Alfa Laval How does the Rotacheck work

Construction

The Alfa Laval Rotacheck control and validation system for tank cleaning machines consists of a sensor unit with top cover, o-rings and electrical cable and/or connector. The sensor unit has a sensing device located inside the processing tank and is connected to a sensor board, which processes and communicates the signal to the PLC.

Operating principle

The Alfa Laval Rotacheck system is available in two versions with digital sensor output via PNP interface to and from a PLC.

Rotacheck Basic

This standard system is suitable for validating the rotation of the rotary jet head. Ideal for retrofitting of Rotacheck systems that are already installed, Rotacheck Basic registers the moment when the sensor head is hit by the cleaning jet.

• Hit: The moment in time when the water jet hits the sensor head.

• Alarm: In case of unit failure or constant hit (cleaning device error).

• Idle: When the rotary jet head is not in use and cleaning is not being performed.

Options

• Clamp ring

• M12 connector

• Hygienic tank connection HTC

• Hygienic tank connection HTC (Q-doc version)

• Blind cap with o-ring

• Blind cap with o-ring (Q-doc version)

Rotacheck+

This advanced innovative system features unique built-in teach-in and monitoring functions to verify the proper rotation of the rotary jet head.

As the rotary jet head performs the first CIP (cleaning-in-place) cycle, the sensor registers time and pressure data from the cleaning process and stores them as reference data. The reference data represent a unique pattern for a specific cleaning process in terms of the water jet intensity on the tank wall (hits) and the time between the hits from the water jet.

During subsequent CIP cycles, the processor in the sensor board then compares actual values to the digitally stored reference values and alerts the operator if any deviation from the reference values occurs.

The status of rotary jet head operation is shown via digital PLC output as well as a visual light indication. System feedback includes three different outputs:

• Rotation OK: When the operation of the rotary jet head meets the values recorded during the initial CIP cycle, verifying the proper rotation of the jet head.

• Alarm: When the rotation of the rotary jet head falls above or below the acceptable reference values recorded during the initial CIP cycle.

• Idle: When the rotary jet head is not in use and cleaning is not being performed.