Liquid Level Monitoring in Biopharmaceutical Production — Radar Level Transmitters Assist in Accurate Drug Preparation in Sterile Environments
Background:
Qidu Pharmaceutical is a company focused on providing contract manufacturing services for global biopharmaceutical companies, located in Shandong Province, China. The company is dedicated to producing high-quality biopharmaceuticals and vaccines, covering the entire process from drug formulation to final packaging. In particular, during the production of sterile liquids and pharmaceutical solutions, the company enforces strict quality control standards for each batch.
Measurement Requirements:
Accurate dosing during production is critical, especially in the production of vaccines and other biopharmaceutical products. Each batch requires the precise mixing of sterile water (WFI) with pharmaceutical additives provided by the client. The storage tanks have a capacity of about 600 to 900 liters, with a height of approximately 1.5 meters (5 feet), and are equipped with mixers to ensure thorough mixing of the additives with the sterile water.
Due to significant temperature and pressure fluctuations, with liquid temperatures reaching +95°C (203°F) and pressure maintained between 1-2 bar, Qidu needed to find a new liquid level monitoring solution that could meet the high temperature and pressure production environment while ensuring high accuracy and reliability in liquid level measurement.
Solution:
To address this challenge, Qidu chose a guided wave radar level transmitter. This technology is designed to provide precise and reliable level measurements in complex production environments, particularly in high temperature, high pressure, and environments where the properties of the liquid fluctuate.
The guided wave radar level transmitter emits microwave signals, which are transmitted through the probe to the liquid surface. When the signal encounters the liquid surface, it reflects back to the probe, and the device calculates the liquid level accurately by measuring the time it takes for the signal to return. This technology is particularly suitable for environments affected by temperature fluctuations, pressure changes, or stirring, and it operates stably, providing highly accurate measurement data.
To accommodate the space constraints and sanitary requirements of the production site, the guided wave radar level transmitter features a vertical installation design, avoiding the need to modify existing infrastructure. The smooth surface of the probe minimizes the accumulation of contaminants, ensuring sterility after each cleaning.
After the equipment installation, Qidu worked closely with the technical team for calibration and validation. By comparing the liquid level measurements from the radar transmitter with the volume flow data from the flow meter for each batch, they ensured the accuracy and consistency of the level measurements. Once validated, the guided wave radar level transmitter consistently provided reliable liquid level data, greatly improving the control and transparency of the production process.
User Benefits:
By adopting the guided wave radar level transmitter, Qidu effectively overcame the limitations of traditional level sensors in high-temperature, high-pressure, and complex environments. The new system not only significantly improved the accuracy of liquid level measurements but also reduced errors caused by manual intervention, ensuring the reliability of level monitoring during the production process. The application of the guided wave radar level transmitter has brought higher production efficiency, enhanced quality control, and better production transparency, greatly improving the traceability and stability of the entire production process.
