FLOWave: Detecting media changeover

The pipeline has to be rinsed with cleaning fluid after each batch process. This causes product rejects. Discover how FLOWave flowmeter reduces rejects and increases plant efficiency.

Food and beverage manufacturers usually process several products in a single plant. In batch process operations, rejects occur with every media changeover. With FLOWave, Bürkert has managed to develop a flowmeter that quickly detects any media changeover. In terms of your plant, this means: You reduce rejects and increase efficiency. Less product in the waste water also leads to less water treatment costs. Manufacturers of food products, such as milk, beer and lemonade, are already using FLOWave successfully.

Discover in the next section why FLOWave measures to optimum hygiene standards.

Efficiency is key – Regardless of whether you process milk, beer or lemonade: during normal operation, your plant should produce as efficiently as possible.

FLOWave: Challange

Regardless of whether milk, beer or cleaning fluid: flow measurements demand meters that are compatible with a range of liquids.

The pipeline has to be rinsed after each batch process. During the media changeover, the product is contaminated with cleaning fluid and can therefore not be put on the market at the end of the value chain.

Electromagnetic flowmeters (EMF) can also be used to measure the flow of various liquids. However, if they should also detect the media changeover, they must be combined with additional sensors.

Coriolis flowmeters detect the media changeover, but are expensive to purchase and difficult to handle due to their size and weight.

Hygienic flow measurement with SAW technology

Hygiene is particularly important in the production of food and beverages. FLOWave therefore meets high level hygiene standards. Thanks to innovative SAW technology, the flowmeter works without sensor elements in the measuring tube. No parts in the measuring tube means: no leaks, no material incompatibility, no maintenance, no pressure drop and easy cleaning.

FLOWave cross section showing SAW principle

Bürkert’s patented SAW technology uses surface acoustic waves to measure the flow of liquids. SAW stands for Surface Acoustic Waves. These waves occur in nature, e.g. as a result of seismic activities. Advantage of the measuring principle: It works without any sensor elements in the measuring tube that come into contact with the medium.

FLOWave: The 7 advantages you should know

Regardless of the conductivity of the medium, FLOWave measures the volume flow with an accuracy of 0.4% of the measured value. The temperature tolerance here is less than 1 ° C.

FLOWave consists of a stainless steel tube. It does not require any sensors that come into contact with the medium and thus measures the flow in completely hygienic conditions. This is confirmed by various certificates. ASME BPE, 3A and EHEDG.

FLOWave devices utilise the Bürkert device platform EDIP. It facilitates handling of the devices and their integration into an existing fieldbus system. EDIP is our contribution to Industry 4.0.

Compact and lightweight, the flow meter fits into any system and is easy to install. A FLOWave device measures just two inches in size and weighs 3.4 kg. By way of comparison: A two-inch Coriolis system weighs 70 kg.

FLOWave measures the differentiation factor and therefore detects changes to the fluid very quickly. This simplifies the separation of production steps and makes your system more productive.

The high-resolution 2.4" display offers flexible operation with intuitive, graphic user guidance. Freely definable measured value names and the ability to optionally display one to four measured values, a trend curve and the configuration interface allow for a customized display. The WLAN module also allows you to access measurement parameters remotely using a web browser. This is useful when FLOWave is mounted at inaccessible points in the process.

FLOWave measures the acoustic transmission factor. This allows it to detect bubbles, particles or solids in the liquid. If defined process variables are exceeded or undercut, you can intervene quickly.

Differentiation factor: The decisive difference

FLOWave determines the density continuously. This is a temperature compensated measured value. If it changes, FLOWave recognises that a different liquid is flowing. For example, when milk turns into water at the end of a batch process. This fast and precise measurement reduces rejects and increases the efficiency of your plant.

FLOWave Graph showing the variation of the density factor

In the example, two types of lemonade with varying sugar content are distinguished from each other: the lemonade with more sugar has a differentiation factor of 1.025. The differentiation factor for the lemonade with slightly less sugar is 1.002. The higher the sugar content of a liquid, the higher the differentiation factor.

Fluent and profitable: 100 litres of liquid per minute flow through a DN50 pipeline. In conventional plants, the media changeover is time-controlled; due to the tolerance, the valve to the drain opens 15 seconds too early. With 5 media changeovers per day, around 125 litres of your product end up in the drain. FLOWave detects the media changeover faster, sends a message to the valve, which switches 10 seconds earlier, thereby protecting your resources and your budget.

Discover how to detect media changeover quickly and precisely in order to maximise your profit in our flyer.
Download flyer including example calculation now.

Flyer Measuring the flow fluently

FLOWave SAW flowmeter Type 8098 for more profit.

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FLOWave SAW flowmeter

Type 8098

No obstacles inside the measuring tube, compact, lightweight and low energy consumption
Conforms to hygienic requirements, CIP/SIP compatible
Ideal for liquids with low or no conductivity
Digital communication, parameterisation via Communicator, display
Optional: ATEX/IECEx certification, II 3G/D