Liquid Level Sensors

Liquid Level Sensors

Methods used to measure the level of liquid in a vessel

Mechanism: A float is placed in the liquid. As the liquid level changes,

the float moves vertically.
Why It Works: The float rises / falls based on the volume of displaced
fluid, which depends directly on the liquid level
Detection: The float is usually linked to:
• A magnetic switch, a potentiometer, a change in capacitance as the
liquid rises up between the plates of a capacitor, ultrasonic and
radiation methods
Usage: Water tanks, oil reservoirs, etc.
Buoyancy Force
• When an object is partially or wholly immersed in a fluid it experiences an
upthrust force equal to the weight of fluid displaced by the object. This is
known as Archimedes principle.
• Thus a change in the amount of an object below the surface of a liquid will
result in a change in the up-thrust.
Net Buoyancy Force
• The resultant force acting on such an object is then its weight minus the
upthrust and thus depends on the depth to which the object is immersed.

The weight of the float will be ; Wf=mg-Fb

The float will only move upward when Fb > mg
Liquid Level Sensors
• Float:
• Figure shows a float system.
• The float is at one end of a pivoted rod with the
other end connected to the slider of a
potentiometer.
• Changes in level cause the float to move and hence
move the slider over the potentiometer resistance
track and so give a potential difference output
related to the liquid level.
• A problem with floats is that there is the problem of
fluids and deposits coating the floats and changing
the level at which they float.
Float Calibration
• Such displacer gauges need calibration for liquid
level since the upthrust depends on the
liquid density.
• A problem with displacers is that there is the
problem of fluids coating the floats and
apparently changing the buoyancy.
Pressurized Vessels
• Differential Pressure:
• The pressure due to a height h of liquid above some level is ρgh, where ρ is
the liquid density and g the acceleration due to gravity.
• With a tank of liquid open to the atmosphere, the pressure difference can be
measured between a point near the base of the tank and the atmosphere.
• The result is then proportional to the height of liquid above the pressure
measurement point.
• Even in a pressurized environment, Archimedes’ rule still applies in
the same way — because the pressure acts uniformly on all sides of
the float. But the engineering challenge is making sure the sensor
can withstand that pressurized environment without affecting its
readings.
Pressurized Vessels
Liquid Level Sensors
• Load Cell:
• The weight of a tank of liquid can be used as a measure
of the height of liquid in the tank. Load cells are
commonly used for such weight measurements.
• One form of load cell consists of a strain-gauged cylinder
which is included in the supports for the tank of liquid.
• When the level of the liquid changes, the weight
changes and so the load on the load cell changes and
the resistances of the strain gauges change.
• The resistance changes of the strain gauges are thus a
measure of the level of the liquid.
• Since the load cells are completely isolated from the
liquid, the method is useful for corrosive liquids.
Liquid Level Sensors
• Electrical Conductivity Level Indicator:
• Conductivity methods can be used to indicate when the level
of a high electrical conductivity liquid reaches a critical level.
• One form has two probes, one probe mounted in the liquid
and the other either horizontally at the required level or
vertically with its lower end at the critical level.
• When the liquid is short of the required level, the resistance
between the two probes is high since part of the electrical
path between the two probes is air.
• However, when the liquid level reaches the critical level,
there is a path entirely through the liquid and so the
conductivity increases. Howe ver, Foaming, splashing,
and turbulence can affect the results.
Liquid Level Sensors
• Capacitive Level Indicator:
• A common form of capacitive level gauge consists of two concentric
conducting cylinders, or a circular rod inside a cylinder, acting as capacitor
plates with the liquid between them acting as the dielectric of a capacitor.
• If the liquid is an electrical insulator, then the capacitor plates can be bare
metal, if the liquid is conducting then they are metal coated with an insulator,
e.g., Teflon.
• The arrangement consists essentially of two capacitors in parallel, one formed
between the plates inside the liquid and the other from that part of the plates
in the air above the liquid.
• A change in the liquid level changes the total capacitance of the arrangement.
Liquid Level Sensors
• Errors can arise as a result of temperature changes since they will produce a
change in capacitance without any change in level.
• Errors can also arise if, when the liquid level drops, the electrodes remain
coated with liquid. The system can be used, with suitable choice of electrode
material, for corrosive liquids and is capable of reasonable accuracy.
Liquid Level Sensors
• Ultrasonic Level Gauge:
• In one version of an ultrasonic level indicator, an ultrasonic
transmitter/receiver is placed above the surface of the
liquid.
• Ultrasonic pulses are produced, travel down to the liquid
surface and are then reflected back to the receiver.
• The time taken from emission to reception of the pulses can
be used as a measure of the position of the liquid surface.
• Because the receiver/transmitter can be mounted outside
the liquid, it is particularly useful for corrosive liquids
• Errors are produced by temperature changes since they
affect the speed of the sound wave. Such errors are typically
about 0.18% per C.
Liquid Level Sensors
• Nucleonic Level Indicator:
• One form of level indicator uses gamma radiation from a radioactive source,
generally cobalt60, caesium137, or radium226.
• A detector is placed on one side of the container and the source on the other.
• The intensity of the radiation depends on the amount of liquid between the
source and detector and can be used to determine the level of the liquid.
• Figure shows two possible arrangements.