Replacing Float Switches
One of the least expensive and most common ways to monitor level position is with traditional float switches. The advantage of a float is that the upfront cost of the device is low, but the long-term costs to maintain floats is prohibitive and labor intensive. Constant adjustments to ensure switch point reliability or cleaning to prevent sticking or jamming not only consumes valuable resources but impacts machine availability and increases the chances for overflows or run dry situations.
The ifm LI level switch provides a more reliable level indication than traditional floats.
Monitoring Coolant Level and Temperature
Monitoring the level and temperature of machine coolant or cutting fluid is important to provide feedback to other devices, such as pumps, and can also help to control quality and machine performance. Low-level alarms can indicate coolant loss or water evaporation, which will not only let you know when to add makeup fluid but signal you to perform concentration checks. The additional temperature measurement is also important to the coolant quality as high temps can promote bacteria growth and low temps can increase fluid viscosity indicating that a heater may need to be installed.
Hydraulic Power Units (HPU)
The critical process measurements in a hydraulic power unit application are pressure, level, and temperature. Two of which can be handled by a single sensor. The LI level sensor can indicate level of the hydraulic fluid preventing low level or run dry situations where air is sucked into the pump or even worse, cavitation. This is very important to maintain the power output of the unit, operating speeds, and prevent damage to power pack components. Low hydraulic fluid levels and can also be an indicator for other system issues such as leakage, and this can be related to temperature.
Maintaining proper hydraulic fluid temperatures allows the power pack to operate at peak performance, extends the service life of the hydraulic fluid, and keeps fluid viscosity in the correct range for effective lubrication. High fluid temperatures can also lead to damaged seals, fluid degradation, and system leaks.
Being able to measure temperature and level from a single device eliminates the need for dedicated sensors and reduces installation and wiring expenses. It also provides important feedback to maintain system performance and availability.