Level is measured at the position of the

interface between phases, where the phases

are liquid/gas, solid/gas, or immiscible
liquid/liquid and after reaching certain
level,switch turns the equipment ON & OFF.
Level is simply a measure of height.
 Direct
 Indirect
Direct methods employ physical
properties such as fluid motion and
buoyancy, as well as optical, thermal,
and electrical properties. Direct level
measurement does not require
compensation for changes in level
caused by changes in temperature.
Direct level measurements show the
actual level of the interface.
Indirect level measurement involves
converting measurements of some other
quantity, such as pressure to level by
determining how much pressure is
exerted over a given area at a specific
measuring point, the height of the
substance above that measuring point
can also be determined.
A dipstick used to measure the amount of fuel
remaining in a tank. Dipsticks can also be used
to measure the quantity of liquid in an otherwise
inaccessible space, by inserting and removing
the stick and then checking the extent of it
covered by the liquid.
Rotating paddle level sensors
are a very old and established
technique for bulk solid point
level indication. The technique
requires a low speed gear motor
that rotates a paddle wheel.
When the paddle is stalled by
solid materials, the motor is
rotated on its shaft by its own
torque until a flange mounted on
the motor contacts a mechanical
switch
A sight glass or water gauge is a
transparent tube through which the operator
of a tank or boiler can observe the level of
liquid contained within. Simple sight glasses
may be just a plastic or glass tube
connected to the bottom of the tank at one
end and the top of the tank at the other. The
level of liquid in the sight glass will be the
same as the level of liquid in the tank.
Today, however, sophisticated float
switches have replaced sight glasses in
many such applications.
It is used to measure liquid
levels in the tank in which a float
rests on the surface of liquid and
follows the changing level of
liquid.
Ultrasonic transmitters work on the principle
of sending a sound wave from a peizo
electric transducer to the contents of the
vessel. The device measures the length of
time it takes for the reflected sound wave to
return to the transducer. A successful
measurement depends on reflection from
the process material in a straight line back
to the transducer
The Metritape sensor comprises an
elongated metallic base strip having
electrical insulation on the edges and back
of the strip to define an un-insulated zone
along the length of the base strip, and a
resistance wire or ribbon helically wound
around the insulated base strip, with the
helical turns bridging the insulated edge
por­tions being spaced from the underlying
un-insulated zone of the base strip.
Hook- Type level Indicator consists of a wire of
corrosion resistance alloy bent into U-shaped with
one arm longer than the other. The shorter arm is
pointed with 60 degrees while the longer is
attached to a slider on a Vernier scale, which
moves over the main scale and shows the reading.
Displacer level detector works
on the Archimedes Principle
which states, “A body wholly
or partially immersed in fluid is
buoyed up a force which is
equal to weight of the fluid
displaced”. By detecting the
apparent weight of immersed
displacer the level of the fluid
is measured
High accuracy

Reliable for clean liquids

Can be mounted internally or externally

Externally mounted can be disconnect

from main unit for maintenance

Adoptable to liquid interface

measurement
These have limited ranges and devices exceeding
1.2m in length are difficult to measure

Cost of these increases appreciably for externally

mounted units as pressure increases

External units may require heating to avoid

freezing

External units may be in error due to temperature

difference between vessel fluid and level chamber
fluid
Key questions to ask before selecting a level measurement
sensor:

1. Are you measuring a liquid or solid?

2. What is the application’s temperature and pressure

ranges?

3. Is point level or continuous measurement required?

4. What level measurement range do you need?

5. Is the measured material electrically
conductive?

6. Will the material coat or build up on surfaces?

7. Does turbulence, foam, or vapor occur at the

surface of the liquid?

8. Will you need contact or non-contact level

measurement?

9. What kind of output do you need–analog,

relay, digital display, etc.?
 Switches
A switch is an electrical device
usually electromechanical used to
control continuity between two
points
 Types of Switches
Hand switches: Hand Switches are
actuated by human touch.
Process Switches: Process Switches are
actuated by changes in some physical
process(temperature ,level , flow etc.)
Limit Swiches:Limit Switches are actuated
by machine motion.
 Liquid Level Switches
A floating object can be used to actuate a
switch mechanism when the liquid level in
an tank rises past a certain point.
 Nuclear Level Switches
Both source and detector are outside
of the vessel, with no intrusion at all
except the radiation flux itself. The
radioactive sources used are fairly
weak and pose no immediate health
threat to operations or maintenance
personnel.
 Float Level Switches
All float operated liquid level controls operate
on the basic buoyancy principle which states
"the buoyancy force action on an object is
equal to the mass of liquid displaced by the
object."
 Difference Between
Sensor,Switch & transducer
Sensor:Tell us the value
Switch: Turns something ON or OFF
Transducer: A sensor that can send a
signal
The many level technologies available in the market place
today all work. If they did not work, companies would not
be able to stay in business manufacturing them, and other
companies would not be buying them. The important thing
to remember is that all technologies work when applied
properly. Special consideration must always be given to the
principle of operation, and where the limitations of each
technology lie. The correct selection of a technology and
then the subsequent correct application of the technology
will make the level measurement a successful one.