Biofuel

Biofuel is produced from biomass resources to make liquid fuels like ethanol, methanol, and biodiesel, and gaseous fuels such as hydrogen and methane (see Biogas). Biofuels are primarily used to fuel transportation vehicles, but they can also fuel engines or fuel cells for electricity generation.

Biofuel level applications

FERMENTATION: In ethanol production, fermentation provides a series of chemical reactions that convert sugars to ethanol. Ethanol and carbon dioxide are produced as the sugar is consumed by yeast or bacteria. Level control of the fermentation tank must tolerate agitation, aeration, and the presence of froth or foam.
REACTOR TANK: Biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol production use reactors for chemical addition and mixing. In a Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor one or more fluid reagents are introduced into a tank reactor equipped with an impeller that stirs the reagents to ensure proper mixing. The reactor tank requires level monitoring and alarms.
REAGENT TANK: A reagent is a compound that is added to a system in order to bring about a chemical reaction. In biodiesel production, an alkali reagent is used in titration, a test used to determine how much catalyst is needed to achieve a reaction. Reagents are stored in tanks equipped with level controls.
SUMPS: Liquids are collected in sumps and pits during hydrolyzation, fermentation, distillation and glucose processing of biofuels. As the liquid level rises or falls in a sump, a level switch can actuate or deactuate a pump or activate an overfill alarm.
LIQUID STORAGE: A wide array of liquids are stored at biofuel plants including water, biodiesel, methanol, ethylene, catalysts, and waste liquids. Level instruments monitor inventory levels and protect against overfills and underfills that cavitate pumps.

Related products

Magnetrol

Displacer switches – single, dual and tri-switch series

Single-Stage Switches

Series A10 displacer type level measurement units are wide differential units calibrated to actuate as a liquid level reaches a given displacer and to deactuate when the level reaches a second displacer. Single stage, wide differential displacer switches are factory calibrated yet field-adjustable to operate over a wide level differential band.

The minimum differential band is approximately 6 inches (152 mm) in water and varies somewhat with liquid specific gravity. The maximum differential is determined by the length of the displacer suspension cable. Series A15 units are calibrated to operate over a narrow level differential band and are ideally suited for liquid level alarm applications on either high or low level.

Dual-Stage Switches

Series B10 displacer type level measurement units are wide differential tandem switches that are factory calibrated with a choice of several switch operating sequences designed to meet virtually any application.

Series B15 units are narrow differential tandem switches that are factory calibrated. Each switch actuates at a different level.

Tri-Stage Switches

Series C10 displacer type level measurement units utilize three electrically separate control signals in a selected sequence in response to liquid level changes.

Series C15 units are wide differential switches with a choice of several operating sequences combining wide and narrow level differential and are factory calibrated.

Magnetrol

E4 Modulevel® liquid level transmitter

The E4 Modulevel® is a loop powered, two-wire instrument, utilizing simple buoyancy principles to detect and convert liquid level changes into a stable output signal. The linkage between the level sensing element and output electronics provides a purely mechanical design and construction. The vertical in-line design of the transmitter results in low instrument weight and simplified installation. The instrument comes in a variety of configurations and pressure ratings for varied applications.

The E4 Modulevel has microprocessor based electronics with 4–20 mA/HART® digital output. E4 supports the FDT/DTM standard and a PACTware™ PC software package allows for additional configuration, diagnostics and trending capabilities.

Magnetrol

Eclipse® 706 guided wave radar transmitter

The Eclipse^® Model 706 high performance transmitter is a loop-powered, 24 VDC level transmitter that is based upon the proven technology of guided wave radar (GWR). Encompassing a number of significant engineering accomplishments, this leading-edge level transmitter is designed to provide measurement performance well beyond that of many of the more traditional technologies.

Utlilizing "diode switching" technology, along with the most comprehensive probe offering on the market, this single transmitter can be used in a wide variety of applications ranging from very light hydrocarbons to water-based media.

The innovative angled, dual compartment enclosure is now a common sight in the industry. This enclosure, first brought to the industry by Magnetrol^® in 1998, is angled to maximize ease of wiring, configuration, and viewing of the versatile graphic LCD display.

One universal ECLIPSE Model 706 transmitter can be used and interchanged with all probe types, and offers enhanced reliability as it is suitable for use in critical SIL 2/3 Certified safety loops.

The ECLIPSE Model 706 transmitter supports both the FDT/DTM and enhanced DD standards, which allows viewing of valuable configuration and diagnostic information such as the echo curve in tools such as PACTware^™, AMS Device Manager, and various HART® Field Communicators.

Orion Instruments

Jupiter® JM4 magnetostrictive level transmitter

The Jupiter^® JM4 liquid level transmitter is a loop-powered 24 VDC liquid-level transmitter and is available as a direct insertion transmitter or as an external mounted transmitter onto a Magnetic Level Indicator. It relies on the position of a magnetic float which is designed precisely for the liquid to be measured. This high-accuracy device can be designed for liquid level and/or liquid-liquid interface measurement.

The high safety level of JUPITER is demonstrated by a Safe Failure Fraction > 90 %

Magnetrol

Non-contact radar model R82 pulse burst radar transmitter

Radar has been part of the level measurement market for more than thirty years. The early designs used in tank gauging were heavy, expensive, power-hungry and complex. Advancements in radar circuitry have evolved the modern radar transmitter so that now it is light, inexpensive, loop-powered and easy to use. The R82 is the logical extension of that evolution.

Microwave-based radar is a superior measurement technology with its ability to operate effectively in a wide range of process conditions. It has been too expensive to use as a replacement for ultrasonic transmitters in simple, daily applications...until now. The R82 radar transmitter can be considered the answer to almost every daily level measurement application imaginable.