1. Float switches are used for point-level detection and are commonly used to control other devices such as alarms and pumps when a liquid level rises or falls to a specific point.
2. Float Switches are used in a variety of industries and applications including applications in food and beverage, water and wastewater, and chemical industries.
3. Below are examples of food and beverage industry applications Float Switches are used in.
FLOAT SWITCH USES IN COMMERCIAL KITCHEN EQUIPMENT
1. Commercial Dishwasher - Float switches are used in commercial dishwashers to keep the wash fluid at an ideal level that will protect the pump in the washer.
2. Deep Fat Fryers - Vertical float switches are installed in deep fat fryers to protect the heating element while monitoring the amount of oil in the oil reservoir. The float switch protects the heating element of the fryer by preventing the fryer from heating oil when there is not enough oil in the reservoir. Once the oil level has reached a level that will protect the heating element the float switch is used to notify the user that the heater can be turned on.
3. Proofing Ovens - Proofing ovens have a tray of water that is used to produce steam for the oven. Float switches are often used in the water tray to ensure there is enough water to produce an adequate amount of steam for proofing.
4. Commercial Coffee Brewers - Float switches are often used in the hot water boiling system of commercial coffee urns to notify the individual making coffee when the urn is out of water.
5. Hot Dog Steamers - The water reservoir in a hot dog steamer is monitored by float switches. A float switch can be used to notify that the condensation pan is full and needs to be emptied. A float switch can also be used to monitor the heating element in the hot dog steamer. The float switch shuts off the heating element when the water reservoir drops below a level that could burn up the heating element.
6. Slushy Machines - Slushy machines use float switches to notify the user when the machine is empty and needs to be refilled.
FLOAT SWITCH USES IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROCESSING
1. Beer & Wine Processing - Float switches are used throughout several processes in the beer and wine industry. One of the more prominent uses of float switches in this industry is monitoring the storage of hops waste in beer making. High-level alarms signaled by float switches play an important role while monitoring hops waste that can create hazardous spills if it overflows.
2. Flash Freezing - Float switches are commonly used to control the water feed during flash freezing.
3. Produce Washing - When washing produce collected in the field, float switches are used to monitor the water level.
4. Maple Syrup Collection - Float switches are used in maple syrup collection to trigger an alarm when the collection container used to collect the syrup while tapping is full.
5. Produce Misting System- Float switches are used in produce misting systems that create the rainstorms in grocery produce aisles. This system typically uses two float switches one to monitor the filling of the system and the other to monitor emptying.
HOW TO CONFIGURE FLOAT SWITCH: NORMALLY OPEN SWITCHES VS NORMALLY CLOSED SWITCHES
1. Deciding whether your float switch needs to be normally open or normally closed for pump control can be a little confusing. So we would like to clear things up.
2. When we say normally open or normally closed, we are referring to an electrical circuit. An open circuit is incomplete, meaning that the electric current is unable to complete the loop due to a gap. A closed circuit is complete with no gaps, enabling the current to travel through the whole loop.
3. With level switches, these circuits are opened and closed by the float either moving up or down based on the rising or falling level of the liquid. Deciding whether or not you want the circuit to be closed or opened when the float is either up or down can be tricky.
4. The most effective way to decide is to determine what the switch should do when the float is at rest. When we say at rest, we mean that the float is not suspended in the liquid. We often see confusion with the term normal as others have misinterpreted it as a float suspended. Remember, normal, in terms of switches, refers to a float at rest.
5. So, if you want the switch to be energized, or on, when the float is at rest, then you will need the switch to be normally closed. If you want the switch to be de-energized, or off, when the float is at rest, then you will need the switch to be normally open.
6. Also, it may be helpful to know that normally open switches are typically used for pumps that empty a tank, while normally closed switches are typically used for pumps that fill a tank.
Source:
https://www.apgsensors.com/about-us/blog/normally-open-vs-normally-closed
https://www.apgsensors.com/about-us/blog/float-switches-in-the-food-and-beverage-industry
