Rheonics Support

What products are involved in this article?
SRD Inline density and viscosity meter. 

What is the purpose of this article?
To give an overview of the SRD inline density and viscosity meter with GEA Varinline connection, its uses, and installation options.

1. Overview

The SRD is a Rheonics sensor for inline density and viscosity measurements. Read more on SRD here.

The Figure 1 shows a flush variant SRD inline density and viscosity meter with a Varinline Process Connection. This design configuration can used to make the SRD sensor probe compatible with different kinds of GEA Varinline housings which are mostly used for the installation of hygienic instruments in hygienic or sanitary applications.

The SRD probe with a Varinline connection can be ordered with an EHEDG or 3-A certification. Learn more about these certifications here.

The advantages of using the SRD sensor with a Varinline process connection in GEA housings are that it:

• Removes dead zones around the sensing element
  
• Ensures easy cleaning and sterilization through standard CIP (Clean in place) procedure.
  
• Allows perpendicular installation in small lines such as DN40 or DN50*.

*Installation in DN40 or DN50 GEA Housings require the use of a machined plug from Rheonics. This machined plug has a cut that maintains the SRD sensing area unobstructed. This machined plug is hygienic but not certified with EHEDG or 3-A. See more in section 2 of this article.

Figure 1. SRD Varinline flush probe with Varinline N Machined Plug dimensions.

Figure 3. SRD Varinline short probe with Varinline N Plug dimensions.

Table 1: SRD Varinline Specifications

A Varinline connection is composed of a Plug, an O-ring seal, and a Clamp. In case the SRD Varinline sensor is used, this replaces the plug. 

The SRD Varinline sensor probe can be installed in different GEA housings or adapters like the ones listed in the next table.

Table 2: Suitable GEA housings or adapters for the SRD Varinline sensor.

GEA Variant	Description	Referral Image
Varinline Housings	Straight housing with constant cross-section. Allows the SRD Varinline to be installed perpendicular in-line in small pipes (DN40 minimum).  GEA Varinline housing pipes can follow different norms such as ISO 11850, DIN11866, ISO1127 AME-BPE, and IPS.	GEA Reference
Varinline Sight Glass (Type TXIA)	Straight housing with constant cross-section and sight glass. Allows the SRD Varinline to be installed in a Varinline housing (DN50 minimum) with a glass at the other side to see the fluid and check the probe without dismantling.	GEA Reference
Varinline Tank connection flange (Type P)	Adapter for tanks. Allows a flush installation of the SRD Varinline in tanks.	GEA Reference
Varinline Housing Connection Flange (Type U and U-S)	Allows installations of the SRD Varinline in Tee or elbows	GEA Reference

2. Installation examples

2.1 GEA Housings (Type T) 

2.2 GEA Tank connection flange (Type P)

The SRD can be installed in GEA’s Varinline tank connection flange, which is welded into vessels with a wall thickness up to 20 mm to avoid dead zones in a hygienic installation.

Figure 10. Exploded view of assembly example with Varinline tank connection flange

Another installation option for the tank connection flange is using an SRD Long Insertion probe (SRD-X5), this is very useful when you need a longer immersion of the sensing element in the tank.

Figure 11. Exploded view of assembly example with Varinline tank connection flange and SRD Long insertion probe. 

2.3 Other Varinline process connections

The SRD Long insertion probe is compatible with Varinline housings connection flanges type U and U-S with its corresponding Varinline F, N, or G plug depending on the pipe size. It is useful for installation in Tee or elbow pipes.

Figure 12. SRD Long insertion probe with Varinline housing connector flange U-S in tee pipe. 

Figure 13. SRD long insertion probe in the Varinline housing connection flange type U-S. 

3. What is Varinline?

VARINLINE is a trademark of GEA for a range of in-line control and measurement technology for hygienic process connections. It allows the installation of control and measuring instruments in piping systems without any dead spaces, which is important in applications where hygiene is critical, such as the food and beverage industry.

VARINLINE housings are available for all pipe sizes and can accommodate a variety of instruments, including pressure gauges, temperature sensors, and flow meters. The housings are self-draining, which helps to prevent the build-up of contaminants. They are also CIP/SIP-able, which means that they can be cleaned and sterilized without the need to dismantle them.

VARINLINE is a popular choice for a variety of hygienic process applications, including:

• Food and beverage processing

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing

• Biotechnology

• Cosmetics production

• Water treatment

It is a reliable and cost-effective solution for the monitoring and control of process parameters in hygienic environments.

Here are some of the benefits of using VARINLINE:

• Hygienic design: VARINLINE housings are designed to prevent the build-up of contaminants, making them ideal for use in hygienic environments.

• CIP/SIP-able: VARINLINE housings can be cleaned and sterilized without the need to dismantle them, which helps to ensure the safety and quality of the product.

• Wide range of applications: VARINLINE is a versatile solution that can be used in a variety of applications, including food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and biotechnology.

• Reliable and durable: VARINLINE housings are made from high-quality materials and are designed to withstand the harsh conditions found in industrial environments.

If you are looking for a reliable and cost-effective solution for the monitoring and control of process parameters in hygienic environments, VARINLINE is a good option to consider. Rheonics provides EHEDG certified inline process viscometer SRV and inline process density meter SRD with Varinline process connection to work with GEA Varinline adapters. The sensors are also available with EX certifications where needed. Standard sensors are available in Stainless steel 316L and for corrosive environments in Hastelloy C22.

Resources

[1] GEA Varinline Webpage.

[2] Rheonics SRD sensor.

[3] Rheonics EHEDG certification. 

[4] Learn more about EHEDG. 

[5] Inline process viscometer SRV with Varinline flange - options and installation 

Disclaimer

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