Other Industries

Solar energy

With rising energy prices and the prospect of dwindling resources, solar energy is one of the most popular alternatives. However, to get the most benefit from a solar system, solar tracker designers and operators must pay careful attention to the accuracy and the component costs that make up the system, their maintenance requirements and their ability to operate and reliably under hot, dusty and windy conditions.

For both photovoltaic systems and concentrated power plants (CSP, CPV), solar tracking systems increase energy efficiency. The compact and accurate IXARC encoders and TILTIX inclinometers are ideal for both single and two axis tracking systems which not only follow the sun from east to west but also have an adjusting elevation system.

There are several measuring and positioning tasks that must be handled efficiently in wind turbines: in addition to ensuring that the azimuth drives are able to keep the nacelle pointed into the wind, the tilt angle of the rotor blades must be monitored and continuously adjusted through a pitch control system. On top of that, speed control can be challenging under demanding environmental conditions.

Such gates must control water levels and throughput, with their height monitored through rotary encoders or linear sensors, offering remote control via various communication interfaces. POSITAL, with extensive experience in water works, provides sensors for precise measurements, featuring versatile mechanical options and electrical interfaces for easy integration in both large-scale applications and retrofit projects.

Radial and Drum Gates

For radial gates, knowing the position of cylindrical sections, and for drum gates, the floating drum's position is vital. Both can be remotely monitored using inclinometers or rotary encoders. POSITAL, with extensive experience in water works, offers sensors for accurate rotation, tilt, and length measurements across various applications. These sensors, featuring diverse mechanical options and electrical interfaces, can be easily integrated into cost-effective large projects or retrofit applications.

Elevators

Elevator cars need to be accurately positioned with respect to each floor they visit. IXARC absolute encoders help provide this information without the need of a ground reference. With IXARC absolute encoders, knowledge of the position of the elevator car is always retained, even during power failures. IXARC encoders supporting the CANopen Lift protocol help meet the high safety standards of this industry.

Flow Metering

Flow can be translated into consistently timed pulses that are used to count revolutions and to perform other metering calculation tasks . Wiegand sensors present a number of advantages over competing magnetic sensing technologies (e.g. low sensitivity and high signal to noise ratio). The self-powered characteristics and energy-harvesting potential of Wiegand sensors also provide an opportunity for power autonomous meters with a longer lifespan. They function at both very low and very high flow speeds.

Energy Autonomous Ultra-low Power IoT Devices

Wiegand sensor energy can power battery-less IoT devices, performing simple operations and storing results. It can also supplement low-power circuits using stored energy. Ongoing research aims to develop Wiegand sensors for wireless IoT communication.In applications requiring hermetic seals and no electrical connections to moving parts, Wiegand sensors harness changing magnetic fields in magnetically coupled devices to power sensors monitoring environmental conditions.

Intrinsically Safe Proximity Sensing

Wiegand Sensors are inherently safe proximity sensors, requiring no external power supply, which eliminates the need for large switching currents in control circuits. They also support low-power and energy-efficient magnetic sensing applications that can harness the energy generated by Wiegand pulses.This proximity sensing takes various forms, converting mechanical energy into pulse energy through: Linear Motion, Rotary Motion & Proximity Movement of Ferromagnetic Bodies

Preventive maintenance for industrial doors

By synchronizing event-triggered pulses with energy-efficient counting electronics, a Wiegand-powered counting safety system can be implemented. Wiegand pulses serve as counters, tracking the revolutions involved in the operation of industrial doors/gates. This aids in monitoring the components' condition and determining when replacement is needed to prevent failure after their known lifespan is exceeded. This maintenance management can be applied even in situations with challenging or disadvantageous external power supply conditions, making Wiegand sensors a solution for creating self-sustaining safety systems for industrial doors.

Pipe handling

When a major oil well components manufacturer was looking to upgrade their systems for drilling in the Atlantic, many factors had to be considered. Given that stands of pipe can be over 90 ft long, precise positioning was a must. However, accuracy wasn’t the only requirement. The sensors had to be reliable for years to come in a corrosive marine environment as well as provide the necessary certifi cation for the Oil and Gas application. After reviewing a number of potential solutions the customer choose POSITAL’s Explosion Proof Rotary Sensors.

Blowout preventer

Process control is crucial for safety and efficiency in offshore drilling, with blowout preventer (BOP) systems playing a vital role in controlling downhole pressure and oil/gas flow. A leading process control company chose POSITAL to help level their subsea BOP systems, opting for the TILTIX fluid cell inclinometer. This sensor provides dual-axis tilt data and seamless integration with their existing control system, demonstrating that critical control doesn't necessarily require a complex sensing solution.

MRI and CT Scanner

Modern healthcare devices require advanced technology for precise positioning. LINARIX linear sensors track patient table positions. For complex applications like fluoroscopy, radiography tables, or surgical C-arms requiring coordinated component positioning, IXARC absolute rotary encoders are an excellent choice, ensuring precise positioning for both patients and scanners with simple installation and easy calibration.

Wireless Charging (Transcutaneous Power) for Implantable Devices

In combination with low-frequency electromagnetic fields, Wiegand sensors can be used to provide energy for low power applications in environments where high frequency transmission is challenging. For example, the Wiegand pulse can be used as an electric source to charge implantable medical devices, such as capsule endoscopes or pacemakers, using lower frequency electromagnetic waves that can be transmitted through the skin without any damage to human tissue.

Transportation

The clear, readily detectable and consistently timed Wiegand pulses can be used to measure a wide range of rotational speeds. Wiegand sensors generate pulses that correspond the number of cycles/ rotations in a given time period. These pulses can be used to calculate rotational speeds.