Application Note: Low Cost Truck Scale Alternative for Chemical Manufacturer
A chemical company was filling tankers using flow meters and then having them drive onto a truck scale to ensure they were properly filled. While this process worked, there were some issues. If the tanker was found to be under-filled or over-filled, it would need to be pulled back under the overhead loadout and reattached. This created double work for the operators.
The simplest solution is placing a truck scale under the overhead loadout. However, construction costs can add up quickly, particularly if the facility has multiple loadout stations. The precision measurement group at Cross was able to design a solution utilizing the Fairbanks Matrix Weighing System that was both relatively low-cost and legal for trade.
What's New at Cross
Conductivity Monitoring in Propane Dehydrogenation
Click below to read an application note about how M4Knick’s SE680X Conductivity Sensor, Stratos Pro transmitter, and ARF 210 fitting are used for conductivity monitoring in a propane dehydrogenation process. The combination of these items helped the customer reduce maintenance, extend their transmitter lifespan, and eliminate unexpected shutdowns.
Time for spring cleaning!
You are likely using your truck scale as the cash register for your facility, measuring raw materials coming in and finished product going out. However, as time passes your truck scale will provide less reliable measurements if it isn’t properly maintained. With spring upon us, it’s a great time to clean your scale and ensure proper functioning.
Did you know?
If you notice that your reading is jumping around when trucks pull on, it could be a checking issue. For scales to weigh properly they must fully sit on their load cells. They do, however, require checking systems in place that keep them from moving so much that the deck or load cells are damaged.
Traditional checking systems are designed to allow the scale to move along with traffic. These systems consist of check rods and bars as well as bumper bolts – all of which should be checked regularly for damage. If any of these components are found to be cracked or damaged they should be corrected immediately.
Not addressing these issues can result in permanent damage to your scale deck. Some canister-style load cell systems have checking on the load cells themself and do not include side checking (such as bumpers).
In addition to checking for damage, checking systems should be adjusted seasonally. Steel decks will expand in the Summer and contract in the Winter. You should ensure that your calibration provider is making these adjustments during regular inspections.
Finally, to extend the life of the scales and their checking systems, trucks should be prevented from entering and exiting the weighbridge too quickly. Visible signage, check-in stations, and guardrails can all help to alert drivers that they are approaching the scale and need to slow down.
Cross Provides Tangible Value for You
Reduce Risk
If your facility is running on an outdated legacy control system, you need to start thinking about migration. Planning your legacy system migration on your terms can reduce the risk of unplanned downtime.
The Cross Process Solutions team has years of experience in migrating legacy hardware and software systems. Contact us today start a conversation about risk mitigation.
Raise Quality
Ensuring that you are properly measuring pH, ORP, and conductivity in your chemical plant is critical.
M4Knick has decades of experience in the process control market and offers a wide array of high quality analytical sensors for pH, ORP, conductivity, and more!
Improve Efficiency
SCADA architecture helps you control and monitor data from devices spread across your chemical plant. Cross is a certified integrator for a number of SCADA solutions providers, including VTScada.
VTScada’s unique architecture integrates core SCADA components in a single installation, eliminating the need for multiple vendors and alleviating the frustration inherent in industrial software lifecycles, including pricing, licensing, development, and support.
