Batch control

RA33 Batch Controller controls valves and pumps to ensure the exact dispensing of predefined batch quantities

The Endress+Hauser RA33 Batch Controller provides precise sensing and dispensing of liquids into a container or process vessel in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, oil & gas and other process industry applications. It monitors flow, temperature and density; controls valves and pumps; and dispenses the exact amount requested by the programmed recipe. The controller can work with a single valve and pump in automatic or manual mode, or with two valves for two-stage batching. Two of these controllers can work together for batch mixing of two ingredients.

It calculates the exact volume to be dispensed based on an analog or pulse signal from a flow sensor and its built-in temperature/density compensation functions. For example, mineral oils can be corrected according to the ASTM D1250-04 standard. The volumes of other media can be corrected using expansion coefficients, or the volume can be converted to mass by measuring the density. It also makes an automatic after-run correction for constant and extremely accurate results, and advanced error diagnostics detect leakage, fill deviation and "no flow" conditions.

It has a compact housing for wall, panel or DIN rail mounting, making the device usable in all environments. It works in ambient temperatures of -4 to 140°F, has an IP65-rated front panel, and the housing meets IP66 and NEMA 4X requirements.

The unit accepts inputs from flow, temperature, pressure and density sensors. Outputs can control two valves and two pumps, and it has up to four digital outputs for one- or two-stage valve control or for the control of other devices such as signal lamps. The RA33 also has optional USB, RS485, Ethernet, and Modbus TCP and RTU interfaces for communications with an external control system or PC.

Configuring the Controller
The RA33 Batch Controller has a multi-line, backlit LCD with selectable operating languages. A simple and quick configuration can be carried out on-site via buttons, or with the help of a USB interface and Endress+Hauser FieldCare software. Configuration functions include recipes and safety settings, such limiting the preset counter entry to a maximum allowable value. The RA33 Batch Controller is also available pre-programmed.

Predefined universal inputs support simple and quick commissioning and are suitable for connecting to and powering all commonly used flow sensors, pressure transducers, temperature sensors and density sensors.

Recording Batch Data
The RA33 Batch Controller has a logbook for batch reports and an event logbook, and it maintains statistics regarding the number of fillings and filled quantities for day, month and year. For direct documentation, a printer can be connected to the serial interface of the RA33, and a printout of the batch report can then be automatically initiated at the end of each filling process.

Using Endress+Hauser Field Data Manager Software, the stored batch reports, events, and the device configuration can be read out automatically and stored tamper-proof in an SQL database.

If it is connected using Ethernet, customers can use the built-in web server to read out measurement data, calculated values and device data using a standard web browser. Because the web server is built-in and because access is via a browser, there’s no additional software to be installed on a PC or other device used for data monitoring.