BECHTEL CORPORATION

ENGINEERING - CONTROL SYSTEMS

ENGINEERING DESIGN GUIDE

LEVEL SETTING DIAGRAMS
3DG-J21-00007, Revision 001, 2002 June 13
Reason for Revision: Re-Issued for Use
Prepared by: Hiren Upadhyay / Anjaneyulu Kalluri
Checked by: Meenakshi Sundaresh
Approved by: A. P. DiMartino

INTRODUCTION

Level Setting Diagrams are intended to convey information on level instrument connections for
vessels (vessels could include atmospheric and closed tanks, sumps, cooling tower forebays,
intake structures and above ground concrete vaults), calibration ranges, alarm setpoints,
control setpoints and references for vendor drawings and other design drawings.

In addition to the above, in the practice of Petroleum and Chemical (P&C) connection details
of other instruments are also shown. In P&C practice these diagrams are named as Level
Coordination Diagrams or Vessel Connection Diagrams. To standardize, throughout this
design guide these diagrams are referred to as Level Setting Diagrams.

This Design Guide provides guidance for the preparation of Level setting Diagrams. In its
preparation, effort was made to capture best practices used in the industry and Lessons
Learned in various Bechtel Projects.

This guide supercedes the Design Guide 3DG-J21-00007 Rev 000 for Level Setting Diagrams
prepared Power GBU, Design Guide 3DG-J71-00008 Rev 000 for Vessel Instrument
connection Diagram prepared by P&C GBU and Design Guide 3DG–J21A-00007 Rev 000
prepared by M&M GBU.

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Refer to the electronic documents in BecRef for current revisions.
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© Bechtel Corporation 2002. Contains confidential and/or proprietary information to Bechtel and its affiliated companies which shall not be used,
disclosed or reproduced in any format by any non-Bechtel party without Bechtel’s prior written permission. All rights reserved.

3DG-J21-00007 Page 1 of
11
TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION 1

LIST OF FIGURES 2

1.0 PURPOSE 3

2.0 GENERAL 3

3.0 LEVEL SETTING PROCEDURE 4

4.0 LEVEL SETTING GUIDELINES 4

4.1 GENERAL 4

4.2 DIMENSION GUIDE LINES 5

5.0 CONNECTION NOZZLE DESIGNATIONS 6

6.0 REFERENCES 7

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1 FLOW CHART FOR DEVELOPING LEVEL SETTING DIAGRAMS

FIGURE 2 LEVEL SETTING DIAGRAM LEGEND

FIGURE 3 HP DRUM LEVEL SETTING DIAGRAM

FIGURE 4 FUEL OIL STORAGE TANK LEVEL SETTING DIAGRAM

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3DG-J21-00007 Page 2 of 11
1.0 PURPOSE

This Design Guide provides guidance in the preparation of level setting diagrams to:

• Record the elevations, ranges and setpoints of instruments used to measure

and control level.

• Describe the cause and effect at various Levels (switches & alarms)

The level setting diagrams constitute an instruction to the Construction Department for
the installation of level instruments. The diagrams may also be of assistance to
operating personnel by representing the operating relationships of the various level
instruments for a vessel. Pictorial format generally used in P&C provides details of
various other instrument nozzles utilized on the vessel.

2.0 GENERAL

The Civil discipline has the responsibility for field erected storage tanks, forebays,
intake structures, excavated ponds and sumps, the Mechanical/Process discipline for
shop erected tanks and vessels. However, preparation of level setting diagrams is the
responsibility of the Control Systems discipline.

The Control Systems group shall develop a Level Setting Diagram for all vessels,
showing all operating level settings. Depending on the scope of work sometimes it is
prudent to prepare diagrams for vendor supplied vessel and tanks. The selection of set
points shall be coordinated with the Mechanical /Process discipline. Refer Figure 1 for
typical work process involved in preparation of Level Setting Diagram.

This guide does not cover the process of selecting instruments, which is discussed in
the Level Measurement Design Guide, 3DG-J33G-00001 nor does this guide cover
piping or mounting arrangements, which are described in Design Guide 3DG -J71-
00003, “Instrument Installation Criteria and Details.”

Control Systems engineers are responsible for the preparation and updating of the
diagram. The work includes coordination with the project equipment (vessel) engineer,
process/mechanical engineer or others, as required, to obtain operating data, including
normal level, measuring ranges, control dead bands, and setpoints. The Control
System Engineer should take initiative to understand the basis of all setpoint and
alarms.

