Description
Approvals
Sintrol S201 DustGuard – Filter Leak Detector
The Sintrol S201 DustGuard is a real-time filter leak detector and broken bag alarm engineered for continuous monitoring of dust levels in industrial duct and stack systems. By delivering reliable ALERT and ALARM signals through two independent dry contact relays, the S201 DustGuard allows plant operators to identify bag house failures, filter deterioration, and abnormal dust events the moment they occur.
Furthermore, the S201 is also available as the S201 Ex variant, which adds full ATEX, IECEx, and North American HazLoc certification for use in dust hazardous areas (Zones 20, 21, and 22 inside the duct, and Zones 21 and 22 outside the duct). As a result, the S201 DustGuard suits both standard industrial duct monitoring and demanding hazardous dust environments such as mining, grain handling, sugar, and timber processing.
How the Sintrol S201 Works
The Sintrol S201 DustGuard is built around Inductive Electrification Technology, a refined evolution of traditional triboelectric sensing. When dust particles pass nearby or strike an insulated probe mounted inside the duct, the particles induce a signal on the probe. This signal is then processed through Sintrol’s advanced algorithms to filter out background noise and deliver accurate, repeatable dust measurements.
In contrast to classic triboelectric sensors that rely solely on the DC contact signal, Inductive Electrification uses the AC component of the signal. Consequently, the technology is:
- More sensitive to fine particles
- Less affected by sensor contamination over time
- More stable across temperature changes
- Less sensitive to variations in gas velocity
- Capable of detection limits as low as 0.01 mg/m³
Key Benefits for Filtration Control
Because filter health directly affects product quality, emissions compliance, and operating costs, the Sintrol S201 DustGuard delivers wide-ranging benefits across industrial filtration systems, including:
- Straightforward filter leak detection through ALERT and ALARM signal outputs
- Minimised product loss by identifying even the smallest leaks
- Early identification of broken solenoid valves
- Pulse efficiency monitoring with the option to reduce pulse rates
- Lower compressed air consumption on baghouse cleaning cycles
- Preventive maintenance scheduling driven by real data
- Proactive reduction of emergency downtime
As a result, plant operators gain continuous visibility into filter performance — without manual sampling or guesswork.
Sintrol’s Unique Auto Setup Function
To simplify commissioning, the Sintrol S201 includes a unique Auto Setup function that automatically adapts the instrument to the actual process conditions. During the Auto Setup procedure, performed under normal operating conditions, the monitor establishes its measuring range and alarm thresholds without any manual configuration.
Once Auto Setup is complete, the instrument shows a green LED at normal conditions. In addition, Auto Setup adapts automatically to the location of the measurement point:
- Before the filtration system — Auto Setup baseline may be several g/m³
- After the filtration system — Auto Setup baseline may be just a few mg/m³
In both cases, no manual range setup is required. Consequently, commissioning takes approximately 8 minutes (500 seconds) once mechanical and electrical installation is complete, removing the most common source of misconfiguration in dust monitoring installations.
S201 vs S203 – Which Model is Right for You?
The Sintrol S201 DustGuard and S203 Trend Monitor share the same proven platform but serve different purposes. Therefore, choosing the right model depends on whether your priority is real-time alarms or continuous trending.
- S201 DustGuard — Filter leak detection and broken bag alarms using two independent SPDT relays for ALERT and ALARM signalling. Ideal for plants that need cost-effective filter protection without analogue trending.
- S203 Trend Monitor — Adds an isolated active 4–20 mA output for continuous trend monitoring of filter performance, alongside the same two relays. Ideal for plants that want to optimise pulse cleaning, track filter degradation over time, or integrate trend data into a SCADA or PLC system.
In practice, many sites deploy both: the S201 for critical alarm points and the S203 for performance trending across the broader filtration system.
Hazardous Area Certification (S201 Ex)
For dust hazardous area applications, the Sintrol S201 Ex is certified under international and North American hazardous location standards. Therefore, it can be installed in classified Ex zones without requiring secondary protection systems.
