Feature

Fast and precise conductivity sensors save water and cut costs

The need for effective wash-down and cleaning whilst meeting increasing demands to save resources and cut costs has always been a tricky challenge – especially as optimum hygiene is essential in food and beverage manufacturing.

30/06/2020 14:31:25

A high-speed CombiLyz Conductivity Sensor, supplied by BAUMER, has made an important contribution at Granarolo, Italy’s largest dairy processing operation.

Effective cleaning of a hygienic dairy processing system usually requires a range of liquids – such as milk, water, lye and acids – working within a complex, clean-in-place (CIP) process, where different liquids flow alternately through pipes and tanks. All these liquids have a financial and/or environmental cost so must be used sparingly and, where applicable, recycled.

Precision and speed were crucial to the success of the CombiLyz conductivity sensor in this challenging CIP fluids handling. The sensor's ability to measure precisely the electric conductivity of liquids in the system determines which type of medium is flowing and its concentration. The CombiLyz sensor provides a precise measured value of conductivity within 15 seconds, compared to around 50 seconds typically achieved by other sensors. This means the control mechanisms can react faster and separate the individual phases by actuating values.

Bruno Landuzzi, Maintenance Manager at Granarolo explained, “Our tanks, pipelines and thermal treatment systems are cleaned up to 30 times a day and thanks to the quick temperature compensation of the CombiLyz sensors, we can save more than 100,000 litres of water per year at every measuring point”.

Read the full article in the July issue of DPA.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.