Technical Characteristics and Performance
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Vibronic Measuring Principle: The tuning fork is piezo-electrically excited and vibrates at its resonance frequency in air. When the fork is covered by liquid, the frequency changes; this shift is detected and converted into a switching signal.
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Hygienic Design and Compliance: The FTL43 is built with 316L stainless steel and features a surface finish designed to meet stringent hygienic requirements. It holds certifications for 3-A and EHEDG, ensuring it can be safely used in CIP (Clean-in-Place) and SIP (Sterilization-in-Place) processes.
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Heartbeat Technology: This integrated diagnostic suite allows for documented on-demand verification of the sensor’s health without interrupting the process. It ensures the measurement remains reliable over the entire life cycle and simplifies safety proof-testing.
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Plug & Play Functionality: Designed for maximum ease of use, the FTL43 requires no media adjustment. Once installed, it is ready to operate immediately, significantly reducing commissioning time for skids and modular systems.
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Configuration Integrity (CRC): To enhance process safety, the device uses a checksum algorithm (CRC). This ensures that safety-relevant parameters are locked and haven’t been modified inadvertently, providing high confidence in overfill protection loops.
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Digital Communication: The switch offers versatile connectivity options, including IO-Link, which enables seamless integration into modern automation architectures and provides more granular diagnostic data than a standard switch.
Technical Specification Matrix
| Feature | Technical Details |
| Measuring Principle | Vibronic (Tuning Fork) |
| Application | Hygienic Liquids, Pastes, Slurries |
| Process Temperature | -40 to +150°C (-40 to +302°F) |
| Process Pressure | Vacuum to +40 bar (580 psi) |
| Surface Roughness | Ra < 0.76 µm (standard) / Ra < 0.38 µm (optional) |
| Output Signal | DC-PNP, IO-Link, AC/DC |
| Safety & Compliance | SIL 2/3, 3-A, EHEDG, ASME BPE |
Primary Applications
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Pump Dry-Run Protection: Protecting centrifugal or positive displacement pumps from damage by detecting the absence of liquid in suction pipelines.
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Narrow Skids and Modules: Its compact design makes it the ideal choice for integration into compact process modules where traditional, larger sensors cannot fit.
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Overfill Prevention: Acting as a high-level alarm in fermentation tanks, mixing vessels, or storage tanks to prevent product loss and environmental hazards.
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Media Separation: Reliable detection of different media even when densities change slightly, provided the liquids remain pumpable.
