Radar level measurement in the silo park: How Cementbouw is revolutionising processes with VEGAPULS 6X and PLICSMOBILE T81

Many plants still rely on mechanical or simple electronic level gauges, supplemented by manual calculations in spreadsheets or ERP systems. While this approach is tried and true, it has its weaknesses:

• No real-time level readings
• Safety reserves must still be maintained
• Lots of manual work required
• Risk of overfilling or material shortages

Cementbouw used such a system for a long time. VEGA high-level switches reliably prevented overfilling, while inventory levels were tracked in Excel files. However, with increasing demands for efficiency and transparency, there was a growing desire to use digital, non-contact level measurement that would provide exact data about filling levels and inventory at all times.

VEGAPULS 6X is a universal radar level transmitter for liquids and bulk solids. In Zwijndrecht, it was mounted on a swivel flange, allowing the radar beam to be optimally directed to the silo outlet. Installation and commissioning are remarkably simple. Rob Smulders, Business Development Manager at VEGA, reports:

“Our technician installed all the transmitters on the silos and commissioned them in a single day. All you have to do is align the transmitter with the silo outlet, enter the silo’s linearisation table into the transmitter – and you’re done.”

Key advantages of radar level measurement:

• Non-contact measurement without wear
• High measurement accuracy even in dusty conditions
• Level data update in real time
• Independent of material properties
• Maintenance free

For Cementbouw, this means: Exact level data – even during ship loading and unloading.
Arjan van de Rest, Senior Operations Officer, explains:

“Radar level measurement is significantly more precise, delivers level data in real time during unloading, and allows readout at any remote location.”

Besides efficiency, the CRH Group focuses on one thing above all else: Security for people, equipment and the environment. Overfilling silos can lead to material spillage, dust pollution or even structural damage. Precise level measurement with radar significantly reduces this risk. The transmitters deliver data continuously, enabling early detection of critical situations.

Since there is no central control system in the silo complex, Cementbouw is using the compact VEGA PLICSMOBILE T81 radio unit. The transmitter data is transmitted to the radio unit via the HART multidrop protocol and from there sent to the cloud via wireless network. VEGA Inventory System (VIS) makes clear and concise data readily available – even on mobile devices. Users can monitor the level in real time during unloading and immediately see how much material has already been transferred.