UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST – CALOOCAN

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL

NEE 4101 – 1EE

ACTIVITY NO. 2
LEVEL MEASUREMENTS

Submitted by: Jett Dominic R. Bautista

Student No: 20151114771
Date Submitted: August 27, 2021

Engr. Romeo C. Hipol

Instructor
1. Explain the following method used in level measurement.

 Direct Level Measurement

 Bob and Tape

- A bob weight and measuring tape provide the most simple and direct method of
measuring liquid level. See picture at the right for the graphical presentation. Tape-
and-Bob Procedure is an established way of measuring petroleum in tanks. This
procedure is carried out by measuring the leftover space between the reference point
on the ullage hatch and the top level of the liquid inside the storage tank.

 Sight Glass

- The level gauge, or sight glass is to liquid level measurement as manometers are to
pressure measurement: a very simple and effective technology for direct visual
indication of process level. In its simplest form, a level gauge is nothing more than a
clear tube through which process liquid may be seen. Use of a sight glass is probably
the simplest method of measuring liquid level. The sight glass is attached to the
outside of the tank so that the liquid level can be seen through the glass. The sight
glass is marked with graduations to allow the level to be measured.
 Indirect Level Measurement

 Pressure Gauge

- A pressure gauge can be used to determine the liquid level in a tank, well, river or
other body of liquid. The pressure at the bottom of a liquid filled container is directly
related to the height of the liquid. The transmitter measures this hydrostatic head
pressure and gives the resulting liquid level. To get an accurate reading, the
measurement device needs to be located at the lowest point you want to measure;
typically mounted or laying on the bottom of the container. Hydrostatic level
measurement is a simple and reliable method of measuring level. A submersible
pressure sensor, regular pressure sensor or pressure gauge is lowered to or mounted at
a specific depth (zero level). The sensor then measures the pressure caused by the
weight of the liquid directly on top of it.

 Purge System

- Air purge method is used for level measurement. It is also known as bubbler method.
This is one of the most popular method for hydrostatic liquid level measuring system.
which is suitable for any type of liquid level. The Bubbler System is an inexpensive
but accurate means of measuring the fluid level in open or vented containers,
especially those in harsh environments such as cooling tower sumps, swimming
pools, reservoirs.

The system consists of a source of compressed air, air flow restrictor, sensing tube
and pressure transmitter. The only component of the Bubbler System that is exposed
to the elements is the sensing tube. Air purge is the most suitable level measurement
method in such cases. In this method, compressed air is forced through the bubbler
pipe which is placed in the level measurement tank. This compressed air/gas emerges
from the other end of the tube in the form of bubbles.
 Differential Pressure Meter

- Differential pressure flow meters use laminar plates, an orifice, nozzle, or Venturi
tube to create an artificial constriction then measure the pressure loss of fluids as they
pass that constriction. According to Bernoulli's principle, the pressure drop across the
constriction is proportional to the square of the flow rate. The higher the pressure
drop, the higher the flow rate. These rugged, accurate meters are ideal for a wide
range of clean liquids and gases.

 Displacer type level measurement

- Displacer level instruments uses Archimedes’ Principle to detect liquid level by

continuously measuring the weight of an object immersed in the process liquid. As
liquid level increases, the displacer experiences a greater buoyant force, making it
appear lighter to the sensing instrument, which interprets the loss of weight as an
increase in level and transmits a proportional output signal. The displacer is
cylindrical in shape with a constant cross-sectional area and made long or short as
required.
2. Explain the operation of the following

 Open – Tank level Measurement

- The simplest application is the fluid level in an open tank. Figure above shows a
typical open tank level measurement installation using a pressure capsule level
transmitter. If the tank is open to atmosphere, the high-pressure side of the level
transmitter will be connected to the base of the tank while the low-pressure side will
be vented to atmosphere. In this manner, the level transmitter acts as a simple
pressure transmitter.

We have:

Phigh = Patm + S⋅H

Plow = Patm
Differential pressure ΔP = Phigh - Plow = S⋅H

The level transmitter can be calibrated to output 4 mA when the tank is at 0% level
and 20 mA when the tank is at 100% level.

 Closed – Tank level Measurement

- Should the tank be closed and a gas or vapor exists on top of the liquid, the gas
pressure must be compensated for. A change in the gas pressure will cause a change
in transmitter output. Moreover, the pressure exerted by the gas phase may be so high
that the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid column becomes insignificant.
 For example, the measured hydrostatic head in a CANDU boiler may be only three
meters (30 kPa) or so, whereas the steam pressure is typically 5 MPa. Compensation
can be achieved by applying the gas pressure to both the high and low-pressure sides
of the level transmitter. This cover gas pressure is thus used as a back pressure or
reference pressure on the LP side of the DP cell. One can also immediately see the
need for the three-valve manifold to protect the DP cell against these pressures. The
different arrangement of the sensing lines to the DP cell is indicated a typical closed
tank application

We have:

Phigh = Pgas + S⋅H

Plow = Pgas
ΔP = Phigh – Plow = S⋅H

The effect of the gas pressure is cancelled and only the pressure due to the hydrostatic
head of the liquid is sensed. When the low-pressure impulse line is connected directly
to the gas phase above the liquid level, it is called a dry leg.

3. State the two types of measurement method used in closed – tank system.

 Dry Leg Calibration

- Dry Calibration or Dry Leg Calibration method of a Differential Pressure Transmitter

is performed in a closed, pressurized tank. This is a common method and one of the
easiest to do. The method is almost similar to open tank level calibration. In a closed
tank, the bottom most point is the HP or High - Pressure point, and the top most point
is the LP or the Low - Pressure Point.

