Industrial Instrumentation

Level Measuring Devices

The sensing and control of level or height of materials in container or vessel is necessary in
many process industries and thus require proper instrumentation techniques to be devised.
There are many approaches to categorize level sensing devices. One approach is to divide
them on the basis of level measuring techniques like direct level measurement devices and
indirect level measurement.
Direct Level Measurement
Direct measurement indicates that the level is measured directly. For example, when you use
a dipstick to check the oil level in your car, you are making a direct measurement. A direct
measurement is independent of any other process parameters.
Indirect Level Measurement
Indirect measurement, also known as inferred measurement, indicates that a variable other
than level is first measured and then used to determine a level measurement. For example,
pressure transmitters use mass and the fluids specific gravity to calculate level.
Direct Level Measurement

Indirect Level Measurement

Gauge Glass

Electrical methods
Capacitance level detector
RF admittance level sensor

Floats
Ball type
Chain/tape type
Magnetic type

Pressure level detector

Differential pressure type
Bubbler type

Dip stick

Conductivity level detectors

Displacer

Radiation level detectors

Radio/microwave
Ultrasonic/sonic
Nuclear type

Speciality level switches

Vibrating
Thermal
Optical

Liquid Level Measurement

Gauge Glass
Electrical methods
Floats
Pressure level detector
Dip stick
Conductivity level detectors
Displacer
Radiation level detectors
Speciality level switches

Solid Level Measurement

Non-contact radiation type
Capacitance level detector
Vibrating type level detector
Flexible diaphragm
Rotating paddle level detector
Optical laser level switches
Ultrasonic
Radiation

Liquid Level Sensors

Instrument name
Gauge glass

Working principal
sketch
A transparent tube is
attached
vertically
adjacent to the vessel
and the liquid height
in the tube is a direct
representation of the
liquid level in the
vessel.

Floats

The floats are

based on the
buoyancy
principle, placed
on the surface or
interface
between
two
phases they are
motion balanced
devices
that
move with the
changing level
The pressure
exerted by
column of liquid
in a vessel also
known as
hydrostatic head
is utilized to
indicate level of
the liquid in the

Pressure level
detector

vessel.
Bubbler type

Capacitance
level detector

Conductivity
level detectors

Radiation level
detector

This instrument essentially

consists of a tube with its open
end inserted near the bottom of
the tank. Inert gas or clean air is
forced out of the tube and it
escapes as bubbles into the
liquid in the tank. The pressure
required to force out the liquid
is equal to pressure at the end of
the tube. The pressure in the
tube is equal to hydrostatic head
which is measure of the level.
This sensor exploits the
principle
of
change
in
capacitance. As the level rises
the capacitance is changed
because the lower portion of the
probe is exposed to liquid and
the upper with air having
dielectric value closer to one
The conductance method of
liquid level measurement is
based
on
the
electrical
conductance of the measured
material, which is usually a
liquid that can conduct a current
with a low-voltage source
Materials radiate and absorb
energy waves or radiations. This
property has enabled to devise
some of the most unique noncontact level detectors

Instrument name
Radiation type

Open air radar

Ultrasonic sensors

Working principal
In
radiation-based
measurement, a low level
source is safely embedded
into a shielded source holder
with an aperture that emits
focused gamma rays. Process
medium or level changes
progressively
shield
the
electromagnetic
energy
emitted from the source and
received by the detector. This
measured radiation intensity
is directly proportional to the
continuous level, point level,
density or mass flow rate
Open air radar transmits
radio-frequency (RF) energy
to the material surface and
the energy is reflected back,
much with sound waves. A
small portion of the reflected
energy returns to the radar.
This returned energy, which
is called an echo, is processed
to determine the distance to
the material in the bin.
They work by transmitting an
ultrasonic
pulse
of
pressurized air to the surface
of the material in a vessel.
The pulse reflects off the
material and returns to the
sensor in the form of an echo
that is received by a
microphone. The sensor then
sends the measurement data
directly to a control system or
display module,

sketch

3D level sensor

These devices scan the

material surface to take
multiple
measurements,
taking into account the high
and low spots in the silo.
The data from multiple
measuring points is processed
using advanced firmware and
algorithms,
and
when
combined with the silos
parameters loaded into the
software, provides highly
accurate level and volume
information.

There are many other sensors that are used for liquid measurement can be used to measure
level of solids like capacitive and float sensors etc.