FLOWMETER BOOSTS ACCURACY
March 1st 2005

Lucite International UK uses Krohne’s Optimass 7000 Coriolis mass flowmeters to ensure a new product is made to strict dimensional tolerances.

The Darwen-based plant manufactures acrylic sheet, used mainly for making baths. During production of a new product, a precise amount of acrylic syrup mixture is measured and cast to produce a flat acrylic sheet.

Sheets are made to a strict dimensional tolerance and precise measurement of the mass of acrylic syrup is critical.

The company needed to measure the flow rate of the syrup to an accuracy of 0.5%, difficult because of its high viscosity.

During manufacture raw liquid methyl methacrylate is fed to a mixing vessel where it is combined with other additives. It then passes through the Optimas 7000 flowmeter before being cast.

The flowmeter, with its single straight measuring tube, has an AST design that is said to offer outstanding accuracy and stability when used on the low flow rate applications common with high viscosity products. A signal from the Optimass 7000 is fed to a PLC that operates pouring valves to control syrup flow.

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