MEASUREMENT

TECHNIQUES AND
DEVICES
Level Measurement

Pressure Measurement

Flow Measurement

Temperature Measurement

E/C BANATANTO, PETER JOHN EJ F.

 Level Measurement

Level measurements not just for liquids but as well as solids has a wide variety of application. In
most cases, level measurement only needs a rough estimation which also means it only needs simple
devices such as dipstick or float system for level measurement. However, although it is not as complicated
as those of pressure measurement and temperature measurement, there are certain scenarios wherein
high accuracy and precision is needed in level measurement therefore it requires more high end devices.
In order to achieve a more accurate and precise level measurement, there are various level measurement
devices and techniques that are used by engineers and other people depending on its field of application.

Like what I have mentioned earlier, there cases wherein what’s only needed is a rough estimation
and an example of a device that can be used for this case is a dipstick which offers a simple means of
measuring level approximately. Aside from being simple and user friendly, it is also one of the cheapest
level measurement device available. This is understandable since it only offers rough estimation and not
measurement accuracy. A dipstick is usually a metal bar on which a scale or grade is etched depicting a
ruler. The use or application of dipstick for level measurement is very simple. From the word itself, even
a normal person can tell that a dipstick is something like a stick which you dip on something that you want
to measure the level. In more relevant explanation, a dipstick is usually fixed at a known position of a
container which contains the liquid that is being measured in level. The measurement operation is done
manually by a person or the operator. This is done by removing the dipstick from the container which
contains the fluid for example oil, after the dipstick will be removed the operator will read how far up the
liquid has wetted by looking at the scale. This level measurement technique can only be used in relatively
small and shallow containers. In cases wherein larger vessels or containers are to be measured, the optical
dipstick is used instead. It as an alternative measuring technique which allows the user to obtain level
measurement without the need to take out or removing the dipstick from its vessel and so it can be used
or applied to a larger or deeper tanks or containers.

Now that we have already given an example of a level measurement device or level measurement
technique which is applied in simple operations which requires rough estimation, we will now discuss one
level measurement device or level measurement technique which can be applied in a more complicated
scenario which requires a more accurate and precise level measurement.

Radar method is a level measurement technique or device which is non-contact measurement

and used in more complicated cases like measurement in closed tanks, measurement where the liquid is
turbulent, and measurement in the presence of obstructions and steam condensate. The device
operates by sending a microwave signal at the liquid surface and then a signal receiver will measure the
phase difference between the reflected signal and the original signal that was sent. This measured
difference is linearly proportional to the liquid level.
 PRESSURE MEASUREMENT

Pressure is just an example of one of the many parameters that we will be dealing with, when we
get on board and that is why it is important for us to have a deeper knowledge and understanding
regarding this topic. To start with, let us first define what a pressure means. So according to a well trusted
website, Britannica.com, Pressure means the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per
unit area over which that force is distributed. So in simpler explanation, we can say that a pressure means
the continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it. Pressure
measurement is a very important requirement not just in the field of marine engineering but in almost all
industrial processes and control systems. And in order to obtain pressure measurement with high
precision and accuracy, we make use of pressure-sensing and pressure measurement systems. But before
we dig deeper about pressure measurement techniques and pressure sensing devices, let us first define
some important terms like absolute pressure, gauge pressure and differential pressure. So absolute
pressure is the difference between the pressure of the fluid and the absolute zero of pressure. Gauge
pressure describes the difference between the pressure of a fluid and atmospheric pressure. Lastly, the
differential pressure is used to describe the difference between two absolute pressure values, such as the
pressures at two different points within the same fluid. Now that we have already defined these important
terms, let us now discuss the first pressure sensing device or pressure measuring technique which is the
use of diaphragms.

The operating principle of using diaphragm to obtain pressure measurement is simple. When
there is an applied pressure, the immediate reaction of the diaphragm is to move. And because of the
applied pressure, it will result to a displacement of the diaphragm and this displacement will be measured
by a displacement transducer. Diaphragms can be utilized to measure absolute pressure, gauge pressure
and even differential pressure depending on its design and application. There is also a wide variety of
materials that can be used to make diaphragms. The diaphragm can be either plastic, metal alloy, stainless
steel or ceramic. Plastic diaphragms are cheapest, but metal diaphragms give better accuracy. Stainless
steel is normally used in high temperature or corrosive environment while ceramic diaphragms are
resistant even to strong acids and alkalis, and are used when the operating environment is particularly
harsh.

Another way to obtain pressure measurement is by using a capacitive pressure sensor. A

capacitive pressure sensor is simply a diaphragm-type device in which the diaphragm displacement is
determined by measuring the capacitance change between the diaphragm and a metal plate that is close
to it. So this means that a capacitive pressure sensor operates on the principle that, once there will be a
differential pressure, the sensing diaphragm between the two capacitor plates will be deformed resulting
to an imbalance of capacitance between itself and the two plates. This imbalance due to displacement of
the diaphragm will be detected in a capacitance bridge circuit and will be then converted to a D.C. output
current of 4 to 20 mA. The sensing diaphragm and capacitor thus form a differential variable separation
capacitor. When the two input pressure are equal, the diaphragm is positioned centrally and the
capacitances are equal. A difference in the two input pressures causes displacement of the sensing
diaphragm and is sensed as a difference between the two capacitances. This change in capacitance is
measured using a bridge circuit to measure the equivalent pressure signal.
 FLOW MEASUREMENT

Flow measurement is another important aspect to learn and familiarize for an aspiring world class
maritime seafarer since we will be dealing with this as we get on board whether we like it or not, there
will be no escape to it. To start with let us first define some important terms in connection to our topic
which is the flow measurement. The first important term we will define is mass. So mass according to well
trusted website means the property which reflects the quantity of matter within a sample and usually is
reported in grams (g) and kilograms (kg). And the next important term is volume. Volume is the quantity
of three-dimensional space enclosed by a closed surface, for example, the space that a substance (solid,
liquid, gas, or plasma) or shape occupies or contains. And those are the two terms you need to know prior
to discussing flow measurement.

