Alcohol Monitor

Cost-effective instrument for measuring Alcohol in a 2-component mixture

The Centec Alcohol Monitor is used to determine the alcohol content in a mixture of alcohol (ethanol) and another liquid, typically water. Centec uses density (RhoTec) or sound velocity (SonaTec) to meet your objectives. He instruments are virtually maintenance-free operation and allow for inline installation via a varivent fitting.

A Closer Look

The Centec ALCOHOL MONITOR is based on either the RHOTEC using density measurement or the SONATEC which uses sound velocity measurement. We can guide you in the selection of the best instrument for your application.

For density measurement the liquid flows through a thin U-shaped tube inside the sensor. Using electromagnets, the tube is excited to oscillate at the resonant frequency. At the same time, an integrated reference oscillator measures the oscillation characteristics. Even the smallest changes in fluid density have an impact on the detected signal and are identified with highest precision. The instrument is designed for applications requiring maximum sensitivity and highest accuracy. It is easy to operate and maintenance-free.

For sound velocity measurement a sound pulse is created by a piezo-element in a sonic transmitter. It moves perpendicular to the product flow towards a sonic receiver where it is detected. Since the distance between transmitter and receiver is known, the sound velocity can easily be calculated by measuring the travel time of the sonic signal. As a specific property of each liquid, the correlation between concentration and density resp. sound velocity can be described by a mathematical polynomial.

With decades of experience and our own laboratory facilities, Centec has developed the polynomials for a large number of products. Any temperature drifts of the measured signal are automatically compensated for by an internal Pt1000 sensor.