The Pulsar Sludge Finder is a new ultrasonic device designed to reliably and accurately detect and measure the interface between water and sludge in a variety of water industry clarifier applications.


Pulsar Process Measurement of Worcester has launched Sludge Finder, a new ultrasonic device designed to reliably and accurately overcome the tricky problem of detecting and measuring the interface between water and sludge in a variety of clarifier applications. A reliable sludge level measurement allows the correct dosing of chemicals to the process, reduces the amount of sludge pumping and can eliminate the need for manual measurements. Furthermore, by providing a reliable signal, advance warning of process upset can be generated so that remedial action can be taken.

Sludge Finder is an ultrasonic device, consisting of a control box and transducer, which is immersed in the liquid and fires a sound pulse down towards the sludge blanket.

This creates an echo returning to the transducer face, which is analysed in the control unit.

By using sophisticated echo processing algorithms, the change in density between the water and sludge is identified and signalled via an analogue output.

The transducer also features an automatic wiper that keeps the transducer face clean and makes the whole unit very low maintenance.

Up to four transducers can be connected to a single Sludge Finder control unit, at a distance of up to 500m.