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3DG-J21-00007 Page 3 of 11
3.0 LEVEL SETTING PROCEDURE

a. Control Systems Engineer should prepare level setting diagrams when the
relevant design documents such as P&ID’s, Vessel Data Sheet, Vessel/Tank
drawings, Mechanical Tank Calculations and Instrument Data Sheet are
available.

b. Select the format as per project requirement: i) Line diagram generally used in
Power (Figure 3) or ii) Pictorial diagrams generally used in P & C (Figure 4).

c. Collect data from the instrument specifications/data sheets regarding the

connection type/size/rating, type of level instruments.

d. From the Plant Design group on the project, obtain the elevation of top,
centerline, and bottom of vessel and enter on diagram. Isometric drawings shall
be referred in case Level Setting Drawings are to be prepared for Piping
System.

e. Co-ordinate the Process/Mechanical systems engineer to get the normal

operating level of the vessel, required control bands, level switch and alarm set
points.

f. The Control Systems Engineer then completes the level setting diagram filling in
all the appropriate data, controller dead bands, vessel connections and size,
level gauge visible length, level switch and alarm set-points, and connection
designations and elevations.

g. When using the line format, the symbols shown on the level setting diagram
legend (Figure 2) should be used to show all necessary information as required
by this guide.

When the level setting diagrams have been completed, they are sent out by the

Responsible engineer for inter discipline coordination prior to issue for use.

4.0 LEVEL SETTING GUIDELINES

4.1 GENERAL

a. Level setting diagrams are prepared using Microsoft Visio in Power GBU. Other
tools like CAD, Microsoft Excel are also used in other business lines.

b. The diagram shall use, as applicable, the symbols shown at the Symbols and
Legend sheets (Figure 2). The control range diagrammed shall denote the range
of level variation that is intent to be maintained. Appropriate notes should be
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3DG-J21-00007 Page 4 of 11
 added if the setpoint is not at the midpoint of the control range or if it is required
to show that the measuring range of the instrument does not correspond to its
control range, or for other pertinent facts.

c. The symbol for a level gauge shall represent its visible length, not its overall
length. Where two or more, level gauge assemblies overlap, each visible length
should be shown on the diagram.

d. The height of the various symbols from point of reference (Bottom of Tank
(BOT), Top of Concrete (TOC) etc) and the vertical distances between the
symbols shall roughly correlate to the design values. When significant to the
process, the switch-reset elevation (switch deadband) should be stated. In the
pictorial format these values if required, should be added to the setpoint table.

e. Should a vessel have more level instruments than that can be conveniently
diagrammed on one page, additional pages should be used.

f. The diagram should show the vessel features, and their elevations, which
restrict or otherwise have bearing on the design elevations of the level
instruments. Such features include overflow weirs, distributor trays, the bottom of
heat-exchanger tubes, etc.

g. All vessel connections used for level instruments shall be shown. In pictorial
diagram, other vessel connections may also be shown. In the line diagram
format, showing a given connection for more than one instrument implies that the
connection is common to these instruments.

h. Tolerances of elevations and setpoint may be indicated as applicable.

i. There is generally no need to scale the diagrams, and in such cases, mark
"NTS" (not to scale) in the scale box of the title block. If the diagram is drawn to
scale, the scale should be specified in the box.

j. The diagram should include all measuring ranges, control set points, alarms
and/ or shutdown points including receiver devices. For Level Transmitter, the
level setting should show both DCS range as well as the calibrated range.

k. To avoid any possible confusion, tag numbers should be shown on the Level
Setting Diagram where more than one type of instrument is used.

4.2 DIMENSION GUIDE LINES

Liquids

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3DG-J21-00007 Page 5 of 11
 a. For US jobs all dimensions should be given in inches for dimensions less than 5
feet or in feet for above 5 feet. Whole inches should be used where possible.
For non-US jobs where a metric system is used dimensions shall be in mm
(millimeters) for dimensions less than 1.5 meters or in meters for above 1.5
meters. Operating levels can be denoted as 0-100% of level or volume also (For
tanks with an overflow, the calibrated range should cover the range from the
center line of the bottom tap to the bottom of the overflow. This ensures 100%
coincides with the maximum amount of fluid that the tank will hold before spilling
out of the overflow).

b. Dimensions for vertical vessels are normally referenced from the bottom tangent
line (BTL) up. These dimensions are expressed as elevations with the bottom
line as zero (BTL=0).

c. Dimensions on horizontal cylindrical vessels are normally referenced from the

vessel centerline (CL). Dimensions are expressed as positive or negative
elevations with the centerline as zero (CL=0). Occasionally, the vessel inside
bottom is used as the reference.

d. Instrument connections near the tower trays should be dimensioned from the top of
the tray (TOT). The associated tray number should be clearly identified. (For
example, to measure Tray # 20 temperature, thermowell would be dimensioned from
the TOT of Tray # 19). However, the tower bottom liquid levels still should be
referenced from BTL.

e. Dimensions on underground vessels or sumps are normally measured from the

Bottom of the vessel or sump.

f. Steam drum level measurements; typically use Normal Water Level (NWL) as
the zero reference point.

g. The zero reference point defined above should be marked with respect to the
plant datum.

