Clever combination for filling level control

Ultrasonic diffuse-reflection sensor and transducer from ipf monitor silo containers

Sensors with analog evaluation are required for reliable filling level control of large containers. An ultrasonic diffuse-reflection sensor of the UT30 series in combination with the versatile BA050100 analog converter from ipf electronic has proven to be an ideal solution for this task.

The UT309023 ultrasonic diffuse-reflection sensor with a measuring range of 600mm to 6,000mm is mounted in the lid area of a silo container in such a way that the sound converter of the sensor and thus the sound beam is directed downwards onto the material to be detected. The diffuse-reflection sensor operates according to the so-called echo propagation time method. From the time required for the ultrasonic waves to travel from the sensor to the material surface in the container and back to the device, the sensor calculates the exact distance and outputs this value via a distance-proportional analog signal. The teach mode or the integrated IO-Link interface of the UT309023 can be used to easily switch between current and voltage signal. For the evaluation of the filling level, a PLC is not necessarily required, as this can also be done directly via the BA050100 transducer.

With the two 16-bit analog inputs and the four digital outputs of the BA050100, such an application can be realized with little effort. The transducer, which can be set to both a current and voltage signal, is parameterized via the front touch screen. In addition, the four digital outputs can be freely assigned to the analog inputs and an event can be set for each output individually. In this specific case, the digital outputs control different colored segments of a signal light as well as an acoustic signal, which are switched for a short time via the pulse output setting at 90 percent of tank filling. By means of an additional setting, the switching operations of the signal lamps can also be shown in parallel on the display by means of a color change.