Many powders and bulk solids are known to sit erratically in storage. Sometimes they flow freely. Sometimes, not. When slide gates are supposed to be closed, but aren't, loose material falls and becomes waste. Feeders and conveyors should deliver bulk materials into a process—but how do you know for sure if it was delivered?
Flow Indicators Can Help
BinMaster's single-piece Flow Detect 2000 is a flow/no flow detector that houses the sensing element, power and output connections, and user adjustment controls in a single NEMA-4X outlet enclosure.
This compact sensor is ideal for detecting flow conditions of solids and powders in distributors, gravity chutes, feeders, pipelines, conveyor belts, or bucket elevators. It helps avoid cross-contamination by ensuring flow has stopped before new material is introduced into the stream. It prevents downtime caused by blockages, conveyors running empty, inadequate material flow to or from a process, or loose slide gates that can cause inventory loss and equipment failure.
FD-2000 works for feed, grain, milling, food, cement, mining, powder, and plastics. It’s appropriate for solids, granules, pellets, meals, and powdered materials.
The FD-2000 can prevent potentially dangerous—and expensive—FSMA, USDA, or FDA compliance violations at plants producing food for human or animal consumption. Optional North American Class II, Division I Groups E, F, & G, and ATEX Zone 21 hazardous location approvals are available for operations requiring protection from explosive dust.
What is FSMA?
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law on Jan. 4, 2011. Registration under this new law was not only required of manufacturers of human food products, but also for pet food and animal feed manufacturers.
It was a sweeping reform of food safety laws. By shifting the focus from responding to contamination to preventing it, it has ensured safe food supply in the United States.
BinMaster’s Flow Detect 2000 provides a valuable tool for prevention control and compliance, helping producers avoid product recalls.
Who Needs Flow?
The FD-2000 is popular with livestock feed manufacturers who want to ensure that only specific feed additives are added to certain blends of commercial feeds. Additives that are safe for one species are not necessarily beneficial—and may even be dangerous—for another species. If a mistake is made, it could be harmful to animals and could result in USDA fines.
The sensor installs easily through a 1-1/4” NPT opening. It is completely non-intrusive and does not come into contact with the flow stream. It uses microwave Doppler technology for highly sensitive motion detection, which is also able to "see" through non-metallic materials. This provides the device with the ability to detect materials through plastic pipes, glass process seals, or the walls of a wooden chute.
The Flow Detect 2000 includes a switchable filter to reduce the effect of vibration and ensure the detection of moderate and fast-flowing materials. A single analog relay output communicates flow or no-flow status to a PLC, with the option of using both normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC) contacts.
An external LED indicator lights inform the end-user of the device’s status.
In a Nutshell: Why Know Your Flow?
- Be sure that ingredients intended for one process don’t end up in another
- Ensure flow has stopped completely before beginning a process that could lead to dangerous and expensive violations
- Comply with regulations preventing cross-contamination of ingredients