Solids

Dimension methods vary widely depending on the shape of the container.

Centerline, bottom tangent line, top of concrete (foundation) is all used.

5.0 CONNECTION NOZZLE DESIGNATIONS

The following designations for the connection nozzles if they are to be assigned by the
Control Systems Engineer: These Designations are generally followed in P&C practices.
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3DG-J21-00007 Page 6 of 11
 (a) AG, BG, etc. for level gauges (including magnetic gauges etc)

(b) AL, BL, etc. for standpipes, level instruments

(c) AP, BP, etc. for pressure gauges, pressure instruments

(d) AT, BT, etc. for temperature instruments

The project standards should be used if they are different from the above.

If instrument nozzle designations are the responsibility of others and have already been
assigned, then use the existing designations.

6.0 REFERENCES

Design Guide 3DG J33G-00001, Level Measurement

Design Guide 3DG -J71-00003, Instrument Installation Criteria and Details.

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3DG-J21-00007 Page 7 of 11
 START

REVIEW
LEVEL VENDOR VENDOR
SETTING YES PROVIDING YES DRAWING FOR IS DATA YES USE VENDOR
DIAGRAM LEVEL SETTING SUFFIECIENT ADEQUATE? DRAWING
REQ'D? DIAG.? LEVEL SETTING
DATA
NO NO
NO

START LEVEL
SETTING
DIAGRAM

REVISE DATA
SHEET & HAVE
LSD FOR YES TANK YES OBTAIN VENDOR
MPAG REVISE
TANK OR VENDOR TANK/VESSEL
MR & REORDER
VESSEL SUPPLIED DRAWINGS

NO NO

VERIFY THAT LEVEL NO

INSTRUMENTS TO BE
OBTAIN REQ'D
OBTAIN LEVEL PURCHASED HAVE YES
VESSEL DATA LEVEL
INSTRUMENT PROPER MOUNTING, INSTRUMENT SELECT THE
SHEET/ VESSEL SETPOINTS
DATA SHEET OR SPANS & ADJUSTABILITY ADEQUATE FORMAT
DRAWINGS FROM MECH.
MR TO MEET THE
ENGINEER
INSTALLATION &
SETPOINTS REQMNTS

LSD FOR OBTAIN PIPING FILL IN ALL

YES
PIPING ISOMETRIC RELEVENT DATA
SYSTEM DRAWINGS AND COMPLETE
THE DIAGRAM

NO

ISSUE LEVEL
SETTING
DIAGRAM FOR
IDC
NO NEED FOR
LEVEL SETTING
DIAGRAM

YES
INCORPORATE
COMMENTS
COMMENTS

NO

ISSUE LSD FOR

USE

FLOW CHART FOR DEVELOPING LEVEL SETTING DIAGRAMS

FIGURE 1

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3DG-J21-00007 Page 8 of 11
 LEGEND OF SYMBOLS
Vessel Connection & Size

Connection Designation

Upper Limit
Control Set Point
Lower Limit

Switch Set Point

Level glass range

Transmitter range

NOTES:
1. FOR LEVEL BRIDLE ARRANGEMENT OF STANDPIPE SEE
ABBREVATIONS PROJECT INSTRUMENT INSTALLATION DIAGRAM.

2. LIST OF REFERENCE DOCUMENT AS MINIMUM ARE

LAL Level Alarm Low a) P&ID

LALL Level Alarm Low Low b) LOGIC & SAMA
c) VESSEL DRAWING
LAH Level Alarm High
LAHL Level Alarm High Low
LAHH Level Alarm High High
LAHHH Level Alarm High High High
LSL Level Switch Low
LSLL Level Switch Low Low
LSH Level Switch High
LSHL Level Switch High Low
NO. DATE REVISIONS BY CHK SUPV PE
LSHH Level Switch High High
SCALE: N/A DESIGNED: N/A DRAWN: N/A CHIEF: N/A
LSHHH Level Switch High High High
LG Level Gauge BECHTEL CORPORATION
LT Level Transmitter
LC Level Controller
LLL Low (minimum) Liquid Level
NLL Normal Liquid Level
HLL High (maximum) Liquid Level LEVEL SETTING DIAGRAM
LIL Low Interface Level LEGEND - ( FIGURE 2 )
NIL Normal Interface Level
HIL High Interface Level JOB NO. BECHTEL DRAWING NO. REV.

