the condensation chamber replicates conditions common in many hygienic applications with process temperatures of 4°C combined with warm ambient conditions and very high humidity. This checks the instrument will not be vulnerable to condensation accumulating inside the housing that could cause the sensor or electronics to fail.
Result: compliant to DIN EN 60721-3-4 (air temperature -20 to 55°C, relative humidity 4 to 100%).
Test thermal shock: SIP (Steam in Place) cleaning is often employed in the hygienic applications. The thermal shock laboratory tested the Cerabar’s ability to provide accurate measurement whilst the process was cycled over 400 times between cold water and 150°C steam.
Result: suitable for SIP cleaning at temperatures up to 150°C for one hour.
Test O-ring: in order to ensure that process fluid could not pass the O-ring seals used with the ceramic cell, each seal material option was tested for its sealing integrity over its full temperature and pressure range.
Result: Cerabar M can be supplied with Viton, HNBR, EPDM, KaIrez, Fluroprene and VMQ silicone seals to handle whatever fats, oils or corrosive chemicals are present in the process over a wide temperature range.
Test vibration: vibration is inevitable in some part of the process on most sites. It is therefore important to test every new instrument to ensure it can withstand the conditions it will need to function in. Cerabar M was tested in accordance with GL and lEe test standards.
Result: performance is guaranteed in typical process environments.
Field trials
Having successfully completed these rigorous preliminary tests, the two new Cerabar instruments were subject to field trials. Applications were chosen to test them under extreme conditions, including wide temperature variations, condensing conditions and even vibrations. Only when the field trials were concluded and the quality and reliability of the instruments in real-life applications established were the sensors considered ready for launch on the open market.
For more information contact Hennie Blignaut, Endress+Hauser, +27 (0)11 262 8000, [email protected], www.za.endress.com
| Tel: | +27 11 262 8000 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.endress.com |
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