 Wet Leg Calibration

- Dry calibration holds true only when the liquid in the tank is at ambient temperature.
When the liquid is hot or much colder than the ambient temperature, the liquid vapor
or the condensate will fill the dry- leg. Under this condition, the dry calibration does
not hold true. In such a situation, wet calibration method is to be adopted.
4. Explain the operation, uses, advantages and disadvantages of the following systems.

 Bubbler System Level Measurement

- The level bubbler functions by forcing a 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 liquid’s density known, the level can be calculated
using the back pressure and density. A pressure transmitter converts the back pressure
to provide a 4-20ma output to a controller, which calculates the liquid’s level.

In more detail, a compressed air source is supplied to a filter/regulator. The

Filter/Regulator provides a filtered and reduced supply of air pressure to the constant
flow controller. The controller maintains a near constant volumetric rate of flow set to
1SCFH, regardless of various process or supply pressures. This constant flow of
compressed air flows through the flow controller through a rotameter (that displays
the flow rate) to the dip tube. The hydrostatic back pressure of the dip tube is
measured by the gauge pressure transmitter, which sends a 4-20ma signal. This signal
can used to control a pump, sound alarms or can be sent to a programmable logic
controller for further use in controlling functions of a process.

 Applications of Bubbler System

- The level bubbler can be used to monitor in-take screens for debris and initiate an
airburst backwash. This is done by placing a dip tube on each side of the screen and
when the pressure differential between the two reaches a certain point, a backwash
can be initiated to clean the screens. This system is a called a Differential Level
Bubbler.

 Bubbler System advantages and disadvantages

- Simplicity of design and low initial purchase cost are frequently given as advantages
of bubblers, but this is somewhat misleading. The system consists of a pipe, an air
supply, a pressure transmitter and a differential pressure regulator. The regulator
produces the constant gas flow required to prevent calibration changes.

- Calibration is directly affected by changes in product density. It is frequently also

necessary to periodically clean this device. The tip of the pipe can collect material
from the process, solidify, and plug the hole. Bubblers are not suitable for use in non-
vented vessels.
 Hydrostatic Tank Gauging Level Measurement

- Hydrostatic tank gauging utilizes up to three pressure sensors and one or more
temperature elements. The hydrostatic pressure (liquid head) is measured; as the
height increases the pressure increases as well. If a single pressure sensor is used, a
manual density measurement is required for an inventory calculation.

 Applications of Hydrostatic Tank Gauging

- This type of level measurement system can be used in stored fuel measurement.
However, it is not a favored level measurement system primarily due to the difficulty
in maintaining measurement accuracy due to variation of temperature and changing
the state of the stored fuel.

- The non-invasive nature of this system can be implemented using commercially

available components and technology. This would make this an attractive level
measurement approach if the issue of consistent measurement accuracy was
addressed.

 Hydrostatic Tank Gauging advantages and disadvantages

- Proven and established measuring principle with high reliability, field tested millions
of times. It is a reliable measurement unaffected by many physical characteristics
such as conductivity, dielectric coefficient or viscosity, Simple installation and
operation of submersible pressure transmitters and conventional pressure sensors
without the need for calibration or adjustment and numerous alternative design
variations and sensor technologies for almost every application.

- It is Unsuitable for bulk material and Accurate measurement requires either media
with constant density or continuous density measurement of the medium.

 Radar Level Measurement

- Radar level measurement is based on the principle of measuring the time required for
the microwave pulse and its reflected echo to make a complete return trip between the
non-contacting transducer and the sensed material level. Then, the transceiver
converts this signal electrically into distance/level and presents it as an analogue
and/or digital signal. The transducer’s output can be selected by the user to be directly
or inversely proportional to the span.

 Applications of Radar

- Radar technology is mainly put into use for detection of level in continuous level
measurement applications. Radar level transmitters provide non-contact type of level
measurement in case of liquids in a metal tank. They make use of electromagnetic
 waves usually in the microwave X-band range which is near about 10 GHz. Hence,
they can be also known as microwave level measurement devices.

 Radar advantages and disadvantages

- This non-contact technology produces highly accurate measurements in storage tanks

and some process vessels. Radar is an excellent, but fairly expensive technology for
continuous level measurements.

- These systems do not have the accuracy of radar used for inventory control. In
conclusion, radar can be highly accurate, is immune to most vapors or physical
characteristics of the measured media, other than, in some cases, dielectric constant.

 Stilling Wells and Bridles Level Measurement

- Level measurement in many tanks is only possible by utilizing an existing stilling

well. Stilling wells can vary greatly in diameter, length, condition of the surface,
number and placement of holes, and many other construction or design parameters.

 Applications of Stilling Wells and Bridles

- The purpose of a stilling well is to dampen waves or surges while permitting the
water level in the well to rise and fall with the major fluctuations of the main body of
water or flow channel. The water level in the well can be measured and used to
calculate flow or to control devices such as gates or pumps.

 Hybrid Inventory System Level Measurement

- Hybrid level systems are also known as Hybrid Inventory Measurement Systems.
This can be viewed as the ‘emerging technology’ of the tank gauging world. It stands
out from conventional methods because it is able to measure level by means of any
conventional automatic tank gauging, volume by pressure sensor and density, just like
current HTG. This is the most recent evolution of tank measurement methods and is
suggested to achieve greatest accuracy of all present methods because it presents a
synergy of existing, diverse, level measurement technology.

 Applications of Hybrid Inventory System

- A Hybrid Tank Management System is a combination of conventional level gauging,

enhanced with one or two pressure transmitters for continuous measurement of the
actual observed density in a bulk liquid storage tank. Or otherwise stated, it is a
combination of level and hydrostatic pressure measurement. Pressure measurement,
combined with level, provides true average density measurement over the entire
product level height.

 Hybrid Inventory System advantages and disadvantages

- Accurate level measurement, continuous density measurement and excellent mass and
volume measurement.