What is Soliphant FTM50

The Soliphant FTM50 is a point level switch (or point level detector) designed for detecting the presence (or absence) of bulk solids (especially finegrained or powdery solids) in silos, hoppers, or similar vessels. It is part of the Vibronic family of Endress+Hauser devices.

“Point level” means it detects at a specific location (e.g. the “fork”) rather than measuring the level continuously. So it might be used to detect “high level”, “low level”, “overflow” or “material arrived at this point”, etc.

How it works (Measuring Principle)

• It uses a vibrating fork (vibronic) as the sensing element. The fork is excited (by piezoelectric drive) at its natural resonance frequency.
• When the fork is covered by the bulk solid material (powder or granules), the vibration behaviour changes (for example, damping, frequency shift or amplitude change). The electronics detect that change and generate a switching signal.
• Because there are no mechanically moving parts (just the vibrating element), wear and maintenance are minimized.

Key Features & Advantages

Here are its strong points:

Typical Applications

Where you’d use it:

• Silos, hoppers storing fine powders or granules: cereals, flour, sugar, animal feed, dyes, chalk, cocoa etc.
• Overfill protection or empty detection (for example, to prevent a silo from running totally empty, or to detect when product has reached a certain height) in powder handling systems.
• Hazardous environments (dust explosion risk, etc.), where reliable detection and safety certification are required.

Electronic Vibration Type Limit Detection Soliphant FTM50 Limit Detection Switch Tuning Fork Limit Level Switch

Important Specifications (Typical Values)

Some of the key figures to keep in mind:

Limitations & Considerations

• It’s a point level device, so it only tells you “yes/no” at the location of the fork; you don’t get continuous level profiling between this and other points.
• Coating or build-up on the fork can affect performance — though diagnostics help detect build-up, certain materials may adhere. Choosing the proper surface finish/coating helps mitigate.
• Selection of fork length, material, housing etc. must match the particular medium (abrasiveness, corrosiveness, particle size, humidity etc.).
• Installation orientation and mounting must ensure the fork is properly exposed to the bulk material, avoiding false positives or failures (e.g. avoid being blocked or shielded).