CONTENT

1. ULTRASONIC LEVEL SENSOR

2. DISPLACEMENT TYPE LEVEL SENSOR
3. GAMMA LEVEL SENSOR
4. CAPACITANCE BASED LEVEL SENSOR

INTRODUCTION OF LEVEL
MEASUREMENT
Level measurement is an integral part of process control

The purpose of level measurement is to :-

Provide a measured variable representing the height or material presence within a vessel.

Detect the presence of the material.

Measure the quantity in hydrocarbon inventory management

LEVEL
SENSOR

ULTRASONIC

THEORY
Sonic is the sound we can hear.
Ultrasonic is the sound above human hearing range.
Ultrasonic frequencies are above 20 KHz.
Ultrasonic waves are used to measure level of liquids and solid objects
in industries.
Ultrasonic level measurement is contactless principle and most suitable

for level measurements of hot, corrosive and boiling liquids.

The normal frequency range used for ultrasonic level measurements is
within a range of 40 KHz to 10 MHz.

WORKING PRINCIPLE
The sensor is located at the top of the tank.
it sends out the sound waves in the form of bursts

in downward direction to the fluid in the tank

under level measurement.
the directed sound waves hits the surface of the
fluid, sound echoes gets reflected and returned
back to the sensor.
This time duration is measured by the sensor which
is then further used to calculate the level of liquid
in the tank.

APPLICATION
Detecting Fluid Level

Fluid Identification / Concentration

Distance/Proximity Sensing

ADVANTAGES
Ultrasonic level sensors are usually non contact type i.e. they do not make

any contact with the process fluid under level detection.

they consist of fixed components only hence require less maintenance.

They are usually mounted at the top of the vessel due to which they are less
likely to offer leakage problems as compared to entirely wetted means.

DISADVANTAGES
Ultrasonic level measurement technique can not be suitably applied in all
fields because many factors exist which have the tendency to influence the
returned echo signal back to the sensor. Some of them include:
- Materials like powders
- Heavy vapors
- Foam
This type of sensor is not suitable for higher pressures in a vacuum and
temperature limits of up to 170 degree centigrade.

DISPLACEMENT TYPE LEVEL

SENSOR

THEORY
Displacers work on the Archimedes Principle
( indicates that the upward buoyant force that is exerted on a body
immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the
weight of the fluid that the body displaces )

When a body is immersed in a fluid it loses weight equal to that of the

fluid displaced.
By detection of the apparent weight of the immersed displacer, a level
measurement can be inferred.
When the cross sectional area of the displacer and the density of the
liquid is constant, then a unit change in level will result in a reproducible
unit change in displacer weight.

Figure 1 : The displacer level sensor

WORKING PRINCIPLE
The displacer is cylindrical in shape with a constant cross-sectional area
and made long or short as required.

As the liquid level increases , the displacer rod experiences a greater

buoyant force.
It appear lighter to the sensing instrument , which interprets the loss of
weight as an increase in a level .
It transmits a proportional output signal.

 As liquid level decreases , the buoyant force on the displacer rod

decreases with corresponding weight increases which is interpreted as

decreasing level which then give a corresponding signal output.

The displacer is attached to a spring which restricts its movement for each
increment of buoyancy.
A transmitter is used to track the rise and fall of the displacer rod as liquid
level changes. Eg. LVDT linear variable differential transformer
Isolation valve is a valve in a fluid handling system that stops the flow
of process media to a given location, usually for maintenance
or safety purposes.

APPLICATION
Sewage handling (An air lift station for lifting sewage from a
sewage receiver tank in discrete ejection cycles by forced air,
is provided with means for maintaining constant the quantity of
air injected into a sewage receiving tank from an accumulator
tank.)
Foaming or surging liquids
Varnishes
Heavy oils
Liquids with solids

ADVANTAGES
Displacers work well with clean liquids and are accurate and adaptable
to wide variations in fluid densities.

However, the process fluid measured must maintain its density if

repeatability is required, this is particularly true of displacers.

They have high accuracy.

They are adaptable to liquid interface measurement.

DISADVANTAGES
Displacers are affected by changes in product density since the displacement of
the body (its weight loss) is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.

The cost these devices increases noticeably for externally mounted units as

pressure ratings increases.

Internal units may require stilling chambers.

External units may require heating to avoid freezing.

GAMMA LEVEL
SENSORS

GAMMA LEVEL SENSORS

Gamma level sensor is a typical system

which consists of a gamma source,

detector and also a microprocessor.

Gamma level devices use electromagnetic radiation emitters and receivers to
measure the level of liquids in the tanks.
Versatile technology that can be used to measure continuous level, point level,
density of the media or interface.

Gamma devices, therefore gamma rays are being used.

