Distance measurements or position enquiries in waste utilisation/incineration plants

The requirements for metrological tasks, e.g. for distance measurements in potentially explosive application areas, e.g. in waste utilisation/incineration plants, are increasing more and more. Tippkemper-Matrix optoelectronic sensors in explosion-protected metal housings and flameproof encapsulation Ex "d" are available for automated plant loading of chemical or contaminated waste, position detection, e.g. at rotary kilns for wear measurement/travel measurement or in the fermentation of organic waste for distance measurement within fermentation plants (digesters), gas storage tanks (e.g. for calculating the existing gas volume).

Automated Plant Feeding with Chemical and Contaminated Waste

When feeding incineration plants with chemical or otherwise contaminated waste, grabs, buckets, and conveyor systems must be detected with positional accuracy. In a documented reference installation, 11 LDH-family laser distance sensors operate simultaneously in a waste incineration plant in Ex Zone 2 for position detection in automated plant feeding – demonstrating the scalability and operational suitability of the sensor technology in parallel deployment.

Position Detection and Travel Path Measurement on Rotary Kilns

Rotary kilns in thermal waste recovery are subject to continuous wear from high temperatures and abrasive materials. The LDH sensors enable non-contact wear and travel path measurement on rotating kiln bodies – without mechanical contact, without wear-related maintenance, and with continuous measured values delivered via 4–20 mA or RS-485 directly into the process control system.

Distance Measurement in Fermentation Plants (Digesters)

The anaerobic digestion of organic waste in biogas plants and fermenters generates explosive gas-air mixtures that legally require the use of ATEX-certified sensors. The LDH sensors measure distances within fermentation chambers non-contactually – for example for substrate level monitoring or process control – and transmit measured values safely to the outside of the hazardous zone.

Gas Volume Calculation in Gas Storage Tanks

In gas storage tanks – whether for biogas, landfill gas, or other combustible process gases – continuous distance measurement by LDH sensor enables the calculation of the currently available gas volume. The sensors look into Zone 0 through the housing seal without introducing ignition-capable energy into the explosive atmosphere – made possible by the OP approval in combination with the Ex d encapsulation.

The LDH sensor family from Tippkemper-Matrix combines industrially proven time-of-flight measurement technology with a well-engineered explosion protection concept to current ATEX/IECEx standards. Lens heating, laser pulsing, programmable measuring ranges, and two simultaneous output interfaces make it a fully practice-ready solution – without compromise between measurement performance and explosion protection. Tippkemper-Matrix is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and supplies all relevant certificates and data sheets.

A product flyer on laser distance measurement is available for download. The Tippkemper-Matrix team is available to advise on plant-specific configurations and sensor quantities on request.