Automotive Battery Water Measurement

Global automotive battery sales are predicted to reach nearly $5 billion dollars in 2011 as new car sales are on pace to break 2007 records. In the United States alone, 99 million automotive batteries are produced each year for cars, trucks, golf carts, forklifts, heavy equipment, motorcycles and boats. With our society becoming more mobile every day, you can expect higher production numbers for years to come, particularly in emerging markets. At this facility, batteries are charged before final packaging and distribution. Large skids are filled with deionized water to prevent accidental overcharging and explosion. The deionized water is stored in a 5,000-gallon tank close to the charging skids. To monitor the liquid level of the tank, an EchoSpan LU83-5101 has been installed on a 4" diameter still well on the outside of the tank. As a redundant backup to the system, two non-intrusive LP50-6005 level switches are used as high and low alarms. The two LP50's are mounted to the outside wall of the 4" still well. The two LP50's and the EchoSpan LU83-5101 are connected to a local PLC interface for automation and control.
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Wastewater Sump Level Measurement

Sumps are used in municipal wastewater treatment facilities as a reservoir for water containing sediment, oils and other contaminants. These items must be removed prior to the clarification and chlorination processes. In the sump, heavy inorganics such as sand, gravel, seeds, and coffee grounds settle to the bottom by gravity. The wastewater then flows into the primary settling basins, where smaller particles settle out. Baffles act as a gatekeeper to prevent debris from moving to the next process; however, some debris may pass through. In the next stage mechanical devices skim off oil and solids that float to the top. The water that enters these sump tanks must be carefully monitored. An unexpected rise in water level can lead to solids passing over baffles. Falling water levels may also allow for oils to pass under the skimmers and into the clarification process. Continuous water level measurement and control is essential to maintaining a consistent flow rate. This ensures that water passing into clarification and chlorine tanks, and ultimately back to households, businesses or the environment is free of undesired waste. That is why this municipal facility chose the EchoSpan LU83. EchoSpan is perfect for wastewater applications dealing with continuous measurement that require reliability, repeatability and accuracy. By combining a DataView LI55 controller with EchoSpan, its capabilities can be further extended to automate pump control or monitor open channel measurement of influent / effluent with feedback to SCADA.
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Mississippi River Water Level Measurement

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, one question asserted itself above all others, "Why did the levees fail?" In response to this question the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers embarked on a $14.6 billion program to improve the fortification of levees. As you may or may not know, the levee system acts as a retention pond or catch basin to protect the parishes or farm lands along the river from high water rising and/or flooding. The mission focused on the improvement of the systems that relieve pressure from the walls of the levee eliminating risk of a levee breach. The massive project includes restoring 350 miles of levees, storm-proofing 34 pump stations, and constructing new, elaborate surge barriers and pump stations. In all 251 (worth $6.7 billion) of the 361 contracts have been awarded and more than 70% of that money was awarded to companies located in Louisiana. The above pump station, located in southeast Louisiana, has chosen EchoSpan® to manage water level. As the river rises and overflows into the levee, high-volume pumps return water back to the Mississippi River. Each EchoSpan® is installed at the pump inlet on still wells that provide an undisturbed water surface for a precise level reading within +/- 0.019" resolution.
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Power Plant Wastewater Level Measurement

Wastewater management is a vital process in the production of electricity. Electric power plants are now held to the highest standards when it comes to water polution. For years, the EPA enforced strict benchmarks for measuring and emitting air pollution, but now water pollution has taken the lead as the most important environmental concern. The Flowline® EchoSpan® is perfect for applications dealing with storage of wastewater, especially those containing caustic and toxic by-products. EchoSpan's® sensor resolution and narrow beam width are key to monitoring liquid level and limiting the impact of overflow wastewater into lakes and streams. EchoSpan® provides the reliability and accuracy you need, all while maintaing a low operating cost.
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Aquarium with Stand Pipe Application

A large aquarium needed a measurement system for a concrete holding tank. They chose Flowline's EchoSpan? for thier level measurement based on its precision and reliability in large tank applications. Aquariums need to circulate water continuously and pumps that circulate the water within the tank can pose problems with level accuracy. Combining EchoSpan? with a PVC stand pipe can provide accurate measurement even in agitated conditions. This also allows for the measurement system to be kept outside the tank and concealed from public view.
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RV Wastewater Disposal Level Measurement

8.2 million recreational vehicles criss-cross the United States each year, visiting national parks and historic landmarks. The proper disposal of black and grey waste water from RV holding tanks is a matter of public and environmental safety. There are thousands of RV waste dumping stations, which allow the RV community to empty and clean their holding tanks. Here, an EchoSpan ultrasonic level sensor is installed over the bulk waste storage tank of a dumping station. The non-contact sensor reliably measures the waste water, and provides a continuous 4-20 mA signal to a controller.
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Semiconductor Acid Level Measurement

Semiconductor manufacturers use hydrofluoric, sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric and phosphoric acids to etch their silicon wafers. The life blood of their process, these highly corrosive chemicals are notorious for damaging anything they contact including pumps, valves, heaters and sensors. Flowline's plastic non-contact ultrasonic level transmitters are the ideal measurement solution for this challenging environment. Here, an EchoSpan transmitter is installed in each 2500 gallon acid bulk storage tank.
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Municipal Lift Station Level Measurement

There are 200k US sewer pump lift stations that collect waste from residential, commercial and industrial sources, and automatically transfer it into our municipal wastewater treatment facilities. These stations are harsh environments that collect everything from human waste to trash, chemicals to grease, and particulates to solids. As a result, the maintenance or replacement of associated pumps and contact type level sensors is an ongoing challenge. Flowline's non-contact ultrasonic level transmitters and multi-point level switches are the solution, delivering reliable, maintenance-free level measurement or control in your municipal pump lift stations.
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Power Plant Sump Level Measurement

North American thermoelectric power plants use 225M gallons of water per day in their steam turbines and cooling towers. Most US plants are located in the Coastal and upper Mid West states with easy access to abundant ocean or lake resources. These facilities have lots of sumps that collect and pump transfer water into treatment for reuse or release to the environment. But sumps capture much more than water including grease, oil, chemical and trash, that coats everything in the pit. Here, an EchoSpan ultrasonic level transmitter is installed over the sump man-way. The patented digital signal processing technology features an industry leading 3" beam width that enables installation in close proximity to the ladder and side wall.
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Back Up System Fuel Level Measurement

In a major metropolitan city, a customer is measuring fuel levels for backup generators in a high rise building. Using Flowline's EchoSpan? ultrasonic transmitter, they are receiving continuous level measurement that informs the building maintenance crew of current fuel levels. The property management group is working with Homeland Security, who highly recommends they take better means in managing backup systems in case of emergency. Flowline is providing reliable, accurate and dependable level measurement, making sure the right amount of fuel is there when it's needed. It's backup system readiness made simple!
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Latex Bulk Tank Level Measurement

Largely concentrated in KY, LA and TX, the $5.7B US rubber manufacturing industry spends $300M per year in new capital equipment. Latex, the fastest growing industry segment, presents a storage and material handling challenge due to the extreme coating nature of the media. Flowline ultrasonic transmitters are the non-contact level measurement solution for latex bulk storage tank monitoring applications. It's latex level made simple!
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Water Theme Park Level Measurement

The World Water Park Association estimates that there will be 1300 water theme parks in the US by 2010. New park designs have become increasingly complex and automated with level as a primary measurement. Flowline ultrasonic transmitters are the non-contact level measurement solution for water theme park ride and exhibit monitoring applications. It's water park level made simple!
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