Ultrasonic Level Sensors

When detecting the level of liquids/solids or slurries, due to the nature of the service material, it becomes imperative for you to use a level sensor in the hopper/silo or the tank. Hazardous liquids such as medicinal solutions, inflammable liquids and liquids that are viscous may need a level sensor that actually is not in the vessel. Here come the ultrasonic level transmitters with a plethora of advantages: a) These sensors can be used to detect point level or continuous level of the service material, both. b) Accuracy is a key feature of ultrasonic level transmitters. c) can be easily set up with other computing devices for remote monitoring and control Ultrasonic level transmitters as the name suggests work on the light sensing technique. They are also refereed to as non contact type level sensors or sonic sensors. For highly viscous fluids, slurries, oil and plastic service material, an ultrasonic level transmitter is the best choice. These level sensors emit high frequency acoustic waves that are reflected back from the surface of the service material. The apparatus that emits these waves has a transducer that catches these waves and determines the level of service material in the hopper. As in other techniques of level sensing such as capacitance level sensing or admittance level sensing, the sound waves that are emitted and recorded by the ultrasonic transducer, are affected by temperature, pressure and moisture. Thus, these sensors are either to be used with temperature and moisture sensors, or come in built with these detectors. If the hopper is filled with a service material that generates froth or vapor, the performance of the ultrasonic level transmitter gets affected. A turbulence in the hopper presents impediments in the transmission of the sound signals. If steam or mist is produced during the process, for which you are measuring level, they may cause a loss of proper relay of signal due to signal absorbency. You may need to use wave guides to correct these anomalies. You cannot discount the importance of proper mounting of an ultrasonic level transmitter. Sound waves should always be reflected perpendicularly from the service material. If there is even a bit of difference, it may lead to improper level limit detection. To ensure a proper transmission and reception of signal, it is necessary that you keep the hopper free of weldments, brackets and other obstacles. Since the ultrasonic level transmitter instruments both sends and receives the acoustic signal, there is a short mechanical vibration in the system after it sends the signal. This is known as ringing. when the level transmitter is in the ringing mode, it cannot process a received level signal. The vibration should stop before the signal from the hopper level reflects and reaches the transducer. Usually this results into calculation of a distance from the surface of the transducer. This distance, known as blanking zone is the distance for which, the ringing will happen and the system will be virtually blind to any resonance. One needs to compensate for this distance while calculating the sensing results.