Product category:
Level Sensors and Leak Detectors
News Release from: Max Em Engineering | Subject: Multifunction liquid sensors
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 06 March 2006
Multifunction liquid sensor maintains
its accuracy
A solid state sensor can accurately and economically measure liquid parameters and detect ice.
Max Em Engineering has developed a solid state sensor for accurately and economically measuring liquid parameters and detecting ice The company claims that its novel technology can transform the performance (monitoring and diagnostics) of liquid (hydraulic) systems
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 8 Jun 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Liquid sensor measures level, temperature, quality
By using a single probe design and a single electronic hardware with different software, the multi-function Liquid Sensor can measure many liquid properties as well as detecting ice
Optical sensors are easy to set up, easy to use
The new B45 series of intelligent optical sensors from ABB Control is designed to offer maximum versatility and ease of use for a wide variety of control applications.
Currently, the method of developing a hydraulic system involves designing the power unit, such as a turbine or a pump, followed by analysis, followed by testing with data acquisition that uses accurate and expensive off-the-shelf sensors to determine the capabilities of the power unit.
Subsequently, off-the-shelf low-cost sensors are used to monitor and control the performance of the hydraulic system.
So the final hydraulic system performance depends not on what the power unit can deliver but rather on the accuracy of the low-cost sensor.
Further reading
Flexible bar code scanner designed to adapt
Thanks to the Adaptascan's autofocus capability and WindowsT-based configuration software, changes in focus, scan pattern, label format and communication requirements can be made on-line.
Compact imaging system attracts 1600 unit order
The new AV1200 imaging system from Accu-Sort offers versatile, high speed reading or decoding of linear and 2D codes on flat work and cartons within a depth of field of 50mm.
The Max Em concept is to start the design of the power system around the capabilities of the sensor, and to use a multifunction sensor that maintains accuracy through self-calibration.
Such a sensor will eliminate the need for a separate data acquisition system.
Furthermore, it will also be used in the finalised and delivered hydraulic system.
The prototype of the Max Em sensor can measure continuous liquid level, temperature, viscosity and acidity degradation of liquids and detect ice on a surface.
The company also has a design concept on how to make it measure flow-rate, pressure leakage in compressors for food boxes, detect water at the bottom of a fuel tank as well as detect presence of contaminants.
Max Em has produced a version of the sensor for measuring liquid level in motorcycle fuel tank with a depth of 200mm and accuracy of 1% of full scale as well as measuring temperature.
This can be customised to other applications with different heights and accuracy requirements.
The sensor combines low-cost electronics, a probe and software.
This sensor can be packaged for other applications like cars, trucks, buses, boats, machine tools etc A prototype of this sensor has been tested in diesel fuel, engine oil and coolant.
The sensor has also been used to measure continuous oil level in compressors used for refrigerating food boxes in supermarkets.
The oil in such compressors is foamy, and both the relative permittivity and reflective index of the foam are very close to those of the oil, and so optical and capacitive technology will not work in this application.
The sensor operates below 10Hz, and so does not need EMI shielding.
• Max Em Engineering: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
