LEVEL MEASUREMENT PRINCIPALS AND THEIR SUITABILITY

METHOD TYPE OF MEASUREMENT PRODUCT PROPERTIES PROCESS CONDITIONS

Non Remarks
Bulk Level Level Highly Large P< 0.5 P= 5 to 10 T = 50 to T > 100
Liquid Foam Homogen Corrosive Powder Granular P>10 Bar T < 50 OC
Material Measurement Detection Viscous Partical Bar Bar 100 OC O
C
eous

Visual Method
Adv.: Simple and Relatively Inexpensive.
a) Sight Glass G P G L L L L G G G L G G L Dis Adv.:No
Retransmission of information
Adv.:Simple and Low cost.
b)Dip Stick G G G L L G G G G G G B P P G G L Dis
Adv.:Requires Acess to Process and inappropriate for Pressure Vessel
Adv.:Simple, low cost.
Dis Adv.:Requires
Float Method G G L G L G P G L L G G L
a certain mounting, no reproducible switch point, Malfunction in case of
Built-up and is not fail safe
Adv.: Accurate
Dis Adv.:
Displacement Method G G L G L P P G G G G G G
Dependent upon density and requires a significant amount of Mechanical
Equipment
Pressure Method
Adv.:Simple, suitable for Corrosive substance. Dis
a) Bubble Pipe G G L G L P G G L S G G G Adv.:Requires air line and Air Consumption, danger of Built-up of medium
on Bubble Pipe and not Suitable foruse in Pressure Vessel
Adv.: Easily assembled, simple to adjust and reasonably accurate
b)Hydrostatic G G L G G P L G 1) G 1) G 1) G G L Dis Adv.: Dependent uupon relative density and relatively costlyfor D.P.
measurement.
Adv.: Can be very accurate level measurement for products with constant
relative Density, and measures contents rather than level Disadv.:
Weighing Method G G G L G G P G G G G G G G G G G
Requires Large amount of mechanical equipment and is expensive to
install.

Adv.: Universal Application, no adjustment required. Easy mounting, safe

operation and relatively cost effective. Dis
Tuning Fork Method G G G P G L P G G S G G G
Adv.:Not suitable for size of grain or particals suspended inliquids of more
than 10 mm, as the grains can be trapped between the fork lines.

Adv.: Universal Application, no adjustment required. Easy mounting, safe

operation and relatively cost effective. Dis
Vibrating Fork Method G G G G G P G G G G G G
Adv.:Not suitable for size of grain or particals suspended inliquids of more
than 10 mm, as the grains can be trapped between the fork lines.

Adv.: Simple, low cost, requires no adjustments Dis

Rotation Supression Method G G P G G P G P P G L P
Adv.: Subject to wear,not suitable for very High or low dense products

Adv.: Suitable for very deep silo's up to 70 m, reasonably accurate and

Plumb Line Method G G G L G G G P G G G G L P G G G suitable for different products Disadv.:Produces
Descrete readings and requires maintenance
Adv. : Simple cost effective and also suitable for two point control
Conductivity Measurement G L G G G L P L G G G G G G Dis adv.:Probe must not be allowed to contaminated with grease of other
deposits and is limited for products of varying conductivity
Adv. : For liquids and solids, nomoving parts and suitable for highly
corrosive media Dis
Capacitance Measurement G L G G L L L G L L P G G G G G G Adv.: Limited application for products of changing Electrical properties.

Adv.: Suitable for all and various products and can be mounted without
causing any obstruction. No Tank modification is required, Non contact,
Gammaa Radition G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G
Suitable for High Pressure and High Temperature. Dis
Adv.:Special Safety measures are required and is expensive.

Adv.:Non contact. Suitable for various liquids and bulk products.

Sound Wave Absorp./Reflection G G G G S G G L L G G G L P G L P Dis Adv.: Product must not produce too much surface foa. Not suitable for
High Pressure and Temperature. Not applicable for Vacuum Application.

Adv.: Non contact.Easy mounting, suitable for High Pressure and

Microwave Guided G G G P G G G G G G G L Temperature.
Dis Adv.: Product must have a minimum dielectric value.
Adv.: Non contact.Easy mounting, suitable for High Pressure and
Microwave Free Antena Reflection G P G L G G G G G G G G G Temperature.
Dis Adv.: Product must have a minimum dielectric value.

G: Good
L: Limited
P : Poor
N.B.: Limited also indicates
No Preference,whereas empty
square means Not Applicable
G1): Only with DP
Float
nuclear
Dispacer

non-contact
Capacitance
Level Gauge
Remote Seal

Tank Gauging
Weight System
Purged System
TYPES

Differential Pressure
HEAD MEASUREMENT

Electromechanical Switch
HEIGHT MEASUREMENT

Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Inexpensive

Y
Y
Y
Y
Y Not Complex

Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Good For Difficlt Application

Y
Y
Y
No contact

Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y

Good for Liquids

ADVANTAGES

Y
Y
Y
Y
Y

Good For Solids

Y
Y
Y
High Accuracy

Good For Interface

Y
Y
Y

Measurement
Y
Y
Y

High Initial Cost

Y
Y
Y
Y

Complex
LEVELAPPLICATION TABLE

Requires unusual
Y
Y

precations for safe

installations
Not Off the shel,
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y

requires Engineering the

Application

Introduces the Foreign

Y

Material to the Process

Sensitive to Dirty
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y

Process
DISADVANTAGES

Needs Special License

Y
Y
Y
Y

Contains Moving Parts

Not good for Agitated

Y
Y
Y
Y
Y

Vessels

Not suitable for High

Y

Temperature application