SCIENCEGATE

Electroplating is a process that uses electric current to reduce dissolved metal cations so that they form a metal coating on an electrode or metal part. Hence, it changes the surface properties of an object to improve its appearance, wear or corrosion resistance. The basic electroplating process involves an alkaline cleaning, acid pickling, electroplating and parts rinsing. During which, large quantities of acidic wastewater are generated, laden with heavy metals. The wastewater must be remediated and neutralized, prior to being released to the city sewer. At this Midwest plating company, EchoPod ultrasonic level transmitters are installed in each sump. The non-contact sensors provide continuous level data to the PLC, which in turn, actuates the pumps to transfer the waste into treatment. EchoPod is reliable plating lift station level measurement.

Cloud data centers are the backbone of todays business, and fail-safe redundancy to protect their clients data and service uptime is a fundamental premise of their business model. Customers expect 24/7 service and business disruption is unacceptable. As such, data centers deploy contingency plans, equipment and security to address threats from natural disasters, fires, terrorism and power outages. Battery backup systems and power generators are basic equipment at any center. In the event of power loss, they protect data and ensure service uptime for 24-72 hours depending upon their diesel fuel supply. Generators are regularly exercised to confirm their good working order. At this financial data center, EchoPod ultrasonic level transmitters are installed in each diesel storage tank. The non-contact sensors provide continuous level data to the building’s automation system. When the level drops to 80% of full capacity, the tanks are refilled. EchoPod is reliable diesel generator level measurement.

Each year, $9 trillion dollars of global trade, or about 85% of the world’s goods are transported by ship across our oceans. Bulk carriers, cargo ships and oil tankers are designed to transport enormous weight. Fully loaded, they have no problem cutting through buffeting oceans and rocky seas. But, during cargo on-load and off-load, the same ships are vulnerable to shifting loads and imbalances that must be addressed by moving water ballast to maintain stability. Ballast management is one of the many keys to safe seamanship, as thousands of ballast gallons are typically moved while in port. Here, an EchoSpan ultrasonic level transmitter is installed over each water ballast tank. The non-contact sensor provides continuous level data to the ship’s PLC, which in turn, automatically shifts ballast from one tank to another based upon the angle of the ship. EchoSpan is reliable ship ballast level measurement.

The global pharmaceutical industry develops about 3,000 new medicines a year, addressing an array of health issues facing aging consumers. Given the extreme pace of new product development, production facilities are constantly retooling their manufacturing to meet the latest requirements. A relative constant is the chemical storage, water treatment, chemical feed and wastewater treatment equipment that supports their changing processes. At this US pharmaceutical company, an EchoSafe explosion proof ultrasonic level transmitter is installed on a sulfuric acid storage tank for inventory management. The non-contact sensor is FM approved for use in hazardous locations, and provides continuous level data to the PLC. EchoSafe is reliable hazardous level measurement.

The Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990 and National Fire Protection Association NFPA standards require that all new multi-tenant buildings, 4 stories in height or more, must be fitted with fire sprinklers. The standards also require high rise residential and commercial buildings to be outfit with additional water storage capacity to ensure that sprinklers will have local supply in the event that city water is cut off during the fire. Hence, water storage tanks are now designed into high rises and architects attempt to reclaim, treat and reuse available water where possible. At this New York commercial high rise, rain water is captured on the roof, and periodically used to refill the fire sprinkler storage tanks. Here, an EchoPod ultrasonic level transmitter is installed over a collection. The non-contact sensor provides continuous level data to the building’s automation system. EchoPod is reliable fire sprinkler water level measurement.

About 50 billion chickens are consumed globally each year and the market is growing. To meet the demand, processors are deploying new production methods and the effectiveness and efficiency of their disinfection processes is a primary concern. How do we prevent campylobacter, salmonella and listeria bacterial contamination while killing, plucking, bleeding, eviscerating, cutting, cleaning, packaging and shipping out more chickens this year? The proper chemical treatment and washing techniques are critical to their success. This US processor sprays trisodium phosphate (TSP), an alkaline compound, on suspended chicken carcasses as they move down the production line. TSP penetrates the chicken fat layers and disrupts the bacterial cells, killing them on contact. Here, an EchoPod ultrasonic level transmitter is installed in each TSP day tank. The non-contact sensor is connected to the PLC, which in turn, automatically refills the day tank when low. EchoPod is reliable disinfection level measurement.

US metropolitan water districts deliver 850 million gallons of drinking water a day. The water disinfection process often starts at the well pumping stations where ground water is sourced, treated and pumped to the treatment plant. Given the cost effectiveness of sodium hypochlorite versus ozone, chloramine and ultraviolet, chlorine is the disinfectant of choice for many water districts. Ultimately, those districts must decide whether they want to source chlorine from a chemical distributor or generate it on-site. The decision making criteria comes down to space, safety and capital expenditure. Suppliers can’t deliver chemicals everyday, so bulk storage tanks are required, along with the space to install and service them, and the higher liability associated with offloading and storing large quantities of chlorine. Conversely, on-site chlorine generators require 2-3 times the initial capital outlay, but they pay for themselves within three years. At this pumping station, an EchoPod ultrasonic level transmitter is measuring sodium hypochlorite that’s generated and metered into the well water as its pulled from the ground. EchoPod is reliable chlorine level measurement.

United States data centers consume 575 gigawatts or 2% of all the power consumed off the nations grid. Half of that energy is used to power computers and the other half is used to cool the computers. Two types of cooling systems are deployed including the newer rack cooling and older room cooling systems. Rack cooling systems work by directly cooling a computer rack versus the entire room. In this system, a wall of chilled water passes inches from the racks, neutralizing the heat released from the back of the servers. Rack cooling is highly efficient and cost effective. At this new US data center, chilled water continuously circulates between two underground concrete bulk storage tanks and the server room. An EchoSonic ultrasonic level transmitter is installed in each storage tank. The non-contact sensors provide continuous level data to the PLC. EchoSonic is reliable chilled water level measurement.

Global printed circuit board (PCB) sales in 2015 were $58.6 billion and the average PCB bill of materials represents 3.2% of every electronic device sold. PCB’s mechanically support and electrically connect, electronic components using conductive tracks etched from copper sheets and non-conductive epoxy substrate. The most common etchants are ferric chloride, cupric chloride and hydrochloric acid blended with cupric chloride. At this PCB manufacturer, four day tanks are being monitored by EchoPod ultrasonic level transmitters. Hydrochloric acid is pumped into the day tanks and mixed with anhydrous cupric chloride, creating an acidic green solution. A standpipe has been installed to minimize the effects of vapor and agitation on the sensor as the batch is blended. The non-contact sensors deliver continuous level data to the PLC. EchoPod is reliable PCB etchant level measurement.

Crude oil is an essential commodity used in the refinement of gasoline. The majority of gasoline is derived from petroleum naphtha, an intermediate hydrocarbon liquid. Petroleum naphtha has low octane ratings that must be desulfurized and then catalytically reformed to produce high-octane gasoline. To do so, petroleum naphthas are typically broken down using toluene, an aromatic hydrocarbon that is widely used as industrial feedstock or solvent which is capable of dissolving paints, thinners and sealants. In gasoline, toluene dissolves the sulfur, thus raising the octane to appropriate levels for use in combustible engines. In this chemical plant, toluene is produced and contained in a bulk tank for later use in petroleum refining processes. Toluene is a highly volatile liquid that requires instruments with hazardous certification. The intrinsically safe EchoTouch ultrasonic level transmitter was chosen for this application, and combined with an intrinsically safe DataLoop level indicator for hazardous level measurement and indication.