NATIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF

MEXICO
CULIACAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

UNIT 1. INTRODUCTION TO INSTRUMENTATION

Task #1:
“TESTING A PHYSICAL VARIABLE”
(LEVEL)

Subject:
INSTRUMENTATION

Professor:

MC GILBERTO PEREZ LUQUE

Members:

 AGUIRRE MURILLO JUSTIN FERNANDO 16171045

 LEON BORBOA EDWIN JESUS 16171140
 MENDOZA RODRIGUEZ GRACIELA MERCEDES 16171160
 REYES MORENO LUCERO PATRICIA 16171210
Culiacan, Sinaloa February 24, 2020

In this essay, a physical variable will be presented, which in a particular case is the
Level, as well as the different instruments that can be used for its measurement.
This variable can be of great help in various industrial, technical, academic, etc.
focus processes.
It is important to know that a physical variable is “a palpable manifestation of
natural conditions of matter, such as, for example: pressure, level, flow and
temperature.” The measurement of these variables is the action by which a
numerical value and an engineering unit are assigned to a physical variable related
to its nature; this action is achieved by means of instruments that have a numerical
indication and an engineering unit.
A measuring instrument is one that allows measuring the length, volume,
extension or capacity by comparison with a standardized element which is taken
as a reference to subsequently assign a numerical value to it using some
instrument graduated with said unit.
The level can be defined as the distance between a reference line and the surface
of the fluid; generally, said reference line is taken as the bottom of the container.
Liquid level was perhaps the first of the variables to be measured and controlled; of
the most common variables that we currently measure and control, it is the most
direct and is the only one that is simple in its dimension; that is, level is simply a
measurement of length.
Below, we will go into more detail about the meaning of this variable and the
different instruments that can be used to measure it depending on certain
scenarios.
 PHYSICAL VARIABLE (LEVEL)
The level is defined as the distance between a reference line and the surface of
the liquid, generally this reference line is usually the bottom of the container where
the liquid is held. In the industry it is of utmost importance to maintain the level
within the specified limits, otherwise problems may arise within our process, for
example, if the level is low our pump may overexert itself and break down,
however, if the levels are very high to the point of spilling, it may present a safety
problem in the plant, either for the personnel or for the equipment involved in the
process.
Within our daily life, level is of utmost importance since it is always being
measured. A very clear example is our vehicle in which we are always measuring
the oil level, the gasoline level or the cooling water level, among others. It was one
of the first variables to be measured and it is also one of the easiest to measure as
it is only a length, but certain factors must be taken into account such as the
viscosity of the fluid, whether the container is pressurized or not, among others. All
this means that there are different level measurement instruments depending on
our needs and which instrument we are going to use.
Level gauges can be grouped, depending on their performance, into: float-actuated
visual, displacer-actuated, hydrostatic pressure-actuated, differential pressure-
actuated and electrically actuated systems.
Liquid level meters work by directly measuring the height of the liquid above a
reference line, the hydrostatic pressure, the displacement produced in a float by
the liquid contained in the process tank, or by taking advantage of the electrical
characteristics of the liquid.

Measuring instruments for level can be classified as follows:

 Direct measurement
Probe gauge: consists of a graduated rod or ruler, of the appropriate length to be
inserted into the tank. Level determination is carried out by direct reading of the
length wetted by the liquid. At the time of reading the tank must be open to
atmospheric pressure. It is generally used in gasoline tanks.
Tape and plumb gauge: This gauge consists of a metal tape attached to a plumb
bob, the tape is unwound until the plumb bob comes into contact with the surface.
It is used for direct measurement and is employed when it is difficult for the
graduated ruler to access the bottom of the tank.
Glass level: Glass gauge; it consists of a glass tube with its ends connected to
metal blocks and closed by glands that are connected to the tank generally by
means of three valves, two safety valves at the ends of the tube to prevent the
escape of liquid in case of glass breakage and one for purging.
Float gauge: consists of a float located in the liquid and connected to the outside of
the tank, directly indicating the level on a graduated scale. It is the oldest model
and the most widely used in large capacity tanks such as those for oil and
gasoline.
 Taking advantage of hydrostatic pressure
Manometric gauge: consists of a pressure gauge connected directly to the bottom
of the tank. The manometer measures the pressure due to the height of liquid h
that exists between the level of the tank and the axis of the instrument.
Membrane meter: uses a membrane connected with a sealed tube to the receiving
instrument. The force exerted by the liquid column on the membrane area
compresses the internal air to a pressure equal to that exerted by the liquid
column.
Bubble type meter: using a flow regulator, a small flow of air or inert gas is passed
through a tube (submerged in the tank up to the minimum level) until a continuous
stream of bubbles is produced. The pressure required to produce the continuous
flow of bubbles is a measure of the liquid column.
Differential pressure gauge: consists of a diaphragm in contact with the tank liquid,
which measures the hydrostatic pressure at a point on the bottom of the tank.
 Instruments that use the electrical characteristics of the liquid
The conductive level meter: consists of one or more electrodes and an electrical or
electronic relay that is excited when the liquid wets said electrodes. The liquid must
be sufficiently conductive to excite the electronic circuit, and thus the device can
discriminate the separation between the liquid and its vapor, as occurs, for
example, in the water level of a steam boiler.
Capacitive level meter: measures the capacity of the capacitor formed by the
electrode immersed in the liquid and the walls of the tank. The capacity of the
assembly depends linearly on the liquid level.
Ultrasonic level meter: it is based on the emission of an ultrasonic pulse to a
reflective surface and the reception of its echo in a receiver. The delay in echo
capture depends on the level of the pond.
Radiation meter: consists of a gamma ray emitter mounted vertically on one side of
the pond and with a counter that transforms the gamma radiation received into a
direct current electrical signal. Since the transmission of the rays is inversely
proportional to the mass of the liquid in the tank, the radiation captured by the
receiver is inversely proportional to the level of the liquid since the material absorbs
part of the emitted energy.
Laser level meter: used in applications where conditions are very harsh, and where
conventional level instruments fail; such is the case of molten metal measurement,
where the level measurement must be carried out without contact with the liquid
and at the greatest possible distance due to extreme heat conditions. The system
consists of a laser beam sent through a steel tube and directed by reflection on a
mirror onto the surface of the molten metal. The device measures the time that
elapses between the emitted pulse and the return pulse that is recorded on a high-
resolution photodetector, and this time is directly proportional to the distance from
the emitting device to the distance from the surface of the molten metal.

Thanks to the above and the material proposed by the professor, it can be
observed that it is very important to know all aspects of a process at any time in
order to have the ability to control it and safeguard the safety of both the personnel
and the equipment involved. Knowing the status of the process at all times is of
great benefit because in this way certain errors can be corrected and the operation
not be impaired in order to meet the requirements efficiently and effectively to
obtain a good result in the process.
It is convenient to recognize that today there are various instruments that help
measure, control and monitor all the elements of any industrial system in greater
detail, just as these tools serve to automate various processes without the need for
personnel to constantly monitor them and this helps to reduce human errors,
helping to guarantee the repeatability of the measurements and results of any
process.
Level is one of the 4 fundamental measurements in measurement because if on
certain occasions that level measurement is lower or higher it can cause various
problems in a process. It is always advisable to keep this measurement at the
desired value so that the process acts correctly and does not put any other process
or itself at risk. And with the help of different instruments, the measurement of said
variable can be carried out in order to have it controlled.