STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

1. INTRODUCTION
Differential pressure level sensors or Differential pressure transmitters are probably the
most widely employed devices for the purpose of level detection. “Using DP for level is
really an inferential measurement. A DP is used to transmit the head pressure that the
diaphragm senses due to the height of the material in the vessel multiplied by a density
variable.”

1.1 Differential pressure Transmitter

As Differential Pressure (DP) transmitters measure the difference between two

pressures. They use a reference point called the low-side pressure and compare it to
the high-side pressure. Ports in the instrument are marked high-side and low-side. The
DP reading can be either negative or positive depending on whether the low-side or
high-side is the larger value. A DP transmitter can be used as a gauge pressure
transmitter if the low-side is left open to the atmosphere.

Fig 1.1 Differential Pressure Transmitter

Differential pressure level measurement technique makes use of a differential pressure

detector which is installed at the bottom of the tank whose level is to be detected. The
liquid inside the tank creates pressure which is comparatively higher than the reference
atmospheric pressure. This pressure comparison is performed via the Differential
pressure detector

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

1.2 Differential pressure in open tank level measurement

In case of open tanks i.e. tanks which are open to the atmosphere, only high
pressure ends of the DP transmitter is needed to be connected whereas the low
pressure end of the DP transmitter is expelled into the atmosphere. Hence, the
differential pressure happens to be the hydrostatic head or weight of the fluid
contained in the tank.
The highest level detected by the differential pressure transmitter usually
depends upon the maximum height of fluid above the transmitter, whereas the
lowest level detected is based upon the position where the transmitter is attached
to the tank or vessel.
Now, in cases where tanks or vessels are not open to the atmosphere i.e. in
pressurized tanks, both the high and low pressure ends of the differential
pressure detector are required to be connected. These tanks are entirely covered
in order to avoid release of vapors or steam outside. Due to this, the liquid inside
the tank gets pressurized.

Fig 1.2: Level measurement using DPT

Fig 1.2: Open tank Level measurement using DPT

The figure1.2 above illustrates an application where the level value is inferred from a
pressure measurement. When the level is at the same elevation point as the measuring
instrument, atmospheric pressure is applied to both sides of the pressure transmitter
and the measurement is at ‘zero’ reference level. When the level in the tank increases,
the force created by the hydrostatic head of the liquid is applied to the measurement
side of the transmitter, resulting in an increase in the instrument output. The instrument
response is caused by the head pressure is used to infer a level value.

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

1.3 Installation of Differential Pressure Transmitter

The DP Transmitter calibration parameters will vary depending on installation & seal
system also. Generally we can see three possibilities of installation of a transmitter.

 Transmitter installed Exactly at tapping point ( Ideal & preferred way of

installation)
 Transmitter installed above tapping point ( Not preferable, elevation error)
 Transmitter installed below tapping point ( suppression error can occur)

. Every transmitter have two important parameters, they are Lower Range Value (LRV)
& Upper Range Value. It would be idealistic to say that the DP cell can always be
located at the exact the bottom of the vessel we are measuring fluid level in. Hence, the
measuring system has to consider the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the sensing
lines themselves. This leads to two compensations required Zero Elevation and Zero
Suppression in Level Measurement.

1.3 Suppression Error

In some cases, it is not possible to mount the level transmitter right at the base level of
the tank. Say for maintenance purposes, the level transmitter has to be mounted X
meters below the base of an open tank. This type of mounting the differential pressure
transmitter will cause an error in measurement called suppression eror.

Fig1.3: DPT is placed below the tank level

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

1.4 Elevation Error

when a static head transmitter is installed above the zero liquid level, the transmitter
gets a –ve error in the level measurement.

Fig1.4: DPT is placed above the tank level

With seal system;

Zero Elevation = − ( ρf • g • h) , or, = − (SGf • h)

Span = ρp • g • H , or, = SGp• H

Advantages

Following are the major advantages associated with techniques of level measurement
using differential pressure.