A detector which is capable of measuring the amount of radiation from the source,

and it is installed on the other side of the tank

GAMMA RAYS

Gamma-rays have the smallest wavelengths which is < 1(nm)

The range of frequencies for gamma ray is > 3 1019 (Hz)
These waves are generated by radioactive atoms and in nuclear explosions.
Gamma rays can penetrate through several centimetres of lead.

WORKING PRINCIPLE
The gamma source is normally mounted external to the
vessel and emits energy through the vessel walls collimated
in the direction towards the detector which is mounted in
the opposite side of the vessel.
As the process level rises in the vessel, the gamma energy

reaching the detector will decrease in an inversely

proportional relationship to the level.

WORKING PRINCIPLE

On

the outside of one wall of the vessel, an installed nuclear

source emits radiation. A nuclear detector is installed on the

outside of the opposite vessel wall.

The gamma energy reaches the detector when the vessel is

empty.

As the process level rises in the vessel, the gamma energy

reaching the detector will decrease in an inversely proportional

relationship to the level.

As the liquid level rises, the radiation detected decreases. The

increase in level is determined from the decrease in detected
radiation.

The detector measures the level of energy and sends a

proportional signal to the microprocessor, where it linearizes, filters
and correlates this signal to a level measurement .

APPLICATION OF GAMMA LEVEL

SENSORS

Oil & Gas and petrochemical industries

- Detecting the interface level between two liquids in the

same tank or vessel, such as oil and water.

- Between two liquids it is known that the lower density liquid will
float on top of the higher density liquid
-

Other situations include multiple interfaces between more

than two products, or the interface between a liquid and a
solid. In some cases, it may be necessary to measure the

thickness of the upper layer

APPLICATIONS OF GAMMA LEVEL SENSORS

o Automatic compensation for vapor density changes
o Automatic compensation for foam and gases.
o Levels in liquids, pastes, bulk solids or liquefied gases

ADVANTAGES OF GAMMA LEVEL

SENSORS
Auto - calibration
Non- invasive and non contact
No moving parts
Accurately measure the most complex processes

They are unaffected by high temperatures, pressure, corrosive materials.

DISADVANTAGES OF GAMMA LEVEL

SENSORS
Expensive compared to all the other devices.
Too many procedures before using the gamma level sensor
- need to implement different procedures and process depending on
which country you are using the equipment in
- licensed required.
Density changes can create measurement errors

CAPACITANCE BASED LEVEL

SENSORS

AN INTRODUCTION TO CAPACITIVE LEVEL

SENSING

AN INTRODUCTION TO CAPACITIVE LEVEL

SENSING
A capacitor is formed by two electrodes electrically

insulated from each other

The electrodes themselves must be conductive and

typically made from metal

Capacitors have the ability to store energy in an electric

field between its electrodes caused when the voltage is

applied to the circuit

 By placing non-conductive material between the electrodes, the ability for the
capacitor to store energy increases and so the capacitance increases
This material between the electrodes is referred as dielectric
The key property of dielectric material is known variously as dielectric constant

SENSING LIQUID LEVEL

As dielectric liquid is introduced between the electrodes of the capacitors, the
capacitance change progressively and liquid

level can be determined

To measure variation in capacitance, electric

energy flow into and out of the electrode is

measured as circuit potential

A regular flow of energy is established by connecting the electrode to an

alternating current measurement circuit

The more energy flow to the electrodes, the greater the capacitance

 For sensor calibration, reference

measurement in empty and full tank

condition must be taken

Generally we need to know dielectric

constant of the liquid being measured to

calibrate the sensor at full rate.

APPLICATION
Capacitance used for measuring level of :

1. Liquids
2. Liquid metals at very high temperature

4. Liquefied gases at very low temperature

5. Corrosive materials like hydrofluoric acid

6. Very high pressure industrial processes.

ADVANTAGES
Relatively inexpensive
Requires minimal maintenance
Contains no moving parts
Easy to install and can be adapted easily for different size of vessels
Good range of measurement
Simple to use
Easy to clean
Can be designed for high temperature and pressure
applications

DISADVANTAGES
Prone to corrosion if liquids and materials are not compatible
Does not work properly if placed in a slurry or liquid solution with

surface particles
Can only be used with non-freezing fluids

THE CONCLUSION

Modern level sensors produce reliable results and are easy

and less expensive to setup.

Level measurement can be integrated into existing control

systems thanks to the enhanced communication.

Modern level measurement systems make use of a number

of materials and alloys in order to survive harsh
environments like acids, oils or high pressure and

temperature

REFERENCES
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270607490_A_Review_on_CapacitiveType_Sensor_for_Measurement_of_Height_of_Liquid_Level

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0du-QU1Q0T4
http://encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu/Pages/ProcessParameters/LevelMeasurement/Level

Measurement.html
http://coep.vlab.co.in/?sub=33&brch=91&sim=449&cnt=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQsmq3Hu9HA

THE END
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
PATIENTLY