RECON, Reyven R.

BSME-3111

Level Measuring Instruments area used for accurate measurement of the height of a fluid or solid
within a vessel. Many industrial operations require level measuring devices because they are
utilized for the precise continuous measurement of fluid volume in containers.

Level Measuring Instruments

Instrument Illustration Definition Principle of Operation

LEVEL GAUGES Level Gauges, also The Manometer, which is
known as Sight Glass based on the difference
or Gauge Glass, is a in the refractive indices of
visual indication of liquid and vapor, is a
liquid level with at
perfect form of Level
least one clear wall
gauge that can illustrate
and a sealed
chamber. It is used in its basic principle. Behind
conjunction with the sight glass, which is
other industrial level clamped to the gauge
devices as a direct body, the liquid column is
indication for confined within the
monitoring by an recess of the liquid
operator. chamber. Both liquid
columns are subjected to
equal pressures, resulting
in the same liquid column
height in the storage tank
and the gauge sight glass.

BALL FLOAT A ball float is a liquid The ball float works in a

level indicator that straightforward manner.
moves up and down The ball floats on top of
with the liquid level. the tank's contents. The
The float must have a float will follow the liquid
density that is much
level and adjust the
lower than the
location of the pointer
material of interest; it
must not corrode or linked to the rotating
react with the shaft if the liquid level
substance; and changes.
manual level
measuring is
dangerous and not
appropriate in
pressured containers.
 CHAIN FLOAT Chain floats are a Except for the technique
form of float gauge of placing the pointer and
with floats up to 12 its link to the position
inches in diameter indicator, the chain float
that are utilized operates similarly to the
when tiny level ball float. A chain
limits imposed by connects the float to a
ball floats must be spinning device, with a
surpassed. Only the weight attached to the
vessel's size will other end to maintain the
restrict the level chain tight during level
range that may be fluctuations, as shown in
monitored. the image.

HYDROSTATIC A hydrostatic level A hydrostatic level sensor

PRESSURE sensor can be called is a submersible pressure
SENSOR as Differential transmitter with a
pressure level pressure diaphragm that
detector, which is a
is vented to atmospheric
type of level probe
pressure through a vent
that is used to
measure the tube in the cable while
hydrostatic pressure the outer side is in touch
in a practically static with the liquid and
liquid at a pre- measures the static
determined level of pressure of the liquid
submersion for level column above the
monitoring. transmitter. The weight
of the fluid on top of the
transmitter causes this
static pressure, which is
used to determine the
liquid level.

MAGNETIC LEVEL A magnetic level The concept behind a

INDICATOR indicator is a sort of magnetic level indicator is
level sensor, a that the measuring
device that equipment and the vessel
share the same fluid and, as
measures fluid
a result, the same level. A
levels. A "floatable"
magnetic float rises and falls
component in a with variations in level
magnetic level makes up the magnetic
gauge may float in bond mechanism. The float
both high and low moves outside of a non-
density fluids. The magnetic tube containing
magnetic bonding an inner magnet attached
technique was to a level indicator. The
created to outer magnet will attract
overcome the cage the inner magnet when the
float rises and lowers,
and stuffing issues
causing the inner magnet to
boxes.
follow the level within the
vessel.
 DISPLACER The buoyant force These devices use
(BUOYANCY) produced on a Archimedes' Principle,
LEVEL displacer by the liquid which states that any
TRANSMITTER it displaces is item submerged in a
measured by
fluid, whether completely
displacement
or partly, is buoyed up by
instruments to
estimate liquid level. a force equal to the
The displacer in float- weight of the fluid
type level displaced by the object.
instruments moves The displaced fluid's
relatively little in weight is proportional to
relation to the rising the volume of the
or lowering liquid, displaced fluid (if the
unlike floats. surrounding fluid is of
uniform density).

ULTRASONIC Ultrasonic (Sound) The distance travelled and

(SOUND) ECHO Echo Level therefore the liquid height
LEVEL Measurement is a inside the vessel are
MEASUREMENT completely different determined by measuring
way of measuring the time of flight of a
liquid level in vessels. traveling wave reflected off
It involves bouncing a the surface of the process
traveling wave off the liquid. These instruments
surface of the liquid – are impervious to changes
usually from the top in liquid density and require
of the vessel – and far more sophisticated
using the time-of- technology than simple
flight for the waves as displacer or hydrostatic
an indicator of level sensing instruments.
distance, and thus an The level of accuracy is
indicator of liquid determined by the velocity
height inside the of the wave as it travels
vessel. from the liquid surface to
the liquid surface and back.
The wave's velocity should
be reasonably consistent
during the allotted interval
across the medium for
reliable results.
 CAPACITIVE Capacitive level The change in
LEVEL SENSOR transducers are capacitance is the basis
utilized for a wide for capacitive level
range of solids, measuring. One plate of
aqueous and the capacitor is an
organic liquids, and insulated electrode, while
slurries, and are an the other plate is the tank
example of indirect wall. Capacitors process
level measurement. capacitance with
These devices alter reference to the dielectric
the capacitance constant of the material
between a being measured and the
conductive rod and voltage needed to
the process vessel complete the circuit
walls, increasing or when used as a capacitive
decreasing the level level sensor. These
of process fluids. measurements are used
to figure out how high
the vessel is.