 Differential pressure based level sensors can be easily mounted or retrofitted to

the surface of the vessel.
 To carry out maintenance and testing, these sensors can be provided with block
valves for isolating them carefully from the process liquid.

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

Disadvantages

Use of differential pressure transmitters includes few drawbacks too, which are
mentioned below:

 Errors can get introduced in the measurements if the density of the process fluid
varies because of reasons such as temperature variations or change of process.
Hence, the density of the process must always be maintained constant in order
to get accurate results.
 Their use is always avoided with liquids such as paper pulp stock since they
result in solidification upon rise in their concentrations.

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

2. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
2.1 Aim
To measure level using a Gauge Pressure Transmitter.

2.2 Apparatus Required

Table 2.1 Apparatus Required

S.no Name of the apparatus Quantity

1 Power supply 1
2 Smart Gauge Pressure Transmitter 1

2.3 Circuit Diagram

Fig 2.1 Transmitter is placed at the same base

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

Fig 2.2 Transmitter is placed below the tank level

Fig 2.3 Transmitter is placed above the tank level

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

2.4 Procedure
 Connect the bottom of the tank to the pressure transmitter input
 Excite the transmitter with +12V supply
 Increase the levels in steps of 100mm and note down the output indicated in the
LCD display of the transmitter
 Plot the graph between level and transmitter

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

3. RESULTS AND OBSERVATION

3.1 Tabulation
Table 3.1 Transmitter is placed above the tank level

S.no Observed level tank (mm) Transmitter output(bar) Transmitter

output(psi)
1 0 0.0069 0.100
2 100 0.0175 0.2537
3 200 0.0264 0.383
4 300 0.0372 0.5394
5 400 0.0460 0.667
6 500 0.0546 0.7917
7 600 0.0640 0.928
8 700 0.0738 1.070
9 800 0.0839 1.2166

Table 3.2 Transmitter is placed below the tank level

S.no Observed level tank (mm) Transmitter output(bar) Transmitter

output(psi)
1 0 0.0118 0.1711
2 100 0.0233 0.3233
3 200 0.0323 0.4683
4 300 0.0420 0.609
5 400 0.0529 0.767
6 500 0.0693 1.005
7 600 0.0797 1.155
8 700 0.0926 1.396
9 800 0.1041 1.509

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

Table 3.3 Transmitter is placed at the same base

S. no Observed level tank (mm) Transmitter output(bar) Transmitter

output(psi)
1 0 0.0090 0.1035
2 100 0.0177 0.2567
3 200 0.0276 0.402
4 300 0.0372 0.5394
5 400 0.0466 0.6757
6 500 0.0355 0.8048
7 600 0.0644 0.0933
8 700 0.0748 1.084
9 800 0.0839 1.2166

3.2 Graphs

1.6

1.4

1.2

Pressure(psi) 0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
Level (mm)

Fig 3.1 Plot of Level Vs Pressure

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

3.3 Model calculation

1 bar=10^5 Pa=14.5 psi

0.0090(bar)=0.0090*14.5

=0.1305 psi

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

4. INFERENCE
It is observed that when the pressure transmitter is placed at certain height above the
base level of the tank, the elevation error occurs which could be rectified by zero
elevation. Also, when the pressure transmitter is placed below the base level of the
tank, the suppression error occurs which could be rectified by zero suppression. This
kind of rectification finds application in all sorts of industries where we can never place
the transmitter and the tank at the same base.

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

5. CONCLUSION
Thus, when the transmitter is placed below the tank level suppression error occurs
which is compensated by zero elevation. When the transmitter is placed above the tank
level, elevation error occurs which is compensated by zero elevation. These two types
of error occurs in level measurement using differential pressure transmitter.

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STUDY OF ZERO ELEVATION AND ZERO SUPPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSMITTER

6. REFERENCES

[1] https://www.instrumentationtoolbox.com/

[2] https://automationforum.co/open-closed-level-measurement/

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