Wireless IIoT sensor provides tank level measurement from anywhere

At more than 80% of all production sites, storage tank level measurement of liquids and additives is done manually, which is time- and cost-intensive. Often, it results in missing stocks only being registered when the tank has emptied, and production has ground to a halt.

Over-stocking to preclude such situations is usually not viable due to the added storage costs involved. Often, the measuring points are hard to access, far flung and/or difficult to supply power to.

To overcome these challenges, Endress+Hauser developed a solution that is said to revolutionize level measurement of liquids and solids. Micropilot FWR30, the world’s first wireless 80 GHz IIoT sensor, is designed to unite high-end measurement technology and user-friendly digital services in one economical device.

Its continuously recorded measurement data can be accessed at any time, from anywhere, via the sensor’s cloud connection, providing users with facts where previously only assumptions were possible.

Watch video of Micropilot FWR20 commissioning:

The sensor enables real time monitoring of often remotely stored inventories of substances like liquid additives in plastic or metal tanks, cleaning agents in food and beverage production, or for solids like building materials at construction sites. Its basic setup covers level measurement in plastic and open tanks.

An optional process connection enables measurement of media in metal tanks like animal feed in agriculture or storage of wood pellets for heating systems. Besides level data, users also receive location tracking information for their storage tanks and containers.

The sensor is plug and play. It can be installed, without special tools, in less than three minutes. The unit’s integrated battery means no external power supply is needed.

The free space radar sensor covers measuring ranges up to 15 m and temperatures between -20° and 60°C. With its non-invasive measuring capability, it works where other measuring principles cannot be applied due to corrosion, abrasion, viscosity, or toxicity.

The measurement technology employed by the device is said to be well-proven. With more than 2.2 million installed applications and 50 years of experience, time-of-flight (ToF) radar measurement instruments like the FWR30 are an important component of Endress+Hauser’s portfolio, the company says.

The latest generation of Micropilot instruments offers compact design and maximum user-friendliness, as well as application-specific flexibility, it adds.

Depending on individual requirements, FWR30 users can choose from a broad portfolio of service packages, viewable on various end devices such as a desktop, tablet, or smartphone, and compliant with the highest security and data protection requirements.

One possibility is Netilion Value, a simple digital monitoring solution. It provides a dashboard, current values, historical data, alarms, notifications, and a simple user interface. Intelligent sensors can be integrated and connected with just a few clicks. Another, Netilion Inventory, offers a simplified monitoring service to support basic inventory management applications. It comes with add-ons like volume calculation or forecast and it determines the free storage capacity. This extended service provides the user with a clear overview of the status of tanks, silos, and containers.

A third option for a cloud application is SupplyCare Hosting, a comprehensive inventory management solution that provides event history, a customizable overview, and the evaluation of key performance indicators such as average stock, efficiency, or turnover rate. SupplyCare Hosting also provides user-friendly demand planning and can be synchronized with all common ERP systems.