As one of the largest processing facilities in the U.K., ADM Erith Ltd. processes approximately 1 million tonnes of rapeseed each year. The plant crushes the seeds and refines the crude oil into about 385,000 tonnes of refined oil that is used in a variety of food ingredients and in biofuels throughout Europe.
The criteria from the customer on this job, was that the radar level reading on a pre coat silo was at 0% for the previous few weeks. After investigating the level device and proving the operation by checking the raw data on the envelope curve, I was confident of this working.
My investigation then turned to the process and the silo itself, and after looking inside the silo we could see a ‘false shelf’ where the product is sitting and a hole in the middle where the radar is.
This is caused by moisture getting into the dust-like product and then drying forming a hard shell, this, in turn, causes a shelf, so any new product will sit on this and not fall through the hole to the level device.
The result of this was explaining the issue to the customer, so they knew the next steps to take, saving them money, and proving the instrument is healthy.