FoamGage cuts cost of foam measurement

-- Control Engineering, 12/1/1999

Systematic Controls Corp. figured out a low-cost, reliable way to measure foam or entrapped air bubbles in a liquid within a tank or vessel. The FoamGage, at $2,900, does a better job than its nearest competitor priced at $55,000, says the manufacturer. The system, with patent pending, combines two level-measurement instruments into one NEMA 4X system, including 18 x 14 x 8-in. display and controller for applying the correct amount of defoamer. While custom configurations can incorporate an existing level measurement device, the standard unit includes a bubble tube pressure transmitter to detect level and a RF probe that measures the foam or trapped air's capacitance compared to the liquid, providing the combined level. Both readings are displayed on the panel; a controller displays the true foam reading as a percent of liquid volume. Programming for on/off, 4-20 mA, or PID control of a defoamer valve or a pump is possible. Military-grade sensor provides 0.1% of full-scale deflection (span). Several potential users say the unit will pay for itself in times ranging from days to hours, depending on amount of defoamer used, according to the manufacturer.

Systematic Controls