Technical Data
CompareElectrical & communication
| Output signal | Transistor (PNP/NPN) |
| Operating voltage | 12 … 35 V DC |
Process conditions
| Process connection | Thread G½, G¾, G1, M24 x 1.5 Thread ½ NPT, ¾ NPT, 1 NPT Clamp 1", 1½", 2" |
| Process pressure - standard | -1 … 25 bar/-100 … 2500 kPa (-14.5 … 363 psig) Process pressure - fully metallic version (stainless steel) -1 … 64 bar/-100 … 6400 kPa (-14.5 … 928 psig) |
| Process temperature | -40 … +115 ℃ (-40 … +239 ℉) |
| Ambient temperature | -40 … +70 ℃ (-40 … +158 ℉) |
Application area
The VEGAPOINT 21 is a capacitive level sensor for level detection ofwater-based liquids.Typical applications are overfill and dry run protection. The small sensorcan also be used in thin pipelines.
Your benefit
- Simple setup via Bluetooth adjustment
- High plant availability, because wear and maintenance free
- Exact switching function independent of process condition
Function
An alternating electric field is generated at the tip of the measuringelectrode. If the sensor is covered with medium, the capacitance ofthe sensor changes. This change is detected by the electronics andconverted into a switching command.Any buildup is ignored to a certain degree and therefore has no influence on the measurement.
Case Studies
Municipal Wastewater Treatment · capacitors — Application Case
Customer Profile
The typical setting in Municipal Wastewater Treatment is the inlet, biological and outlet stages of a municipal plant. The measuring point is capacitors; the focus is capacitive sensing of level, interface or point limit.
Key Difficulties
Conditions are high solids and corrosive fractions, with large diurnal flow swings and, on top of that, effluent parameters drift and probes foul with sludge and biofilm, which a standard configuration cannot handle for long. The design therefore starts with choosing rod, cable or plate probes by dielectric constant and build-up tendency.
Implementation
The scope ran through the level range: level solution matched to the actual tank and silo geometry. Technically it hinges on choosing rod, cable or plate probes by dielectric constant and build-up tendency, and on these requirements: stable compliance with Grade 1A discharge limits and online data reporting.
Customer Benefit
In practice this means reliable detection despite build-up, with far fewer false alarms, which cut the workload on the site maintenance team.
Food & Beverage · capacitors — Application Case
Project Background
The project covers dosing, pasteurising, filling and CIP stages. The work centres on capacitors and the core task is capacitive sensing of level, interface or point limit.
Operating Challenges
The medium and duty are characterised by syrups, dairy and beverages that scale easily, under strict hygienic requirements, and frequent cleaning demands instruments that withstand hot CIP/SIP caustic cycles. So capacitors cannot be specified generically — it calls for choosing rod, cable or plate probes by dielectric constant and build-up tendency.
Solution
The Ainstru engineering team worked through the level range: level solution matched to the actual tank and silo geometry. The configuration involves choosing rod, cable or plate probes by dielectric constant and build-up tendency, with these requirements in view: food-safety and hygienic design per 3-A / EHEDG.
Results
Since start-up the system has run steadily; the practical result is reliable detection despite build-up, with far fewer false alarms.
Chemical & Pharmaceutical · capacitors — Application Case
Project Overview
The site is reactors, metering vessels and finished-product tanks. The customer wanted capacitors properly configured on the existing plant, with the aim of capacitive sensing of level, interface or point limit.
Technical Challenges
What actually causes trouble is highly corrosive media with solvents and crystallisation, partly in explosive atmospheres, and corrosion plus Ex protection shortens instrument life and makes downtime costly. All of this means the capacitors configuration has to involve choosing rod, cable or plate probes by dielectric constant and build-up tendency.
Configuration
Supply and installation were organised through the level range: level solution matched to the actual tank and silo geometry. On site this meant choosing rod, cable or plate probes by dielectric constant and build-up tendency, checked line by line against: Ex certification and GMP traceability of records.
Performance
After commissioning the outcome is reliable detection despite build-up, with far fewer false alarms, and the readings are now used for process tuning.
Power & Energy · capacitors — Application Case
Site Conditions
This is a Power & Energy customer whose plant is at boiler feedwater, turbine condensate and FGD/DeNOx systems. The main task was capacitive sensing of level, interface or point limit.
The Problem
The difficulty lies in high temperature and pressure with both steam and saline water; at the same time drift under high temperature and pressure, with very costly unplanned outages. Specification therefore means choosing rod, cable or plate probes by dielectric constant and build-up tendency.
What We Did
We took a level range approach — level solution matched to the actual tank and silo geometry. Delivery was built around choosing rod, cable or plate probes by dielectric constant and build-up tendency, with point-by-point checks on: compliance with power-industry codes and unit availability targets.
Operating Outcome
In service the system performs as intended — reliable detection despite build-up, with far fewer false alarms, with routine maintenance falling noticeably.
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