The chemical and petrochemical industry is a strategic production field that operates under harsh process conditions such as high temperature, corrosive materials, and flammable or explosive atmospheres. Weighing systems used in this sector are not only for commercial measurement, but are also critical for
safety, process efficiency, product quality, and automation control. In the mixing of liquid and powder chemicals, weighing technologies play a significant role in
precise dosing, filling control, tank level monitoring, and recipe-based production.
Weighing solutions in petrochemical plants cover a wide range of materials including petroleum derivatives, solvents, LPG, paint raw materials, acids, bases, resins, detergent chemicals, polymers, and additives. Therefore, weighing equipment used in this sector must be both
chemically resistant and compliant with ATEX safety standards.
Weighing Requirements in the Chemical Industry
Weighing systems are used in various processes in the chemical industry for the following purposes:
- Liquid and powder chemical dosing
- Reactor and mixer weighing
- Tank and silo level monitoring
- Barrel, jerrycan, and IBC filling
- Big-bag loading and unloading
- Recipe-based production via automation
- Safe weighing in explosive areas (ATEX)
Errors in weighing during production can directly affect product quality and create serious safety risks. Therefore, precise and safe weighing solutions are mandatory.
Liquid and Powder Dosing Systems
Most materials used in the chemical and petrochemical industry are in liquid or granular form. These materials must be mixed according to production formulas using
dosing weighing systems.
Advantages of liquid and powder dosing systems:
- Accurate mixing of raw materials according to defined ratios
- Product standardization and quality consistency
- High precision recipe validation
- Automatic filling and shut-off control
Weighing indicators used in dosing control pump operations, feeders, and valves automatically, enabling error-free production.
Tank and Silo Weighing Systems
In chemical storage plants, tank and silo levels are accurately monitored using
weighing-based level measurement. Since density variations in liquid chemicals can cause errors in sensor-based level measurement, weighing is the most reliable method.
Advantages of tank and silo weighing:
- Immune to density variations
- Continuous chemical level monitoring
- Automated stock and consumption reporting
- Safe and closed-loop storage management
Load cells used in these systems must be made of corrosion-resistant materials and provide compensation against high temperature fluctuations.
Filling Weighing Systems
During the packaging of liquid and powder materials in chemical and petrochemical facilities,
filling weighing systems are widely used. These systems are ideal for drums, IBC tanks, jerrycans, sacks, and big-bags.
Advantages of filling weighing systems:
- Fast filling + high precision final filling
- Chemically compatible material selection
- Reduced risk of leakage or overflow
- Automatic recording and labeling integration
Filling controllers operate dosing valves automatically, eliminating operator-based inconsistencies.
ATEX-Certified Weighing Systems
Production areas containing flammable, explosive, or toxic chemicals are classified as
Ex-proof environments. Weighing systems used in these areas must be ATEX certified.
ATEX-compliant weighing equipment must include:
- Spark-free construction
- Protection against static electricity
- High thermal resistance
- Corrosion-resistant materials
- Use of Ex-proof indicators and junction boxes
ATEX compliance is not only a legal requirement but also a vital necessity for personnel safety and plant protection.
Digital Monitoring and SCADA Integration
Weighing systems in chemical and petrochemical plants are not just measurement devices; they are
data sources for recipe management, stock monitoring, energy analysis, reporting, and automation control.
With SCADA and PLC integration:
- Recipe-based production becomes safer
- Raw materials are automatically dosed
- Storage tanks are continuously monitored
- Production and consumption reports are generated
- Operational safety is enhanced
Digital integration is the foundation of efficient, safe, and sustainable production in the chemical industry.
Weighing systems in the chemical and petrochemical industry are used in many critical applications such as dosing, tank and silo weighing, filling control, recipe management, and explosive-area safety. With the right weighing technologies, product quality is maintained, production costs are reduced, and safety standards are improved.
ATEX-compliant, high-precision, and automation-integrated weighing systems are indispensable technologies for modern chemical and petrochemical plants.