Certifications include:
- IECEx / ATEX: II 2 D Ex ia tb IIIC T85 °C … 201 °C Db Ta = −30 °C to +60 °C
- US Hazardous Locations: Zone 20 A Ex ia ta IIIC T85 °C … T201 °C Da
- Canadian Hazardous Locations: Ex ia ta IIIC T85 °C … T201 °C Da
- US/CAN: Class II, Div 1, Groups E, F, G — IS Probe Ta = −30 °C to +60 °C
- IECEx, ATEX, MET, CE, and RoHS 3 compliant
In Australia and New Zealand, the IECEx scheme is the primary recognised certification under the AS/NZS 60079 series for hazardous area equipment.
DustTool Parametrisation Software
Every Sintrol S201 DustGuard ships with access to the DustTool PC software, which provides a convenient platform for setup, parameter adjustment, and live measurement viewing. To connect, simply plug a USB cable directly into the monitor — DustTool automatically detects the interface and connects to the device.
Furthermore, DustTool supports:
- Live measurement viewing
- Auto Setup initiation and parameter review
- Alarm threshold configuration
- Diagnostic data extraction
- Network monitoring across multiple S200-series instruments
Communication and Integration
To integrate seamlessly with plant control systems, the S201 DustGuard offers several communication options:
- Two independent SPDT dry contact relays for ALERT and ALARM signals (max. 30 V DC / 5 A or 240 V AC / 5 A)
- RS-485 serial communication with Modbus RTU protocol for control system integration
- USB interface for commissioning and DustTool connection
- Sintrol network protocol for multi-instrument monitoring
If your application requires an isolated active 4–20 mA output for continuous trend analysis, the related Sintrol S203 Trend Monitor is the recommended choice — it shares the same proven platform but adds the analogue loop signal for filter performance trending.
The Specs at a Glance
Below are the key specifications for the Sintrol S201 and S201 Ex DustGuard dust monitors:
| Measurement objects | Total Suspended Particles (TSP) |
| Measurement principle | Inductive Electrification |
| Detection limit | 0.01 mg/m³ |
| Maximum range | Up to several g/m³, depending on conditions |
| Protection code | IP66 |
| Power supply | 24 V DC ±10 % or 100–240 V AC ±10 %, 50/60 Hz |
| Power consumption | Up to 10 W |
| Output signals | 2 × Independent SPDT dry contact relays |
| Communication interfaces | RS-485 (Modbus RTU), USB |
| Process connection | 1½″ tri-clamp |
| Cable gland | PG11 |
| Ambient temperature | –40 °C to +60 °C (standard) / –30 °C to +60 °C (Ex) |
| Humidity | Max. 95 % RH non-condensing |
| Process temperature | Max. 300 °C standard, up to 700 °C optional, 200 °C for Ex models |
| Process pressure | Max. 600 kPa (up to 300 °C); max. 300 kPa (300–700 °C) |
| Enclosure | Aluminium pressure cast, IP66 |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
Typical Applications
Across Australia, New Zealand, and internationally, the Sintrol S201 DustGuard is widely deployed for filter leak detection, broken bag alarms, and dust event monitoring in:
- Cement and lime production
- Mining and minerals processing
- Grain, flour, and sugar handling
- Timber, wood pellet, and biomass facilities
- Steel mills and metal refining
- Pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing
- Power generation (coal, biomass, MSW)
- Recycling and waste handling
- Food and feed production
Proven Technology Since 1993
Sintrol has become a globally recognised dust monitoring supplier with over 20,000 installations across more than 50 countries. Furthermore, the inductive electrification measuring principle has been independently tested in Finland and Germany, demonstrating excellent linearity across a wide range of dust types — including ISO 12103 medium (Arizona Road Dust) — with virtually no impact from temperature variation across the operating range.
Reliable Dust Monitoring from ProDetec
As the Australian and New Zealand partner for Sintrol dust monitoring equipment, ProDetec delivers the S201 DustGuard and S201 Ex with full local technical support, installation guidance, commissioning, and ongoing service. Whether you’re protecting a single bag house, monitoring multiple filtration stages, or commissioning a hazardous area dust collection system, the Sintrol S201 DustGuard provides the verified, real-time leak detection your operation requires.
Sintrol Dust Tool
Dust tool is a free of charge configuration utility for Sintol series devices.
The software can be downloaded here:
IECEx Certificate of Conformity
Hover Box Element
Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.