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Precisely measure methanol concentration
for maximum process efficiency

Continuous inline measurement of methanol content with LiquiSonic® ultrasonic technology.

Maximum process efficiency in chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries - With the highest accuracy and without sampling.

Real-time measurement

Continuous monitoring without delay

Maintenance-free

No moving parts or wear components

Highest accuracy

Precise measurement even under difficult conditions

Cost savings

Reduction of operating costs and waste

Why is methanol concentration measurement
a challenge?

In the chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries, methanol processing requires the highest quality standards. Even minor (water) impurities can lead to costly production downtimes or quality problems.

Typical challenges:

  • Continuous process monitoring
  • Quick response to deviations
  • Reliable measurement even with temperature changes
  • Documentation for quality assurance

Consequences of insufficient monitoring:

  • Faulty batches
  • Quality problems
  • Inefficient distillation processes
  • Rework or waste
  • Insufficient cleaning validation
  • Compliance issues

Conventional measurement methods unsuitable:

  • Classical sampling often time-consuming, error-prone, and safety-critical

  • Laboratory analyses: Measurement results often available only after hours
  • Conductivity measurement: Methanol as an organic solvent is not conductive
  • Density measurement: Installation and calibration very complex

Our solution for methanol concentration measurement

LiquiSonic® Measurement systems revolutionize methanol concentration measurement through innovative ultrasonic technology. Our maintenance-free inline sensors enable continuous process monitoring without sampling.

Highest accuracy:

Measurement accuracy up to ±0.05 wt% in water content determination

 

Real-time monitoring:

Immediate measurement results for quick reactions

 

Maintenance-free:

No moving parts, no wear

 

Easy Integration:

Digital interfaces for all common automation systems

Technical Details

The LiquiSonic® technology uses the physical property that ultrasonic waves propagate at different speeds in liquids of different compositions. For example, the speed of sound changes in methanol-water mixtures depending on the specific substance and water content.

A high measurement frequency allows for the detection of rapid concentration fluctuations. The integrated temperature measurement automatically compensates for temperature-related fluctuations in sound speed.


Economic Benefit

Cost Savings

✔ Save on laboratory costs

✔ Reduced personnel effort

✔ Reduction of waste

✔ Optimized energy consumption

Rapid Amortization

✔ Typical amortization period less than 1 year

✔ No maintenance effort

✔ Permanent availability

✔ Long service life

More Productivity

✔ Real-time data

✔ Quality improvement

✔ Automated documentation

✔ Quick response possible


Quality Assurance

  • Complete documentation of all measurements
  • Continuous process validation
  • Alerting in case of deviations

Technical Specifications

Measurement ranges (Methanol in water)

0-10 wt% / 50-70 wt% / 80-100 wt%

Measurement Accuracy

typically ±0.05 wt%

Repeatability

±0.02 m/s

Temperature Range

-40 °C to 200 °C

Pressure Range

Up to 500 bar

Sensor Length

Up to 3000 mm

Material & Coating

Stainless steel, Hastelloy, PFA, PVDF, ETFE, ...

Digital Transmission

Up to 1,000 m (more on request)

Interfaces

4-20 mA, Profibus, Ethernet, Modbus, Fieldbus, ...

Protection Class

IP65/67/68 and explosion protection available

Calibration

One-time factory calibration

Maintenance

Completely maintenance-free

Practical Examples and Use Cases

Formaldehyde synthesis

The precise monitoring of the methanol-water content is crucial for formaldehyde production, as the water content can negatively affect the reaction rate (or potentially lead to unwanted by-products). With our LiquiSonic® technology, you ensure consistent product quality and maximum efficiency in formaldehyde synthesis.

Pharmaceutical Solvent

In the pharmaceutical industry, methanol as a solvent is subject to the strictest quality requirements, with the water content needing to be precisely specified and continuously monitored. Our inline measurement systems ensure that your methanol batches always meet pharmaceutical standards and prevent production downtimes due to quality deficiencies.

Distillation & Purification

The optimization of methanol distillation processes requires continuous monitoring of the water concentration to maximize energy efficiency and achieve the desired product purity. With precise inline measurement, you can optimally control your distillation columns and significantly reduce both operating costs and product losses.

