Sensing Complements GM’s Fix for Volt Battery Problem

The innovative Chevrolet Volt suffered a setback when some battery packs caught fire days or weeks after government safety tests. The company has found that National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests caused a puncture in the side of the battery pack allowing coolant leakage into the pack. Later, the coolant’s interaction with electronics inside the pack ignited the battery cells.

In addition to strengthening an existing portion of the vehicle’s safety structure to further protect the battery pack in a severe side collision and adding a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the battery coolant reservoir to help prevent potential coolant overfill, a sensor is also part of the solution. The added sensor in the reservoir of the battery coolant system monitors coolant levels to warn the owner if a problem develops.

Level Sensor Built for Bulk

(Microwave Impulse Point-level) is especially designed for the needs of the bulk handling industries. It can be applied to bulk solids or liquid level detection, in plastic vessels for example, or object detection – such as vehicle positioning/warning and oversize/height alarms on conveyors etc. As this is a non-contact measurement, VEGAMIP 61 has no direct contact with the medium, providing reliability for abrasive, aggressive or high temperature applications. In the case of metallic or conductive vessels, VEGAMIP can measure from the outside through a non conductive microwave permeable window, e.g. in ceramic, glass or plastic materials.

VEGAMIP consists of a transmitter VEGAMIP T61and one or several R61 receivers for wider areas. The adjustable sensitivity receiver measures the attenuation of the microwave signal and outputs a relay switch. It has a very wide dynamic range, borne from the pedigree of over 250,000 microwave level devices sold world wide. The wide sensitivity range adds to reliability, especially when operating conditions are difficult, which means it still operates consistently with dirt, dust or build up. Operating ranges are up to 100m.

VEGAMIP can be used as a maximum or minimum sensor, switching delays can be set between 0.1 and 20 s. VEGAMIP is fully integrated into VEGA’s plics® modular system. This means there are a range of plastic, aluminium or stainless steel housings, as well as different antenna systems and process fittings available, allowing configuration of the sensor precisely to specific user requirements.

Combination Liquid Level and Temperature Switch

A liquid level and temperature switch was designed into one assembly to reduce the cost of a fluid system. Tempco can design a custom sensor to meet many applications such as industrial and commercial degreasers and hot liquid dispensing machines.

Liquid Level Sensor Options
The liquid level sensing can be obtained using magnetic floats and switches, or the conductivity method. The conductivity method uses the simple concept of the conductive property of liquids to complete a circuit and cause an external control relay to actuate.

Temperature Sensor Options
Thermocouples, RTD’s, thermistors and thermostat switches with an assortment of accuracies can be incorporated into the assembly.

Tempco Electric Heater Corporation designs and manufactures electric heating elements,
temperature sensors, temperature controllers and turnkey process heating systems.

Tempco
www.tempco.com