The Liquiphant has been installed more than eight million times worldwide. Developed as a new measuring principle for customer challenges in the 1980s, it is considered the most reliable and safe point level detector in industrial plants. The latest generation of devices is ready for Industry 4.0 and, with the Liquiphant FTL63, ideally suited for applications with hygienic requirements.

At the end of the 1970s, Georg H. Endress asked his developers for an all-metal and thus permanently sealed sensor, that would switch reliably and trouble-free everywhere without adjustment to different media. It quickly became clear that the capacitive and conductive probes used until then could not fully meet these requirements. This was the birth of a new measuring principle: vibronics. Within a very short time, this new technology became the best-seller from Endress+Hauser and to this day the vibrating metal fork is known as the most reliable and safe limit switch. Whether utilized for overfill or dry-run protection, the Liquiphant performs many tasks in process automation. But even the best measuring principles have to bow to digital change. It was time to equip the sensor, which has proven itself a million times over, for the tasks of tomorrow.

The Liquiphant FTL51B can be used as an all-rounder in all pumpable liquids for point level detection. The Liquiphant FTL62 scores with its coatings when used in aggressive liquids. At high process temperatures of up to 280 °C, the Liquiphant FTL64 is the preferred measuring instrument due to a special high-temperature design. The portfolio is now completed with the Liquiphant FTL63 - the perfect choice for the Food and Beverage and Life Sciences industries due to its hygienic design.

Expertise in hygienic applications

The Liquiphant FTL63 is used for point level detection in process and storage tanks, as well as in pipelines supports a wide range of typical use cases. These include empty level detection in milk tanks, dry-run protection for pump monitoring in the cleaning system of fermentation tanks for beer production and overfill protection in the concentrate tank in fruit juice production. In all these applications, the outstanding technology works reliably in all pumpable liquids the same time, the Liquiphant FTL63 is ideally suited for use in hygienic applications. The all-metal sensor meets the highest requirements for robustness as well as hygienic design (3-A certified and ASME-BPE compliant), making the device reliable and nearly maintenance-free in operation. The completely welded sensor concept guarantees cleanability in the process (CIP/SIP) and thus ensures efficient operation.

The point level switch can be put into operation in a few minutes without adjustment to the respective medium. The Liquiphant FTL63 switches reliably even where other measuring principles reach their limits, e.g. due to changes in conductivity or dielectric constant, build-up, foam, turbulence or air bubbles. The technology of the Liquiphant is therefore ideal for replacing float switches, capacitive or optical sensors, and meets the current requirements for Industry 4.0.

Digital potential

Migration to Industry 4.0 requires sensors that provide relevant data to trigger process optimization and efficiency gains. In the Technology Roadmap: "Process Sensors 4.0", NAMUR calls for an additional, mobile way of communicating with the sensor. This information is used for predictive maintenance and process optimizations. Furthermore, additional product information, such as manuals or certificates, is available online on site at any time.

The latest generation of the Liquiphant offers multiple ways to clearly know your process status. The first is ultra-bright LEDs that indicate switching status. The Liquiphant FTL63 also allows operators to communicate with the sensor via Bluetooth® Technology and the SmartBlue-App from Endress+Hauser. The app makes all product and diagnostic data easily available. Particularly in the case of installation locations that are difficult to access. The diagnostic function of the Heartbeat Technology can also be accessed via the SmartBlue-App. 

In addition to current device diagnostics, Heartbeat Technology enables guided verification at the push of a button from the control room. Verification sets the foundation for predictive maintenance through frequency monitoring. By performing the verification, a trend can be detected, which then gives an indication of corrosion or build-up on the sensor. As a result, plant shutdowns can be prevented, and plant availability can be increased. Verification is carried out via the SmartBlue-App directly from the control room without removing the device or interrupting the process, and is completed with an automatically generated, traceable verification protocol.

Benefits of the new Liquiphant FTL63 at a glance

• Universal use in all pumpable liquids without adjustment to the media
• Easy commissioning (Plug and Play)
• High process and product safety thanks to certified hygienic design (3-A, EHEDG, ASME BPE)
   
• Proven material compliance and traceability (e.g. EC1935/2004, FDA und cGMP)
• Continuous diagnostics as well as traceable and documented on-demand verification without process interruption thanks to Heartbeat Technology
• Minimized maintenance effort: function test via test button or magnetic pin
• Intuitive operation via Bluetooth® Technology as well as optical process status indication via LED module
• Efficient operation due to cleanability in the process - CIP/SIP