INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTATION
Level Measurement
Course Code:Lesson 1
Contents
Classifying Level Measurement
Devices
Lesson Objectives 1
Upon Completion of this Course Students will be able to:
• Define the meaning of the term ‘level’
• Explain how level measuring equipment can be classified
• Define the term ‘direct measurement or non-inferred
methods’ and give examples of measurement devices
fitting into this description
• Define the term ‘indirect measurement or inferred methods’
and give examples of measurement devices fitting into this
description
Lesson Objectives 2
Students will be able to:
• Explain the terms : Point & Hook Gauge; Dip Gauge;
Dip Tape; Datum Plate; Tank Dipping; Tank Ullaging
• With the aid of a sketch, describe the ‘Magnetic Sight
Glass,’ explain how it works and give examples of
when it would be used
Level
Level is defined as the position of the interface between phases, where the phases
are liquid/gas, solid/gas, or immiscible liquid/liquid.
Direct Measurement Indirect Measurement Methods
Methods (inferred)
(non-inferred) An indirect method is one in which
A direct method is one in which some property, other than the
there is a direct measurement surface of the liquid, is used to
of the distance from the liquid imply the level.
level to a reference line or
Examples are:
point. • Head Pressure of a liquid
• Capacitance Probes
Examples are: • Sonic Level Detection
• Point or Hook Gauge • Radioactive devices
• Dip gauge or Tape • Change in weight of an object
• Sight Gauge or Glass
when it is immersed in a liquid
(Displacement)
Examples of Use
• A liquid such as water can be stored in a vessel that is
open to atmospheric pressure and can be measured
by using the direct measurement method.
• Other liquids such as hot acid would be stored in a
sealed vessel; also liquids such as toxic chemicals
would be stored in sealed vessels which may be
pressurised. In these cases the indirect method would
be used.
Review - Local Indicators
Let’s go back to Module 1 ~
Lesson 2 (Local Indicators)
&
classify the devices we looked at
then
High Pressure Sight Glass
Classification
Direct Measurement
Method
(non-inferred)
A Simple Sight Glass
Classification
Direct Measurement
Method
(non-inferred)
A Simple Local Level Gauge
Liquid Level
Classification
Indirect Measurement
Method
(inferred)
Indirect Measurement
Classification
Indirect
Measurement
Method
(inferred)
Magnetic-Bond Storage Tank Gauge
Classification
Indirect Measurement
Method
(inferred)
Two Additional Direct Methods
We will now look at the Point or Hook
Gauge and at the dip tape or gauge
method
The Point & Hook Gauge 1
The point gauge is the simplest method of measuring liquid level. The
point gauge consists of a pointed rod that has graduations along its
length. It probably evolved from a notched stick, which was the earliest
method used to measure level. The hook gauge is a variation on this
theme. After lowering the hook gauge into a tank, it is raised until the
hook just pierces the surface of the liquid. The level is read by
comparing the graduations on the gauge to a reference point, or datum
point, above the liquid level.
The Point & Hook Gauge 2
The Point & Hook Gauge (2)
The vessel used to contain a liquid may have been designed such
that, for every 6 inches, for example, the vessel may hold 500 gallons
(or barrels) of the liquid. By knowing the distance from the datum
point to the surface of the liquid, the amount of liquid in the vessel can
be calculated.
Disadvantage of The Hook
Gauge
The disadvantage of the point or hook gauge is that the
surface of the liquid must be well illuminated.
Most tanks or vessels don’t have good lighting,
especially at night, so these methods are limited in their
application. Dip gauges or tapes overcome this.
The Dip Gauge (Stick)
The dip gauge, or dipstick, consists of
a metal rod or bar which has
graduations marked along its length. It
is lowered into the vessel until the end
of the gauge touches the bottom of the
vessel.
The distance from the bottom of the
Liquid vessel to the mark left on the dip gauge
Level by the liquid level is then recorded.
By knowing the dimensions of the tank
or vessel, the amount of liquid in the
vessel can be easily calculated.
Dip Tapes
Very large tanks present a problem in that the length of
the dipstick may become too long to easily handle.
Dip tapes, which are in essence a measuring tape with a
heavy, pointed weight (a plumb bob) on the end, are
used in the same manner as dipsticks except they are
unwound until the plumb bob touches the bottom of the
vessel or the datum plate.
The readings are then taken exactly as in the case of the
dipstick.
Dip Tapes
Datum Plates
• Datum plates are horizontal, flat plates, which are
fitted some distance above the bottom of storage
tanks that contain crude oil for example.
• This is because crude oil often comes with entrained
water which settles out in the storage tank. The oil is
extracted from a level above the water, which is
drained off at regular intervals.
• The datum plate is welded to the side of the tank
directly below the gauging hatch at the extraction
level, which is effectively the bottom of the tank, so the
usable contents of the tank are above the datum plate.
Tank Dipping
The action of measuring the depth of liquid in a tank with
a dipstick or dip tape is called ‘dipping the tank’.
It is often used when precise measurements are
required, for example, when a remote read-out float
gauging system has to be calibrated.
The following two slides are extracted from
~ Module 4 Lesson 1
Manually Measuring Levels
using a dip tape
Cross Checking of
Automatic Level
Devices
‘Ullaging’ a Tank
‘Dipping’ a Tank
and finally ………
…… the Magnetic Sight Glass
Magnetically coupled gauges
are indirect ‘sight’ glasses
They are suitable for use
when the contents of the
vessel are extremely toxic,
corrosive, or the pressures
are such as to preclude the
use of conventional sight
glasses, or the vessel
contains slurry, or a
chemical which would coat
a sight glass.