Chemical Synthesis

As an important starting product for numerous chemical reactions, methanol must meet defined purity standards, as water impurities can affect reaction rates and reduce product yields. Our measurement systems enable you to perform reliable quality control and ensure reproducible synthesis results in your chemical production.


Over 35 Years of Experience in Concentration Measurement

Since 1990, SensoTech has been a leading provider of inline measurement technology and has established itself as a specialist in precise concentration and density measurements.

Our systems are used worldwide, even in critical applications.

35+

Years of Experience

1000+

Installed Systems

50+

Countries Worldwide

ISO 9001

Quality Certified

Do you need further references or a customized feasibility study?

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Frequently asked questions

What is SensoTech?

SensoTech GmbH is a leading company in the field of process measurement technology based in Barleben, near Magdeburg, Germany. We develop and produce innovative solutions for monitoring and optimizing industrial processes. Our specialization lies in the precise measurement of concentrations, densities, and other parameters in liquids - in real-time and directly during the process.

What distinguishes LiquiSonic® from conventional measurement technology?

Unlike optical methods, which are influenced by color or turbidity, conductivity-based methods, which are sensitive to electrical conductivity, or density-based methods, which can be disturbed by temperature or gas bubbles, our ultrasonic method is independent of these influences.

The LiquiSonic® measurement technology also contains neither moving parts nor components that can wear out or be consumed. After installation, the measurement system is therefore completely maintenance-free and drift-free.

The sensors offer digital signal transmission up to 1000 m and enable continuous inline measurement without sample extraction.

How is the methanol concentration measured accurately?

Our system uses ultrasonic transit time measurement to determine the speed of sound in the liquid. The speed of sound correlates directly with the methanol concentration and enables measurement accuracies of ±0.05 wt%The integrated temperature compensation ensures stable results even under fluctuating process conditions.

How quickly do you receive measurement results?

The system provides results in real-time. It conducts over 30 measurements per second. Based on these measurements, you receive a current measurement value every second. This fast response time enables effective process control and early detection of deviations.

How does LiquiSonic® respond to temperature fluctuations?

Since the speed of sound, like all other physical quantities, is influenced by temperature, all our LiquiSonic® sensors are equipped with high-precision temperature sensors. This allows the influence of temperature on the measurement to be directly compensated to be directly compensated. Therefore, it is not necessary to integrate additional temperature sensors.

Which process conditions can be covered?

Our sensors operate reliably in a temperature range from -40 °C to 200 °C and pressures up to 500 bar. Through various material options such as stainless steel, Hastelloy, or PFA coatings, aggressive media can also be measured. Ex protection for Zone 1 and 2 is also available.

Can extreme operating ranges also be covered?

Yes, our sensors are designed for extreme conditions. In addition to the extended temperature and pressure range, we offer custom adaptations such as sensor lengths up to 3000 mm, special alloys for corrosive media, and various protection types, such as optional Ex protection. Each sensor is individually configured according to your requirements configured.

Can multiple components be monitored simultaneously?

Yes, by combining the speed of sound measurement with additional physical quantities (e.g., conductivity), multiple components can be determined simultaneously. This also allows for the monitoring of additional additives.

How is integration into existing automation systems achieved?

The system offers various digital interfaces (e.g., Profibus, Ethernet/IP, Foundation Fieldbus) as well as analog 4-20 mA outputs. The integration is seamless via standardized protocols.

Is an adaptation to special pipelines or containers possible?

Yes, SensoTech manufactures sensors customized according to customer requirementsAll standard flanges, any installation lengths, various threads, and special geometries for crystallization vessels or small pipes are available.

What maintenance is required?

The system is completely maintenance-freeThere are no mechanical wear parts, seals, or optical windows that could be affected. Regular calibration is not required - the sensors remain stable for years.

Related applications

Methanol as an energy carrier in sustainable carbon capture processes

Hydrogen production for green methanol synthesis

Precise monitoring of methanol-formaldehyde-water mixtures

Efficient monitoring of distillation processes

Concentration measurement of ethanol in water