Level presentation

Submitted to: sir Irfan

 Introduction:
 Continuous level monitoring measures the
level of the liquid on an uninterrupted basis. In
this case the level of the material will be
constantly monitored and hence, the volume
can be calculated if the cross-sectional area of
the container is known.
 Types of level measurment:
There are two categories of level sensing devices.

 direct level sensing

 Indirect level sensing
 Direct level sensing:

 In this case the actual level is monitored.

 Direct level monitoring indicators:
 Hook-type Level Indicator
 Sight Glass
 Float-type
 Displacer Type Level Indicator
 Conductive probes
 Ultrasonics
 Hook-type Level Indicator
When the level of the liquid in an open tank is
measured directly on a scale ( the scale may be
in the liquid or outside it), it is sometimes
difficult to read the level accurately because of
parallax error. In this case a hook type of level
indicator is used.
Hook-type Level Indicator
 Construction:
Hook type level indicator consists of a wire of
corrosion resisting alloy(such as stainless steel)
about ¼ in (0.063mm) diameter, bent into U-
shape with one arm longer than the other. The
shorter arm is pointed with a 600 taper, while the
longer one is attached to a slider having a
vernier scale, which moves over the main scale
and indicates the level.
 Working:
In hook type of level indicator, the hook is
pushed below the surface of liquid whose level
is to be measured and gradually raised until the
point is just about to break through the surface.
The is then clamped, and the level is read on
the scale.
 Sight glass
 A sight glass (also called a gauge glass) is
another method of liquid level measurement. It
is used for the continuous indication of liquid
level withtin a tank or vessel.
 Construction
A sight glass instrument consists of a graduated
tube of toughened glass which is connected to
the interior of the tank at the bottom in which
the water level is required.
 working
As the level of the liquid in the tank rises and
falls the level in the sight glass also rises and
falls accordingly.
Thus, by measuring the level in the sight glass,
the level of liquid in the tank is measured.
 advantags
Following are the advantages of sight glass.
 Direct reading is possible.
 Special designs are available for use up to 316 0

C and 10,000 psi.

 Glassless designs are available in numerous

materials for corrosion resistance.

 Disadvantages
The disadvantages of the sight glass instrument are.
 It is read only where the tank is located, which is

not always convenient.

 Since sight glasses are located on the outside of

the tanks.
 Heavy, viscous liquids or liquids containing

material which fall out of solution and clog the

tube cannot be measured satisfactorily by a sight
glass.
 Float type level indicator
Float operated level indicator is used to measure
liquid levels in a tank in which a float rests on
the surface of liquid and follows the changing
level of liquid.
 Construction & working
In this case, the movement of the float is
transmitted to the pointer by stainless steel or
phosphor-bronze flexible cable wound around
a pulley and the pointer indicates liquid level
in the tank.
The float is made of corrosion resisting material
and rests on liquid level surface between two
grids to avoid error due to turbulence.
 Cont……
When the float moves up and down according to
the change in level, its position is transmitted
by a lower arm to the bellows assembly.
 Advantages
Float type level indicators offer the following
advantages:
 It is possible to read the liquid levels in a tank

from the ground level even if the tank is kept

below the ground level.
 Its cost is low and has reliable designs.
 It operates over a large temperature range.
 there is a choice of corrosion resistant

materials to make these.

 Disadvantages
Following are the disadvantages of float type
level indicators:
 They are normally limited to moderate
pressures.
 They are tailored to tank geometry.
 Displacer level detector
 A displacer uses the
change in the buoyant force on an object to
measure the changes in liquid level.
 The displacers must have a higher specific
weight than that of the liquid level
being measured and have to be calibrated for
the specific weight of the liquid.
 Types of displacers
The various types of displacers depends on the
variations in design of the seal which are listed
below:
 Magnetically-coupled switched type
 Torque tube type
 Diaphragm and force bar type
 Spring balance type
 Flexible disc type
 Flexible shaft type
 construction
 Consists of a displacer that is heavier than the
process liquid and is suspended from a spring
scale.
 When the liquid level is below the displacer,
the scale shows the full weight of the displacer
 As the level rises the apparent weight of the
displacer decrease
 Advantages
Following are the advantages of displacer level
detectors:
 They have high accuracy.
 They are reliable in clean liquids.
 They can be mounted internally or externally.
 They are adaptable to liquid interface
measurement.
 Disadvantages
Following are the disadvantages of displacer level
detectors:
 These instruments have limited ranges; devices
exceeding 1.2 m in length are bulky and difficult to
handle.
 The cost of these devices increase appreciable for
externally mounted units as pressure ratings
increase.
 External units may require heating to avoid freezing.
 Indirect level sensing methods
Following are the indirect methods of liquid
level measurement generally used in
industries:
 Hydrostatic pressure type
 Electrical methods
 Hydrostatic pressure type
A liquid in a tank at rest exerts a force on the
walls of the tank. The force in a liquid at rest,
is known as “hydrostatic pressure”, and is
proportional to the depth or liquid in the tank.
Following are the hydrostatic methods.
 Pressure gauge method
 Air bellows
 Air purge system
 Liquid purge system
 Pressure gauge method
This is the simplest method used for liquid level
measurement in an open tank.
Hydrostatic pressure of any liquid in an open
tank is given by the equation:

P = ρ x h x Sg
 Construction & working
Consists of a pressure gauge connected at the
lowest level of the tank. A liquid seal is
connected with the piping on the tank
including a shut-off valve. This filling liquid
transmits the pressure heads of
the measured liquid
 Advantages
Following are the advantages of pressure gauge
method:

 This is very easy and simple to use.

