Acoustics-based device monitors uneven topography
BinMaster
The BinMaster 3D Level Scanner (photo) uses non-contact, dust- penetrating technology to detect solid material surfaces. It provides early warning of surface irregularity, the development of cones, or sidewall buildup in bins and vessels, and is suitable for pellets, granular and powdered materials and other bulk solids in a wide array of chemical process industries (CPI) applications. This advanced, acoustics-based technology measures multiple points within the bin, and performs well in powders and bulk solids enclosed in tanks, silos and warehouses, as well as open bins and piles. With a measuring distance of up to 200 ft, this device uses 3-D mapping capabilities to provide a visual representation of bin contents, detecting irregular material surfaces and providing highly accurate bin-volume calculations. Communications include 4–20-mA HART, Modbus RTU, TCP/IP and RS-485. It has the following hazardous-location classifications: CFM Intrinsically Safe Class I, II, Division I, Groups, C, D, E, F and G (U.S. and Canada). It is self-cleaning, requires minimal maintenance and has a variety of extensions and configurations to allow it to meet a range of challenging applications, says the company. — BinMaster, Lincoln, Neb.