Using Displacement Techniques

Introduction Operating Principles Floats and displacer Differences Displacers and Floats Types of Displacers

The magnetically coupled Switch The torque Tube The Diaphragm and force bar The spring balance The Flexible disk The Flexible shaft

Introduction
The measurement of level is defined as the determination of the position of an existing interface between two media. These media are usually fluids, They may be solids, combination of solids and fluids , The interface can exist between a liquid and its vapor, two liquids, or a granular (fluidized solid) and liquid. Displacers used to detect Liquid-vapor interface , liquid-liquid interface , if the level is constant change in density as well. Unlike pressure and temperature , level has no absolute value and is always relative to some reference point such as bottom of the vessel. Reasons for level measurement Monitoring Plant efficiency may be assessed and optimized, Compute tank inventories , etc

Operating Principles Floats & Displacers

Floats and Displacers are simple level measurement devices. They are somewhat identical in their look but they work on different operating principles. Floats - buoyancy Principle as liquid level changes a (predominately) sealed container will, providing its density is lower than that of the liquid, move correspondingly The buoyancy force action on an object is equal to the mass of liquid displaced by the object.

Operating Philosophy Displacer

When a Body is Immersed in a Fluid it Loses Weight Equal to that of the Fluid Displaced Archimedes Law By Detection of the Apparent Weight of the Immersed Displacer, a Level Measurement can be Inferred

Difference Displacer and Float

A float generally rides above the surface of liquid whereas a displacer remains either partly or totally immersed in process liquid. Displacer switches are considered to be additionally stable and dependable as compared to standard float level switches in case of turbulent, surging, frothy and foamy services. Settings of displacers can be changed very easily since they can be shifted at any place along the length of the suspension cable Testing the appropriate working of a displacer switch is much easier than a customary float level switch since the former requires just lifting of a suspension whereas the latter necessitates filling of liquid in the tank up to the actuation mark.

The magnetically coupled Switch

Displacer Switch

Weight loss is proportional to the level of the liquid Level, density or interface level change in the fluid causes change in the displacer position The change is transferred to torque tube assembly.

Torque Tube Displacers External Cage Displacer Range Spring Linkage Torque Tube Transmitter Vertical Force Movement of Displacer and Rod is Converted to Angular Rotation of Torque Tube

Transmitter Torque Tube Linkage

Range Spring

Displacer

External Cage

Torque Tube Displacers Considerations Typical Measuring Range is 14 to 72 Mounting Orientation for Torque Tube Arm Fluid Density Vent and Drain Connections

Torque measurement can be done electronically using LVDT Linear Variable Differential Transformer

The Torque Tube

FA= Buoyancy force V = Volume of the displacer VX = Volume of the medium displaced by measuring body with density 1 1 = Mean density of the heavier medium 2 = Mean density of the lighter medium g = local acceleration due to gravity ( 9.81 m/s2) FG = Displacer body weight force FA= VX 1 g + (V- VX) 2 g

Determining displacer diameter D = outside diameter of the displacer L = Measuring range

= 1000

4 g 12 L

Alternate way to measure suspended weight

WS= Total suspended weight Wd = Weight of the displacer Vs = Volume of the displacer submerged at a level required for calibration w = density of water = (% Change in torque tube modulus per F) T = Expected process temperature temp off torque tube during calibration SG = Specific Gravity of the process fluid at Operating Temperature

Interface Level Measurement hl= Relative Length of the displacer that is immersed in lighter fluid hh= Relative Length of the displacer that is immersed in heavier fluid SGl= Specific gravity of lighter fluid @ operating temperature SGh= Specific gravity of heavier fluid @ operating temperature V = volume of the displacer

Diaphragm and Force bar or Force Balance Displacer

Top-mounted design. Level variations cause a proportional change in buoyant force of the displacer, reducing the apparent weight on the force bar as the level increases. In the side-mounted version, the process is sealed by a diaphragm, which also serves as the fulcrum of the force bar. The buoyant force is transmitted to the balancing rod, which pivots on the range wheel. An increase in level causes a minute movement that, it turn, is detected by the transmitter, which in the past generated a pneumatic signal. Today, the signal is electronic, in the form of either an analog signal or digital data communicated over the bus or network of the plant. This instrument is available with the displacer mounted either inside the vessel or in an external chamber. The latter is used where maintenance must be performed while the tank is under pressure.

Diaphragm and Force bar or Force Balance Displacer

Side-mounted design. Any movement of the range rod causes a minute change in the clearance between flapper and nozzle.

This produces a change in the output pressure from the pneumatic amplifier to the feed back bellows until the force applied by the bellows balances the forces of the displacer.