000

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3DG-J21-00007 Page 9 of 11
 B LEGEND OF SYMBOLS
2) S)
&
S)
2 E S) S) 1A S) S)
) ) )
60 OT C C DC 60 C C CS CS CS Vessel Connection & Size
03 - (D (D ( - (D (D C (D (D (D
-6 -LE (N A B C I C 1 1 (D 1
LG AA 02 01 01 6 01
1, L
- 60
- 60
601
- 60
601 6 01
- 6 6 - - -
AA 1- C- 6 T- T- T -5
0 H H - AL LL 3L
1- -L -L -L -L A3 LA
H AH -L Connection Designation
REFERENCE POINTS
AA IC -L -L LA LA OPERATING LEVELS
AA AA AA 1- -F AA A- AA
AA A- A-
1- 1- 1- AA 1- -A 1- 1- -A -A
1- 1 1 1 Upper Limit
INSIDE VESSEL - TOP + 31" Control Set Point
HWC3 HWC1 HLT1 HLT3 HLT5 Lower Limit
1" 1" 1" 1" 1"
TOP TAPS + 14"
Switch Set Point
+ 10" 3H Level - Trip ST, HP Vent, IP Pegging Stm, LP Pegging Stm,
Alarm & Indication
+ 8" Hi-Hi Level - Alarm Level glass range

+ 5" Hi Level - ST Start Permissive & Alarm, Indication Transmitter range

+ 2" Indication
+ 1.5 "
+ 1" Indication
NOTES:
VISIBLE LENGTH = -39.5 TO +10"

CALIBRATED RANGE = -43.5 TO +14"

NORMAL WATER LEVEL 0.0" Normal Level, Indication
1. TAG NOS. ARE SHOWN FOR UNIT 1; CHANGE TAG PREFIX TO
- 1" Indication "2-AA" FOR UNIT 2 AND "3-AA" FOR UNIT 3.
- 1.5 "
- 2" Indication 2. LC-602 PROVIDES SIGNALS FOR 1-AA-LI-602A (LOCAL) &
1-AA-LI-602B (CCR)
- 5" Lo Level - Alarm

- 8" Automatic Start-up Level

CENTERLINE OF VESSEL - 11"

- 24" Indication

Lo-Lo Level -Runback CTG,

- 36"
Close HP B/D Valve & Alarm

- 41.5" 3L Level -Runback & Trip CTG & Alarm

NO. DATE REVISIONS BY CHK SUPV PE

BOTTOM TAPS - 43.5"
SCALE: N/A DESIGNED: N/A DRAWN: N/A CHIEF: N/A
1" 1" 1" 1" 1"
INSIDE VESSEL - BOTTOM - 53"
BECHTEL CORPORATION
HWC4 HWC2 HLT2 HLT4 HLT6

VESSEL: HP DRUM
HP DRUM
LEVEL SETTING DIAGRAM ( FIGURE 3 )

JOB NO. BECHTEL DRAWING NO. REV.

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3DG-J21-00007 Page 10 of 11
 VESSEL TAG: 0-M-3201A/B DESCRIPTION: FUEL OIL STORAGE TANKS D/P LEVEL TRANSMITTER - CALIBRATED RANGE CALCULATION
P&ID NO. : AB-D-41-3211/3212 CALCULATION BASED ON DESIGN INFORMATION (LATER)
D IS T A N C E F RO M

(TYPICAL)
By Piping
3” BRIDLE 1 L O W ER T A P T O L 2
U P PE R R A N G E
3/4” D IS T A N C E F RO M
2 L O W ER T A P T O L 1
1/2” By Piping By Instruments L O W ER RA N G E
D IS T A N C E T RA N S . IS
3/4”
5A
3 B EL O W L OW ER D 0
126” LSHH 0-M-3201A V E S S EL T A P C O N N .
6”

3205 4 F L U ID IN V E S S E L
120”
O P E R A T IN G
1/2” 2” 5 P
P R ES S U RE
102”
O P E R A T IN G
LG 3/4” 6
T EM P ER A T UR E
T
3203 B 73”
ρ
S P . G R. O F F L U ID @
FLOAT 7
HHLL__ (7’-10”)
6”
O P C O N D IT IO N S
67” ACTUATION (94”) D IS T A N C E B E T W E E N
65” 2” CL AT 94” 8
V E S S EL T A P C O N N .
D
3/4” By Instr HLL__ (6’-10”) M E A S U R E M EN T
6”

