ATEX regulations
5 min de lecture
Silo Sensors and Instrumentation: Safety and Level Measurement for Powder Storage
Categories : Flexible Silo | Services and Maintenance
By @ Stéphane BREXEL
Silo instrumentation comprises the control systems that enable precise management of your storage facilities. Syvrac integrates these measurement and safety solutions across its entire range of flexible silos, polyester silos and stainless steel silos.
Our instrumentation systems enable:
- Flow management: Precise monitoring of volumes to prevent ruptures or overflows.
- Structural safety: Active prevention against the risk of overpressure during pneumatic transfers.
- ATEX compliance: Integration of vent rupture detection and pressure control devices.
Sommaire
Level measurement
Silo instrumentation addresses three key challenges: flow control, stock management and infrastructure safety.
1. “On/Off” level sensors
These probes indicate whether a critical level (High, Very high or Low) has been reached.
- Rotary paddle probes: The standard, robust and cost-effective solution for powders (brands: UWT, Mollet, Vega, Endress+Hauser).
- Vibrating blade or vibrating rod probes: Ideal for fine powders or lightweight materials, offering high reliability and maintenance-free operation (brands: Endress+Hauser, Vega).
- Capacitive probes: For detection even with caking products (brands: Baumer, Rechner Sensors, Vega).
2. Continuous level measurement
To determine the volume or tonnage remaining in your silo in real time.
- Radar probes (80 GHz): Non-contact; penetrates dust and vapours for millimetre-level accuracy (brands: Vega – Vegapuls, Endress+Hauser – Micropilot).
- Guided-wave radars (guided waves): For difficult products or narrow silos, the probe follows a cable installed within the silo (brands: Krohne, Emerson).
- Visual indicators (Windows or portholes on silos): A simple and effective solution integrated directly into the silo walls (particularly on our composite silos) for direct visual monitoring.
3. Silo weighing
Determining the actual weight of the silo, whether for commercial or non-commercial weighing purposes.
- Industrial load cells: Installation of load cells beneath the silo feet (fabric, polyester or steel) for stocktaking (brands: Precia Molen, METTLER TOLEDO, SCAIM).
- “Plug & Play” solutions (Nanolike type): Strain gauges that attach to the existing structure. Ideal for approximate level monitoring without modifying the silo structure.
Let's Build Your Storage Solution Together
Dominique M.
Powder Process Solution Expert
Silo Safety and Protection
A silo is a dynamic pressure vessel and is subject to risks such as explosion.
Pressure monitoring (Pressure sensors & Delta P)
- High/low pressure sensors: Positioned at the top of the silo, the sensor immediately stops pneumatic transfer from the lorry in the event of overpressure, thereby preventing the silo or vent from bursting.
- Delta P sensor (differential pressure): Specifically for roof filters. It measures the clogging of the filter bags by comparing the inlet and outlet pressure, thereby optimising and controlling the cleaning cycles.
ATEX risks and explosion vents
- Explosion vents: Calibrated rupture panels designed to dissipate the shock wave in the event of a dust explosion. This vent thus protects the integrity of the silo.
- Vent rupture detectors: Magnetic or mechanical sensors that instantly notify the site’s control system if a vent has opened.
Sensor / Material Compatibility Matrix
| Measurement Technology | Fine Powders | Granules & Grains | Lightweight Products | Abrasive Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 GHz Radar (Non-contact) | ||||
| Vibrating Forks (Double blade) | ||||
| Vibrating Rod (Single bar) | ||||
| Industrial Capacitive (Vega / E+H) | ||||
| Compact Capacitive (Baumer / IFM) | ||||
| Rotary Paddle | ✕ |
Why choose Syvrac’s expertise to fit out your silo with dedicated instrumentation?
Choosing Syvrac ensures seamless integration between your storage facility and its control systems. We design bespoke instrumentation systems that guarantee the continuity of your production and the safety of your operators.
Bespoke Engineering and Consultancy
Benefit from the support of our powder process experts to define the technological solution best suited to your silos and products (powders, granules, ingredients, abrasive products).
- Strategic Placement: Our experts position each sensor in the optimal location to utilise 100% of your storage capacity.
- Modernisation (Retrofit): We equip your existing silos (stainless steel, polyester or fabric) with the latest detection and weighing technologies.
Our Partners & Brands We Stock
We work with the world’s leading instrument manufacturers to guarantee reliability and durability:
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about silo instrumentation
1. Which sensor should I choose for a very fine powder?
Configurable capacitive probes perform very well with very fine powders and very low densities.
Often, the simplest solution is to carry out a test directly at the Syvrac test centre.
2. Can a weighing system be installed on an existing silo?
Yes. For an existing silo, we recommend either adding weighing cells (which requires lifting the silo),
or installing strain gauges on the legs, a quicker and less expensive solution,
but one that is much less accurate.
3. Why use a pressure sensor if I already have a valve?
The valve is a mechanical device of last resort. The pressure sensor enables automatic control
(closing of the anti-clogging valve, stopping the truck’s compressor, audible alarm) before the valve opens,
thus preventing product spillage into the atmosphere and potential damage to the silo.
Advice from our experts
SYVRAC provides you with equipment for the storage, transfer and dosing of powdered raw materials.
