Level measurement in a beetroot hopper

Beetroots are a raw material used in the production of sugar. A company in France uses a beetroot hopper which holds about 20 thousand beetroots to supply the factory. Underneath the hopper, 4 root cutters cut the beetroot into fine slices called cossettes.

The factory must use a non-contact radar measurement technology to distribute the beetroots evenly and regularly into the hopper. The beetroot pulp is measured at atmospheric pressure

KROHNE installed 3 OPTIWAVE 6300 C radar level meters, mounted vertically on top of the hopper at a height of 8 m / 26.25 ft. One of them is located at the end of the beetroot inlet belt to measure the “north” side of the hopper. The other two are located on either side of a scraper which lowers onto the belt and distributes the beetroots to the “east” and “west” side of the hopper. The zero point of measurement (4 mA) is set just above the yoke ears formed by the exit chutes, at a distance of 5.8 m / 19.03 ft from the radar devices. The maximum filling level (20 mA) is set to 0.8 m / 2.63 ft below the radar meters. These 3 measurements allow the beetroots to be distributed evenly into the hopper.

In addition, the average of the 3 measurements makes it possible to manage the flow of beetroots from the inlet belt by directing the supply system of the washer located upstream.

Due to these 2 actions, these measurements are very important as it is the supply of the raw material to the factory that is at stake.

Precise, reliable measurement. Less wear and tear on the blades of the root cutters in the case of uniform distribution in the hopper. Flow control resulting in increased plant productivity. On-site presence of KROHNE for several year.