59”
9
R A NG E = L2 - L 1
L
(82”)

120” ID
10 S EA L LO W ER LEG
REFLEX GAUGE, By Piping D/P 11 L D
4 SECTION, L IQ U I D U P P ER L E G
1/2”
GLASS SIZE 9, 2” 1/2” LLL__ (1’-6”) 3” 12 S P . G R. O F S E A L LO W ER LEG ρL L2
55” VISIBLE
LENGTH (67” CL 12”
5B (18”) 12”
LIT 13 L IQ U I D @ 6 0 ° F U P P ER L E G ρH
3202 A T R A N S M IT T E R S P A N =
6”

/ CL) 3/4” 2” 14 S
6” ρ x L
LG L O W ER RA N G E
0” 14
3203 A V A L U E = (L ρ + 1
15 D 0ρ L ) - [( D + D 0) x
R L
By Piping

1/2”
By Piping By Instruments ρ H )]
REFLEX GAUGE, 4 L1
SECTION, GLASS 3/4”
U P PE R R A N G E V A L U E
SIZE 9, 55” 16 R
= ( L2ρ + D ρ L ) - [( D + H
VISIBLE LENGTH By Instruments By Piping
0

(67” CL / CL)
D ) x ρ )] D0
T R A N S M IT T E R
D/P
C A L IB R . R A N G E R
LT
NOTES: 17 L TO
1. All dimensions from inside bottom unless shown otherwise. TO RH
2. All piping isolation valves shall be as specified in the pipe specification for that pipe spec.. REMARKS
3. All drain/vent valves are by piping with the exception of those associated with instrument bleed ring.
1. Field to verify all dimensions needed for calibrated range at the site
4. Bridle nozzles shall be jig-set

INSTRUMENT NOZZLE DATA

SETPOINTS INFORMATION FOR TRANSMITTER
TAG NO. INSTR. / REMARKS CONNECTION ON VESSEL / STANDPIPE CONNECTION ON INSTR. REMARKS:
NOZZEL NO. SIZE RATING SIZE RATING ALARM / TRIP LEVELS INCHES % OF XMTR mA SIGNAL EFFECTS
FOR 0-M-3201A (*) SPAN (***) (**) (*). ALL VALUES LISTED IN INCHES ARE IN
0-LG-3203A/B LEVEL GAUGES @ BRIDLE 3/4” NPT 3000# 3/4” NPT 3000# LOW LOW LEVEL TRIP TRIP PUMP REFERENCE TO THE VESSEL BOTTOM
0-LSHH-3205 FLOAT SWITCH @ BRIDLE 2” 150# RF 2” 150# RF LOW LOW LEVEL ALM TANGENT LINE.
0-LIT-3202A D/P TRANSMITTER 14 3” 150# RF 3” 150# RF LOW LEVEL ALM LLL (18”) START PERMISSIVE (**). INDUSTRIAL STANDARD SIGNAL
3” BRIDLE 5A / 5B 2” 150# RF LOW LEVEL TRIP RANGE FOR ELEC.XMTRS IS 4 - 20 Ma.
FOR 0-M-3201B HIGH LEVEL ALM HLL (82”) (***) TOTAL SPAN = HHL - LLL
0-LG-3207A/B LEVEL GAUGES @ BRIDLE 3/4” NPT 3000# 3/4” NPT 3000# HIGH LEVEL TRIP
0-LSHH-325 FLOAT SWITCH @ BRIDLE 2” 150# RF 2” 150# RF HIGH HIGH LEVEL ALM HHLL (94”)
0-LIT-3206A D/P TRANSMITTER 14 3” 150# RF 3” 150# RF HIGH HIGH LEVEL TRIP
3” BRIDLE 5A / 5B 2” 150# RF
FIGURE 4 LEVEL SETTING DIAGRAM

24115-31B-MVD-FO-32010 VESSEL DRAWING BECHTEL CORPORATION

AB-D-41-3212 PID

AB-D-41-3211 PID
SWEC NO.: NONE REV
DRAWING NO. DRAWING DESCRIPTION DRAWING NO. DRAWING DESCRIPTION JOB NO.
REFERENCE DRAWINGS DATE BY CHKD EGS PEM APPR
BEC NO.: 0
REVISIONS

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