INSTRUMENTATION & PROCESS

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INDUSTRIAL LEVEL MEASUREMENT

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CONTENTS

1. Importance of Level Measurement in Industry

2. ISA Classification for Level Measuring
Elements
3. Operating Principles of Level Measuring
Instruments
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Importance of Level Measurement
 Optimizes the production process and ensures
consistent product quality (efficiency aspect)
 Saves materials and energy, minimizing wasate
(economy aspect)
 Avoids abnormally high or low material
accumulation which could create a hazardous
situation (safety aspect)
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LIQUID LEVEL MEASUREMENT

Measuring Liquid Level

 Datum Point
 Also called as reference point when
measuring liquid level may be at the bottom
of tank, the top of a tank, or any other point
that remains stationary
 All liquid measurements are made from a
fixed reference point, or datum to the surface
of the liquid.
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 Direct Measurement
 By lowering a measurement stick into the
water and read the level of the water
directly on the stick: by mounting the stick
permanently in the tank, you can have the
reading without handling it.
 By use of sight glass
 By use of electrodes that sense presence of
the liquid
 By use of float and pointer mechanism
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 By use of sonic, ultrasonic, radar, and
mnicrowave detection method
 By use of nuclear radiation method.

 Indirect Measurement
 By measuring static pressure of liquid at
the tank bottom (atmospheric tanks)
 By measuring the differential pressure
between the top and bottom of pressurized
tank
 By measuring the weight of the tank
 By use of air bubbler meachanism.
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Methods of Industrial Level Measurement
01
> Visual – Dipstick, Sight Glass LG
LS > Float 01
01 > Displaces
> Differential or Head or hydrostatic Pressure
> Bubbler
> Capacitance
> Conductance
> Time of Flight – Ultrasonic, Microwave, Laser
> Magnetostrictive
> Weight of Local Cell
> Nucleonic
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Sight Glass Level Gage

A sight glass or water gauge is a type of level sensor, a

transparent tuber through which the operator of a tank or
boiler can be observe the level of liquid contained within
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- Flapper Type Level Gage

Is a magnetic level gauges provides clear high clarity

indication of liquid level. Magnetic level gauges are
principally designed as an alternative level gauges is
consists of three major components. Float chamber, float
and indicator system
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Float Method Level Measurement

Float level measurement is the simplest form of soled

or liquid level measurement is with a float. A device that
rides on the surface of the fluid or solid within the
storage vessel
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Float Method Level Switch

A float switch is a type of level sensor, a device used to

detect the level of liquid within a tank. The switch may be
used to control a pumps, as an indicator, an alarm, or to
control other devices. One type of float switch uses a
mercurt switch inside a hinged floa.
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Displacer Method Level Measurement

One kind of level gauge uses buoyant force to

measure liquid level on a nearly stationary
object called displacer. It is called displacer
because its purpose is to displace liquid. A force
measuring mechanism senses changes in the
buoyant force and converts this force into an
indication of level.
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Principle is based on Archimedes principles.

Displacement instruments determine liquid by
sensing the buoyant force exerted on a displacer
by the liquid displace.
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Differential Pressure Method Level Measurement

Differential pressure is used to measure level

of liquids and liquefied gases in pressurized
tanks. The standard hydrostatic pressure
formula consists of three variables: pressure
density and height. The sensor measures
pressure density is input as a constant by the
customer, and the height is the product level
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Pressure Level Transmitter
 Measurement of level in industrial application
by differential pressure transmitter is frequent.
The DP transmitter device is used to measure
level as an inferential measurement. In a DP
transmitter the diaphragm senses the head
pressure developed by the height of the
material in the vessel.
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Bubbler Method Level Measurement

The level bubbler functions by forcing gas

(compressed air) at a near constant flow rate out the
bottom of an open tube ( dip tube) submerged in
liquid. The back pressure in this tube is measured.
With the liquids density known the level can be
calculated using the back pressure and density.
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Capacitance Method Level Measurement

This probe interacts with an opposite electrode

usually the wall of a tank and the two are
connected together to form a capacitor. The fluid
contents of the tank act as the dielectric medium
which will affect the capacitance created
between the two electrodes.
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Conductance Method Level Measurement

The conductance method of liquid level

measurement is based on the electrical
conductance of the measured material, which is
usually a liquid that can conduct a current with a
low voltage source (normally <20 V).
Conductance is a relatively low cost simple
method to detect and control level in a vessel.
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