Reliable pressure measurement in emulsion line prevents pump failure

Exactly that was the case in an emulsion line behind a pump at Kievit, part of FrieslandCampina. Only after the deployment of the VEGABAR 38 are reliable measured values now available and pump failure is a thing of the past.

When the taste buds in the mouth explode, it is not only due to the aroma, but often also to the consistency of a product. Specialist in that kind of taste sensation is the Dutch company Kievit. "Together with our customers, we develop ingredients for the beverage and food industry, such as foaming creams, coffee and cocoa mixtures, fat powders, whipping agents, functional blends, micro encapsulations and cake emulsifiers," says Ger van den Berg, responsible for work preparation and planning at Kievit, Meppel location. FrieslandCampina Kievit has relied on VEGA sensors for pressure and level measurement questions for about 15 years. "I value the reliability of the instruments and know that we don't have to worry about them," Van den Berg explains his choice. VEGA proved that again recently at a measurement point that had been a concern for years.

Pressure sensor to monitor emulsion

In this part of the plant, the emulsion is monitored. Once the emulsion reaches a certain temperature, it is further pumped with a high-pressure pump. A constant pressure must be present in this circuit to feed the high-pressure pump. In order to know at an early stage whether the filter is starting to become contaminated, a pressure measurement is therefore installed behind the pump. "Previously, pressure measuring instruments from another manufacturer were used here. Because of their limited lifespan, these kept causing problems," Van den Berg explains. Other measurement principles, such as flow measurements, did not work well either. On the one hand, moisture ingress caused problems, and on the other, the membrane often failed. "However, measurement is necessary for the overall process, as it is the only way to monitor the contamination of the filter, which in turn is crucial for trouble-free operation of the pump," Van den Berg said.

Dropout reduced to a minimum

Even before the official market launch in August 2019, the new VEGABAR 38 was therefore installed. That the measuring instrument can withstand any conditions that may arise during operation is due in particular to the patented CERTEC® measuring cell. The ceramic membrane in the measuring cell is characterized by extreme robustness and resistance to overloading and is therefore extremely resistant to high pressures and pressure surges. Since its installation, the VEGABAR 38 has minimized failures due to filter contamination by timely notification of pressure increases. The VEGABAR 38 features a colored 360° display of the switching status. This allows you to see at a glance whether the measuring application is working, whether the sensor is switching and whether there might be a fault in the process. The filter can then be cleaned to restore sufficient flow so that the pump does not fail.

Easy installation and commissioning

Because this was actually a kind of pilot project, VEGA's team was still present at the installation. "But in the future we will do it ourselves. The installation and commissioning of VEGA instruments is very easy thanks to the PACTware software or the VEGATOOLS app that enables wireless (Bluetooth) commissioning via smartphone or tablet," knows Van den Berg, who has greatly appreciated the quality and reliability of VEGA instruments and VEGA's service for many years. "I like the color. After all, the eye wants something too," laughs Van den Berg, immediately adding that the pressure sensors have been working trouble-free since they have been in use. And should a problem arise, Van den Berg knows he can count on VEGA even then. "As soon as I had a question, VEGA always helped me immediately," he says. Specifically, he recalls a raw material that consisted of a very light powder with a low Ɛr (DK) value, which was therefore difficult to detect. "Together with the account manager and technicians from VEGA, we then worked for a very long time to finally achieve a good result. The fact that we still got that measurement right at the time created a good basis of trust with us," Van den Berg concludes.