Application of Wide-panel Magnetic Level Indicator in Gantry Crane Power Oil Level Measurement

“The gantry crane is the most common equipment on the wharf, and monitoring the diesel level plays an important role in the normal operation of the gantry crane. However, due to harsh conditions, traditional magnetic level indicators encounter various problems during measurement, such as unclear display panels, inaccurate signals from remote transmitters, water penetration of the display panel, and malfunction of magnetic flaps, which cause trouble for users at Shenzhen Yantian Port. To find a better solution, the users discovered that the Jiwei Flap-11 wide-panel magnetic level indicator was the optimal choice after comparing and testing other samples from different manufacturers. Consequently, Shenzhen Yantian Port Group Co., Ltd. purchased 230 sets of Flap-11 wide-panel magnetic level indicators and Reed-11 remote transmitters to measure the diesel oil and engine oil levels in the gantry crane generator units.

Severe Conditions

After on-site investigation, it was found that the working conditions of the gantry crane generator units at Yantian Port are severe, primarily in the following aspects:

1. Yantian Port is close to the sea, so the humid and salty environment is prone to causing instrument corrosion.
2. Typhoons occur frequently at Yantian Port, and rainwater is abundant, so instruments with low protection levels are easily damaged by dust and moisture.
3. The gantry crane oil tank is far from the ground (usually more than 10 meters), requiring instruments to be visible from a long distance.
4. The gantry crane experiences strong vibrations, so the instrument must have anti-vibration capabilities.
5. The instrument requires explosion-proof certifications.
6. The PLC control system is imported, and its control center can only receive resistance values from remote transmitters, which is incompatible with the 4-20 mA current output of domestic magnetic level indicators.

High Product Requirements

1. Strong salt-fog corrosion resistance and high-quality display panel are required.
2. The display panel needs strong anti-vibration capabilities to avoid flaps flipping due to vibration.
3. A wide display panel is required for long-distance observation.
4. The protection level of the magnetic level indicator needs to reach IP66/67 to prevent damage from dust and water penetration.
5. Remote transmitters must have explosion-proof certifications.
6. The output signal of the remote transmitter must be compatible with the existing PLC control system, and the value must be resistance output.

Traditional magnetic level indicators cannot meet these requirements due to the severe working conditions. After thorough research, relevant departments at Yantian Port found that Jiwei Flap-11 magnetic level indicators offer advantages not found in other manufacturers’ products. As a result, Yantian Port chose Jiwei as the final winning bidder.

Advantages of Flap-11 Magnetic Level Indicator

The Flap-11 series magnetic level indicator not only incorporates excellent design and advanced technology from similar domestic and international products but also independently develops innovative designs, production processes, and testing standards.

1. The Flap-11 series magnetic level indicator features a wide display panel for long-distance observation.
2. An accurate magnetic coupling system gives the display panel excellent anti-vibration properties and prevents easy flipping.
3. The explosion-proof grade is the highest (Ex D IIC T6) among similar products, fully meeting the explosion-proof requirements of the site.
4. The protection level is as high as IP67, effectively preventing water and dust damage to the display panel. Most domestic manufacturers’ protection levels only reach IP54.
5. The remote transmitter uses imported plastic-sealed reeds, ensuring reliability and durability. The remote signal output mode can be customized according to customer needs to ensure compatibility with the PLC control site’s signal.
6. The float buoy is made of 304 or 316L stainless steel, and the panel is made of high-quality aluminum alloy with strong salt-fog corrosion resistance. The flap can be made of either aluminum alloy or nylon plastic.

Thanks to these unique advantages—such as the wide display panel, high explosion-proof grade and protection level, and superior quality—the Flap-11 series has gained favor with more and more users.”