Transmitters tackle critical level measurement

An Emerson Process Management - Rosemount Measurement product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 15, 2003

Rosemount 3051S transmitters are tackling a difficult level-measurement application at the Sandoz pharmaceutical plant at Kundl, Austria.

After evaluating the performance of several manufacturers' transmitters on a difficult level-measurement application, engineers from the Sandoz pharmaceutical plant at Kundl, Austria placed an order with Emerson Process Management for a quantity of 56 Rosemount 3051S transmitters.

Sandoz is a global producer of generic pharmaceuticals and develops, manufactures and sells these medicines and pharmaceuticals and biotechnological active ingredients.

Its Austrian affiliate, formerly known as Biochemie, has one of the largest biotech-facilities in the world.

"It is important to us that we have an accurate measure of level in our vessels", said Ing Richard Embacher of Sandoz Austria.

"We had adopted another manufacturer's transmitters as the site standard.

However, because of the accuracy required for this application, we decided to evaluate several additional makes of transmitters.

Following testing, we decided that the Rosemount 3051S transmitters would be the best solution for this application".

The transmitters, fitted with chemical seals, will be installed at the top and bottom of storage and preparation vessels that are used to contain various different fluids.

"This application was not straightforward", said Embacher.

Also commenting was Josef Reichinger, the Emerson product specialist who worked closely with Sandoz Austria on the evaluation.

"The vessels were encased in concrete therefore making modifications to the vessel very difficult.

The technology had to provide a highly accurate measurement at low pressure readings while being able to be installed using the existing process connections".

The solution selected by Sandoz Austria was to use two 3051S transmitters, close coupled to chemical seals, mounted top and bottom of each vessel.

Using two transmitters reduced the temperature effects of the capillaries while the highly accurate 3051S transmitter still provided the accuracy for the measurements.

Added advantages were the easy installation of the direct mount seal, range setting of the device in the field without knowing tank geometry, and using the scaled variable feature to get a direct display of the liquid level in the tank.

During installation and commissioning, the transmitters were configured using AMS Suite predictive maintenance software from Emerson.

AMS Suite is a key component of PlantWeb digital plant architecture, and allows users to manage the configuration, calibration and maintenance of Hart and Foundation fieldbus devices as well as being able to detect, predict and diagnose potential failures.

Going forward, the AMS Suite software will be used to monitor the health of the device and also maintain all audit trail and calibration records.

This application adopted the best measurement practices for level applications.

The 3051S direct mount solution enhances safety and reduces capital costs.

Also the enhanced functionality and diagnostics of the 3051S coupled with AMS Suite reduces operation costs and increases plant availability.

The 3051S has best-in-class performance with 0.04% accuracy, and the industry's first 10-year stability under actual process conditions, backed by a 12-year warranty.