New dual channel Baumer conductivity and pressure sensors

We’ve all heard the refrain, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Well, sensor expert Baumer has actually managed to improve on two of its most accomplished sensor designs. Because Baumer PP20H pressure sensors and CombiLyz AFI conductivity sensors now come with dual channel IO-Link connectivity. PIF explores the features and benefits of this digital overhaul.

Baumer CombiLyz and PP20H go dual channel

Digital communication opens up many opportunities. According to Swiss sensor experts Baumer, however, only sensors that reliably deliver precise measured values offer real added value by IO-Link.

Well-established and appreciated by many users, Baumer PP20H pressure sensors and CombiLyz AFI conductivity sensors have always delivered outstanding measuring performance and IO-Link interface. But now they offer even more interesting features, such as simple and fast parameterisation – even during operation.

This way, secondary process data can output simultaneously or diagnostic data only accessible this way can be communicated from sensor to controller or even retrieved from the sensor memory, if required. Further to the digital interface, Baumer’s sensors also provide one or more conventional analogue outputs for maximum user flexibility.

Benefits of dual channel process sensors

Dual channel enables analogue and digital sensor operations or both at the same time. As such, Baumer process sensors, like the CombiLyz AFI conductivity sensor and PP20H pressure sensor, work both in conventional control topologies and digital IO-Link control environments.

In process automation, the proven analogue interface is helpful for sensor integration into existing control concepts. Nevertheless, in sensor commissioning, IO-Link advantages, such as easy and fast parameterisation or access to secondary data, are a valuable help. For process control, parallel readout of conductivity or pressure value is enabled via a 4... 20 mA analogue output.

IO-Link provides valuable secondary data

IO-Link provides access to valuable secondary process data, including sensor temperature in the case of Baumer’s PP20H pressure sensors. Such information allows for useful diagnostic findings, such as unusual temperature fluctuations in containers or pipes. Such data is invaluable for predictive maintenance.

Baumer CombiLyz AFI conductivity sensors deliver information on media concentration, as well as media conductivity. By doing so, the medium in process and its concentration is precisely identified. Meanwhile, PP20H pressure sensors deliver ambient pressure information in addition to process pressure. Therefore, the sensor can be deployed for both absolute and relative pressure measurement.

Mutual and bi-directional sensor communication

IO-Link also allows for mutual and bi-directional sensor communication via the controller. This way, every sensor can utilise the measured values of other sensors to solve complex measuring tasks or for the optimisation of processes and production flow.

For example, using the Baumer CombiLyz conductivity sensor, transmission of the measured temperature value would reduce response times of temperature compensation to 15 seconds or even completely circumvent them.

In level detection in closed tanks, two fusioned pressure sensors enable direct indication of the filling level. The head pressure sensor transmits the measured value to the pressure sensor at the tank bottom for zero point adjustment. This way, the actual pressure is determined.

With Baumer CombiLyz conductivity sensors and PP20H pressure sensors now featuring digital communication interface technology, Baumer has further added to their portfolio of IO-Link process sensors. Solutions for flow and level detection using the IO-Link digital communication standard are also available.

Further information, please visit Baumer.