Transmitter and Digital Probes Revolutionizing Thermal Measurements

Revolutionizing Thermal Measurements with the New HF5A Transmitter and TCD Digital Temperature Probe

In advanced industrial and pharmaceutical sectors, minimizing downtime and maximizing efficiency and compliance are no longer goals – they are necessities.

The HF5A transmitter represents the cutting edge of measurement technology. Designed to work seamlessly with our range of smart digital probes, it offers outstanding accuracy in measuring conditions. With the launch of the Rotronic HF5A, we are pushing the benefits that our revolutionary digital HygroClip probes deliver.

This blog takes a closer look at how temperature digital probes, when partnered with our HF5A, can transform your operational environments. One feature of the new HF5A is support for our digital temperature probe range (TCD-S). We will take insights from large-scale pharmaceutical projects, including Covid-19 vaccine storage and production and the monitoring of production and research facilities for pharmaceutical cannabis.

Enhanced Precision and Reliability

Temperature is the most common control and monitoring parameter in all industrial processes. It is especially critical in many pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Often considered an ‘easy’ measurement, it can be tempting to specify and install lower-quality instruments. However, not only does this impact accuracy and drift of measurement data; lower-cost products are susceptible to reliability issues that may lead to unplanned shutdowns or compliance problems. The HF5A is designed specifically for critical measurements; it is the pinnacle of our transmitter range and, as such, is exceptionally reliable, accurate and flexible. Engineers know that once an HF5 is installed, these instruments will operate without failure. Our clients are still using HygroFlex5 devices that are now 10-15 years old having been launched in 2008. One senior calibration manager recently stated quite frankly “these instruments can last a lifetime if looked after and not in harsh environments”.

HF5A + TCD Digital Temperature Probe

Our TCD digital temperature probe is a universal solution for precise thermal measurements. With an operating range of -200...+200 °C, one probe can be used in all applications, from liquid nitrogen at –196 °C all the way up to industrial processes and high-temperature dry sterilization at >170 °C. The 2m cable can be extended to 12m and, with digital communication, there is no loss of accuracy. Finally, the 3mm-diameter stainless-steel probe provides an exceptionally fast response far above that of traditional 6 or 8mm probe designs. This ensures the very best control efficiency for your processes.

Minimizing Downtime with 'Hot Swap' Capability

Another challenge with traditional temperature transmitters is calibration and adjustment. To calibrate, either the transmitter must be removed from the installation and calibrated in a lab or calibration equipment must be brought to the transmitter and live measurements interrupted whilst calibration steps are performed. This typically takes over 30 minutes per instrument. With our TCD-S digital probe, all calibration and adjustment data are stored in the probe itself and digital communication to the installed HF5A ensures complete compliance and reduces measurement errors. TCD-S probes can be hot swapped; instrument engineers or calibration engineers need only have a batch of spare probes with fresh calibrations. These probes can be hot swapped by hand in seconds, with no tools, effectively ensuring zero downtime for the control or monitoring system.

Real-world Applications

Two large high-profile projects illustrate the real-world benefits that these products can provide.

1. For a UK-based pharmaceutical company, precision in temperature monitoring is vital. The quality and compliance of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis they produced is directly affected by environmental conditions; thus, the ability to monitor and adjust these conditions without disrupting production is crucial. The project initially focused on areas requiring humidity monitoring and control, but dramatically expanded once the project team gained a full understanding of the impact that digital probes can have on the maintenance and calibration of their BMS and EMS. With the reduction in service and maintenance costs, time and risk, they moved to immediately replace all temperature locations with digital probes, demonstrating the huge value this approach had on operational costs and total cost of ownership.
2. Similarly, in one of the largest Covid-19 vaccine production sites in the world, the need to expand their monitoring systems with an accurate and reliable solution that offered zero downtime meant there was no question that they would specify use of digital temperature probes with our HygroFlex5 range. The COVID vaccine's efficacy depends critically on its storage environment, and any deviations can compromise the vaccine's integrity. The HF5 with digital probe provided our client with a reliable means of ensuring that their vaccines are stored within the required temperature parameters, again with far-reduced risks from downtime or unplanned maintenance.

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