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Biodiesel => Biodiesel equipment => Topic started by: Head Womble on April 28, 2013, 10:08:08 PM

Title: Load cells
Post by: Head Womble on April 28, 2013, 10:08:08 PM

I was over at Julian's place today and we got chatting about safety systems.

How about this for an idea, if we had a load cell under one of the legs of the reactor (assuming there is only three legs) this could be used to tell if the oil level drops and cut power to the heater and pump.
It would take someone more technically minded than myself to do it, but it's possable I think.

The same load cell could be used to measure the amount of oil in the tank,
we know most chemistry is done using weight not volume as it's not temperature dependant,
this could increase our accuracy especially if we weigh our ASM and methanol.

Julian found this site on load cells if anyone wants to know more.

http://www.omega.co.uk/prodinfo/loadcell.html

Title: Re: Load cells
Post by: Rotary-Motion on April 28, 2013, 10:11:47 PM

sounds like pressure pads in hiest films  8)

will have a looksy

Title: Re: Load cells
Post by: Rotary-Motion on April 28, 2013, 10:15:50 PM

http://proto-pic.co.uk/load-sensor-50kg/?gclid=CPWAtNmk7rYCFdQctAodqVgAnQ

(http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server500/810ec/products/1948/images/5971/10245-01__61299.1298294220.1280.1280.jpg)

Title: Re: Load cells
Post by: Julian on April 28, 2013, 10:21:13 PM

How the hell did you find that ... all the ones I've looked at this evening have been ten times that cost!

Title: Re: Load cells
Post by: Rotary-Motion on April 28, 2013, 10:28:45 PM

Quote from: Julian on April 28, 2013, 10:21:13 PM

How the hell did you find that ... all the ones I've looked at this evening have been ten times that cost!

 8)

Title: Re: Load cells
Post by: Rotary-Motion on April 28, 2013, 10:32:06 PM

could have some fun with this lot too

http://proto-pic.co.uk/categories/Sensors/Flex-%26-Force-Sensors/

Title: Re: Load cells
Post by: Julian on April 28, 2013, 10:40:47 PM

What a great find ... they've even got Electroluminescent kit.  Now, if you liked the LEDs you have in the van, this stuff will blow you away.  I looked at it when it was first developed for marking escape routes on ships, but at the time it wasn't sufficiently developed to be relyable.

Most of their stuff seems to be wire but I was playing with what was, for all intents and purposes, a piece of paper which would light up!

http://proto-pic.co.uk/categories/Electroluminescent-Materials/

Title: Re: Load cells
Post by: therecklessengineer on April 29, 2013, 11:23:48 AM

I've thought about this too, but I got stuck with a method of getting it to work accurately. I have all of my kit bolted to the wall to stop it falling over. What I found difficult was coming up with a method of having the reactor secured yet flexible enough for a load cell to work accurately.

I ended up exploring linkages and arms and all sorts of overcomplicated stuff. Enough for me to think sod it, I'll just measure the volume like usual.

Title: Re: Load cells
Post by: Head Womble on April 29, 2013, 06:41:58 PM

Quote from: therecklessengineer on April 29, 2013, 11:23:48 AM

I've thought about this too, but I got stuck with a method of getting it to work accurately. I have all of my kit bolted to the wall to stop it falling over. What I found difficult was coming up with a method of having the reactor secured yet flexible enough for a load cell to work accurately.

I ended up exploring linkages and arms and all sorts of overcomplicated stuff. Enough for me to think sod it, I'll just measure the volume like usual.

A load strap bolted to the wall and the reactor would be enough to stop it falling over and still give the movement required.