The Spring Balance This instrument is similar to the torque-tube except conventional range spring, and the isolation of the process from the instrument is by means of a magnetic coupling. The movement is about 1 in. (25 mm) full range. The ball is centered within the enclosing tube, and its movement is nearly frictionless. A follower mechanism moves with the magnetic ball for indication and signal transmission. The merits and disadvantages Are similar to those of the torque-tube units, except that the movement of the displacer is greater, and the range spring is exposed to the process. Greater movement almost always causes faster wear at pivot points. The range spring exposure creates difculty in installations where vapor space condensation, polymerization, or crystallization is expected, because material buildup on the spring will interfere with proper operation. Inert gas purging of the spring chamber has been used to prevent the process vapors from entering the chamber, but the large ow rates required make this solution impractical.

The Flexible Disc Displacer In case of the exible disc design, as rising liquid level reduces the apparent weight of the displacer, a force balance mechanism detects this change in weight while maintaining equilibrium. The output signal is directly related to the level in the vessel. Span adjustments are made by changing the total length of the oat arm. The oat arm is supported by the exible disc. As a result of the force-balance principle of operation, all components maintain their predetermined position with essentially no movement. This protects the exible disc from fatigue due to bending. The weight of the displacer and oat arm is carried by the exible disc, and the static pressure in the vessel acts upon the thrust pivots. Limit stops keep the oat arm motion within the elastic limits of the disc when the vessel is empty. This design has the same limitations as the other displacer units but has a narrower range of application, because the exible disc seal limits its use to 100 PSIG (0.7 MPa) operating pressure. At higher pressures, the unit becomes inaccurate, and an increase in error of 1% of full scale can be expected per 100 PSIG of process pressure. The exible disc is normally made of stainless steel, but it is also available in Monel and nickel. The displacer can be made of a wide variety of materials. The performance of this unit is generally inferior to the other designs.

This unit moves too much to be simply classied as a displacer and too little to be simply a oat device. But the limited oat motion makes it more nearly a displacer, so it is considered as such here. As with the other displacer designs, the exible shaft unit detects the buoyant force of the oat with practically no motion involved approximately 1/32 in. (0.8 mm) travel. As shown the shaft is tubular, with a attened center section that moves easily in the vertical direction but resists horizontal motion. In the pneumaticcontroller version, the extension tongue transmits the oat motion to an air pilot. An increase in level moves the tongue, gradually closing the vent of the pilot and increasing the output signal to the control valve. By turning the mounting ange 180, the control pilot action can be reversed so that an increase in level will be accompanied by a decrease in the signal to the valve. The unit can also be provided as an onoff switch with either pneumatic or electric output. As with other displacer designs, this device can be used to control interface or uid density, but it is very limited in adjustment exibility as compared to the torque-tube design. The exible shaft unit has a narrow and xed proportional band without integral action. The ball oat has a throttling range of approximately 0.5 in. (12.7 mm), depending on arm length. This high sensitivity limits application in many services. The exible shaft level controller can be furnished with pressure ratings to 1000 PSIG (0.9 MPa)and temperature ratings to 700F (371C).

Material of construction :

316 SS , Monel, PP , Haste alloy, Chamber ( CS or SS )

The maximum working pressure:

The exible disc usually up to 100 PSIG (7 bars, 0.7 MPa) The diaphragm-sealed designs up to600 PSIG (41 bars, 4.1 MPa) The exible shaft unit can operate up to 1000 PSIG (69 bars, 6.9 MPa); The torque-tube designs are available up to 2500 PSIG (170 bars, 17 MPa); The magnetically coupled units can be used up to 6100 PSIG (410 bars, 41 MPa).

General Design Temperature: -50 to 451F

Inconel Torque tube can operate : - 350 to 850F

Accuracy - Varies widely with application and the instrument, typically 0.5% of full scale. Range Standard displacers are available in lengths of 14 to 60 in. (0.35 to 1.5 m). Cost The range of special units can go up to 60 ft (18 m). Displacer-type switches cost from $200 to $500, 32-in. (0.81-m) electronic transmitter costs about $2500; add $500 to $700 for an external steel chamber.

* Verify ratings with the manufacturer

List of Manufacturers ABB Instrumentation Inc. (www.abb.com) Delta Controls Corp. (www.deltacnt.com) Dwyer Instruments Inc. (www.dwyer-inst.com) Endress+Hauser Systems & Gauging (www.systems.endress.com) The Foxboro Co. (www.foxboro.com) Magnetrol International (www.magnetrol.com) Masoneilan Operations Dresser Flow (www.masoneilan.com) Norriseal (www.norrisel.com) Schlumberger Measurement Div. (www.slb.com/rms/measurement) Siemens Moore Energy & Automation (www.sea-siemens.com) Yokogawa Corp. of America (www.yca.com)