STW develops pressure sensor with air interface and ATEX certification for Linde GmbH Gases Division

In addition to standard sensor technology, STW has also been developing customer-specific solutions based on its own product and competence portfolio for many years. As specialists in the area of pressure measurement, we were therefore pleased to respond to Linde’s request for a wireless pressure sensor for monitoring the fill level of gas cylinders, including in EX protection zones. Based on our proven modular M01 pressure measurement system for mobile hydraulics, a corresponding sensor with air interface and ATEX certification was developed. For this purpose, the connection technology for an air interface was added to the M01 basic body and together with the battery and other necessary electronic components, this connection technology is protected by a plastic housing. The software was also adapted accordingly. Due to the high media compatibility of the STW measurement cells, they could be used unchanged for this development. The new sensor is available with different pressure connections for the typical pressure range of the application. The built-in battery supports a lifetime of at least five years in the defined application scenario. No maintenance is required during this time.

The sensor is used in the Linde DIGIGAS® Smart Gas Management System. This is a comprehensive, cloud-based solution for the digital monitoring of gas consumption, both for individual gas cylinders and for central gas supply systems.  The smart sensor is mounted on a pressure reducer or on a free port on the high pressure side and measures the pressure and temperature in the gas container. These data are encrypted and sent wirelessly to a repeater installed outside the protection zone, through which the data are loaded into a cloud-based platform for further analysis. In the DIGIGAS® Customer Cockpit, the consumption data are visualized in a user-friendly way. This allows customers to manage the gases at any time and from any location and define notification messages for individual threshold values. If the container content falls below the selected threshold value, the user is notified. Depending on customer requirements, DIGIGAS® also offers automatic reordering of gases as well as the exchange and connection of gas containers by Linde employees for customers with central gas supply systems.

About STW

As an internationally active company with Headquarter in Kaufbeuren, we stand for the digitalization, automation and electrification of mobile machines for 35 years. With generic or customer-specific products, systems and solutions developed and manufactured at our headquarters in Germany, we support our customers with innovative technology on their way to making their machines the best in the world.

Supplemented by partner products and accompanied by our training, support and system teams, we help medium-sized companies and large OEMs to increase the performance and efficiency of their machines and increase safety. Through communication between machines, connectivity with cloud platforms and additional partner services, we enable the integration of mobile machines into business processes.

About Linde

Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2019 sales of USD 28 billion (EUR 25 billion). We live our mission of making our world more productive every day by providing high-quality solutions, technologies and services which make our customers more successful and helping to sustain and protect our planet.

The company serves a variety of end markets, including the chemical, petrochemical, food, beverage, electronics, metals, healthcare and manufacturing industries. Linde gases are used in countless applications, from life-saving oxygen for hospitals, to high purity and specialty gases for electronics manufacturing, hydrogen for clean fuels and much more. In addition, Linde provides its customers with state-of-the-art gas processing solutions to support growth, efficiency improvements and emission reductions.

For more information on the company and its products and services, please visit www.linde.com.