Bunggo, Desirie Joy T. Dela Cruz, Jill M. Emalada, John Christopher P. Ngo, Jemelyn C. Ramos, Aileen M.

Level Indicator also known as level gauge or level sensor. A common variable in the industrial process. A device used to determine the amount of gas, liquid, or solid inside a vessel. The type used is usually dependent on the medium measured. Selection of device is dependent on the application and the industrial process.

How often the level is measured

Every hour, daily, continuously

Type of medium measured

Gas, liquid, solid
Corrosive

The vessel or location to which the medium is stored (dam, open sea, tank)

Direct Method
Measurement is based on the physical surface of

the medium with respect to a reference point.

Indirect Method
Level is determined by measuring other qualities

of the medium such as weight and static pressure.

DIRECT METHOD

INDIRECT METHOD

Float Radar Laser Sight Glass Dip Stick Displacement

Electrical capacitance Differential head/pressure

Reflex level gauge,

Transparent level gauge, Bi Color level gauge

consist of a metal bar on which a scale is etched. The bar is fixed at a known position in the liquid-containing vessel. A level measurement is made by removing the instrument from the vessel and reading off how far up the scale the liquid has wetted.

the position of the float on the surface liquid is measured by means of a suitable transducer.

The technique involves directing a constantamplitude, frequency-modulated microwave signal at the liquid surface. A receiver measures the phase difference between the reflected signal and the original signal transmitted directly through air.

The laser unit is installed above the deck, isolated from the tank by a sight glass and targeting the liquid level surface with a low power laser beam.

Is a tubular glass or transparent plastic tube that reflects the liquid level inside the vessel. Located outside and is parallel to the vessel.

consists of two concentric tubes made of aluminium or stainless steel, depending on the construction of the tank. The inner tube is supported by the outer tube by means of concentric insulators placed at regularly spaced intervals along the whole length of the tubes. The resulting assembly forms a series of cylindrical capacitors, having the same total height as the tank.

Outer tube Inner tube Concentric electrical insulator Isolationof inner tube sections by a gap or dielectric plug 5. Isolation from the tank bottom 6. Connections between the sections of the outer tube to make a single electrical conductor. 7. Data signal connections from the gauge to the junction box outside the cargo tank 8. LNG cargo tank
1. 2. 3. 4.

The difference in pressures between to points in a vessel depends on the fluids between these two points. Usually, a seal liquid is used in the two connecting pipes (legs) to prevent plugging at the sensing points.

By Archimedes principle, a body immersed in a liquid is buoyed by a force equal to the weight of the liquid displaced by the body. Thus, a body that is more dense than the liquid can be placed in the vessel, and the amount of liquid displaced by the body, measured by the weight of the body when in the liquid, can be used to determine the level.

Indicator

Advantages

Disadvantages

Application

Float

Can be used for switches

cannot be used with sticky fluids which coat the float

fuel storage tanks, water tanks, other pressure less storage tanks and lubricating oil storage tanks Level, contents or interface measurement Condensate drums Separators Flash vessels Storage vessels HP and LP heaters pressure vessels, tanks Boilers

Displacement good accuracy

limited range cost of external mounting for high pressures

Differential Pressure

good accuracy large range applicable to slurries with use of sealed lines

assumes constant density sealed lines sensitive to temperature affected by density variations

Electrical Capacitance

applicable for slurries level switch for many difficult fluids

silos, bins tanks,