 Disadvantages
Following are the disadvantages of pressure
gauge method:

 The instrument must be mounted at same level

as the minimum level in the tank.
 This is often inconvenient, as a tank may be
located at certain height above the control
room.
 Air Bellows
Air bellows are used for the liquid level
measurement where an indicator cannot be
conveniently located at the specific datum line
 Construction & working
 Consists of the bellows element which is
connected by the tubing with the pressure indicator.
Air is sealed in the cavity above the bellows and
inside the tubing to the pressure indicator.
 As the tank is filled with liquid the head of liquid in
the tank flexes the bellows, which compresses the
air above the bellows. The compression of the air is
transmitted to the
indicator which shows the tank liquid level
 Air Purge System
Bubblers allow the indicator to be located
anywhere. The air pressure in the tube varies
with the head pressure of the height of the
liquid. Can’t be used in closed tanks or where
purging a gas is not allowed (soap).
Very popular in the paper industry because the
air purge keeps the tube from plugging.
 Construction & working
 A bubbler is connected in the air supply line which
simply serves as a visual check to the flow of the
supply air.
 When there is no liquid in the tank the air flows
out of the bottom of the bubble tube and the pressure
gauge is indicated as zero in other words there is no
back pressure. As the liquid level in the tank
increases, the air low is restricted by the depth of the
liquid and air pressure acting against the liquid head
appears as a back pressure to the pressure gauge
 Advantages
Following are the advantages of air purge system:
 In this system, the pressure gauge can be replaced
above or below the tank and can be kept away as far
as 500ft from the tank with the help of piping.
 This type of device is well suited for measuring level
of corrosive and abrasive liquids.
 Liquid Purge Method
Used where the air purge method is unsuitable.
The purging liquid may either be soluble or
insoluble in the vessel tank.
 Construction & working
The construction and working of liquid purge
system is same as in air purge system, the only
difference is that in place of air, water or light
mineral oil is used as a purge liquid
 Electrical Methods
There are many electrical methods for measuring
and indicating liquid level in the industries of
these the following two are most commonly
used:

 Capacitance level indicators

 Radiation level detectors
 Capacitance Level Indicator
The principle of operation of capacitance level
indicator is based upon the familiar
capacitance equation of a parallel plate
capacitor as given by:

C = K (A/D)
 Construction & working
 It consists of an insulated capacitance probe firmly
fixed nearly and parallel to the metal wall of the
tank.
 If the liquid in the tank is non inductive the
capacitance probe and the tank wall form the plates
of a parallel plate capacitor and the liquid in between
them acts as a dielectric.
 If the liquid is conductive then the capacitance probe
and the liquid form the plates of the capacitor and
the insulation of the probe acts as a dielectric
 Advantages
This process has the following advantages:
 It is very useful in a small system.
 It is very sensitive.
 There are no moving parts exposed to fluid.
 Suitable for continuous indication and control.
 Good for use in slurries.
 Probe material for more corrosive fluid is
available
 Disadvantages
This process has some of the disadvantages are as
follows:
 Performance is severely effected by dust and
other contaminants.
 Its sensitivity is adversely affected by changes in
temperature.
 Usually require recalibration if measured
material changes in composition or moisture
content.
 Probe length an mounting must suit the tank.
 Radiation Level Detector
Radiation level detectors are used where other
electrical methods would not survive. the most
common reason for using a radiation level
detector is that it does not need to come in
contact with the liquid being measured
 Construction & working
 Consists of a gamma rays source holder on one
side. A gamma detector on the other side.
Gamma rays from the source are directed
towards the detector in a thin band of radiation.
 On penetrating the thick wall of tank and
through liquid present in the tank, energy of
gamma rays is reduced
 Advantages
Following are the advantages of radiation method:
 There is no physical contact with the liquid.
 They are suitable for molten metals as well as
liquids of all types (corrosive, abrasive, highly
viscous, adherent).
 They are useful at very high temperature or
pressure.
 They have good accuracy and response.
 They have no moving parts
 Disadvantages
Following are some disadvantages of radiation
method:
 The reading is affected by density change of
liquid.
 The radiation source holders may heavy.
 Their cost is relatively high.
 Laser level sensor

This apparatus uses laser to find the level.

 Construction & working
 Laser based level measurement depends on the accurate
detection of the time it takes for a light pulse to travel to
the process material surface and back.
 The velocity of the light is affected by the index of
refraction of the vapors through which the light pulse
travels. The velocity of light in a gas or vapor is given as
C = C0/N
C=velocity of light
C0=velocity of light in 00C atmosphere air
N=index of refraction of light
 Advantages
Following are the advantages of laser level method:
 It is a non-contact type measurement.Because
light does not need a medium for propagation the
laser based level sensors are well suited for
vacuum services.
 As the laser beam is almost completely parallel,
interfering reflections from struts, welding joints,
or material buildup on the walls of the tank is not
a problem.
 Disadvantages
Following are some disadvantages of laser level
method:
 unagitated transparent liquids can cause
problems, because the level transmitter might
detect the tank bottom instead of the liquid
surface. Very shiny surface can cause errors by
reflecting the light laterally, and black surfaces
can cause errors because thy produce a weak
returning light signal.
 References
 fundamentals of industrial instrumentation and
process control by “William C. Dunn”.
 Industrial instrumentation and control by “S.K
Singh”.