So why is it necessary to know what is mass and volume? And what is the connection of it to flow
measurement? Well it really important to know about these two terms since the rate at which fluid flows
through a closed pipe can be quantified by either measuring the mass flow rate or measuring the volume
flow rate. So what is the difference between mass flow rate and volume flow rate? The difference is that
in mass flow rate, it measures the amount of a mass moving through an instrument over time, so the unit
of measure is mass (or weight) per unit of time. It can be expressed as pounds /hour or kilograms/second
or in some similar way. While the volume flow rate is the measure of a substance moving through a device
over time. Common units of measure for volumetric flow rate are meters 3 /second, milliliters/second or
feet3/hour.

Of these alternatives, mass flow measurement is more accurate, since mass, unlike volume, is
invariant. In the case of the flow of solids, the choice is simpler, since only mass flow measurement is
appropriate. The choice of method to use on flow measurement varies according to state of matter on
what is being measured whether it is a solid, liquid or gas state. And there is a wide variety of these
techniques some examples are the conveyer-based method and the Coriolis flowmeter.

Conveyer-based method is a method commonly used for measuring flow rates of matter which
are at solid state usually in the form of small particles. In industries like those of grain industries, their
products which are the grains are usually seen in factories transported by some sort of conveyers. And
because of this mode of transport, it allows them to calculate the mass flow rate in terms of the mass of
material on a given length of conveyor multiplied by the speed of the conveyor. And that is how simple
the operating principle of a conveyer-based method is in obtaining flow measurement.

The second technique is by Coriolis flowmeter. Coriolis flowmeter is a device which is more
common on measuring the flow rates for liquid but also used for some gas-flow measurement application
which makes it dual purpose. This type of flowmeter has vibrating tubes it can be either a pair or a single
tube formed into a configuration that has two parallel sections. The vibrating tubes operate by deflection
according to the mass flow rate of the measured fluid that is flowing inside the tube. The material used
to make the tube is usually stainless steel and they are also manufactured in different shapes such as B-
shaped, D-shaped, U-shaped, triangular-shaped, helix-shaped and straight.
 Temperature Measurement

Temperature by simple explanation means a degree of hotness or coldness measured on a

definite scale. One example of a way in order to obtain a temperature is by using a thermometer. This is
the most common device for measuring temperature. Even some kids know what a thermometer is, since
this is what our parents used when we were sick so they could get our body temperature. Over the years,
people have developed many different methods in temperature measurement and every method is
designed or created according to its application. Though there are several kinds of temperature measuring
techniques, I will only focus on four techniques which are thermoelectric effect, thermal expansion,
optical radiativity and lastly, varying resistance.
The first one is the thermoelectric effect in which a temperature difference is directly converted
to electric voltage and vice versa. The principle of thermoelectric effect is being utilize as a temperature
measuring technique by creating a voltage when a difference in temperature occurs. Also when a certain
amount of voltage is being applied, it results to a temperature difference. In the presence of this
phenomenon, charged carriers in the material like electrons diffuse from the hot side to the cold side as
a result of an applied temperature difference.
This effect can now be then use to measure temperature since temperature is determined by the
sign of the applied voltage which also makes it a very convenient temperature regulator. There are three
phenomena identified under thermoelectric effect this are the Seebeck effect, which involves the
conversion of temperature differences directly into electricity. The Peltier effect wherein the direction of
heat transfer is controlled by the polarity of the current and the direction of transfer is changed by
reversing the polarity. And lastly, the Thomson effect where it describes the heating or cooling of a
current-carrying conductor with a temperature gradient. Any current-carrying conductor with a
temperature difference between two points, will either absorb or emit heat, depending on the material.
In application for temperature measurement, thermocouple is an example of a device that use the
Seebeck effect to measure temperature difference between two objects.
Second is the thermal expansion. A thermal expansion is a tendency of an object or a material to
change its shape, area, and volume as a result of a change in temperature. This is because when there is
an increase of temperature, the kinetic energy of the atoms of an object also increases making the atoms
vibrate and move to each other. For application using thermal expansion in temperature measuring, we
can take for an example the mercury-in-glass thermometer. A temperature measuring device in a form of
glass tube, which constrains the mercury to flow in only one direction when its volume expands due to
increase in temperature. Another example is a bi-metal mechanical thermometers which uses a bimetallic
strip that bends as a result to the differing thermal expansion of the two metals.
Third is the optical radiativity a principle applied on non-contact thermometers which works by
matching the brightness of an object to the brightness of the filament which is placed inside the pyrometer
or measuring the temperature of a body based on its emitted thermal radiation. Various forms of
thermometers utilized the concept of optical radiativity in order to measure temperature. These are
optical pyrometers, radiation thermometers and thermal pyrometers. They may have different names but
they all follow the same principle to measure a temperature which is the optical radiativity.
Lastly, the Varying resistance which rely on the physical principle of the variation of resistance
with temperature. The devices which utilize this kind of principle are known as either resistance
thermometers or thermistors for short which are common measuring devices. The varying resistance is
applied as temperature measuring technique by determining the temperature when the resistance is
changing. When a metal will be heated and increased in its temperature, their resistivity will also increase.
Conversely, when a non-metallic substance’ temperature is increased, its resistivity decreases. These four
principles applied as temperature measuring technique are very useful because they are created
according to its application and design for a more convenient use and obtain more accurate temperature
data for educational or research purposes.