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vanuta
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Level Indicator

07/20/2010 11:22 AM

I am having a certified pressure tank that holds hydraulic oil. I do not currently have a level indicator or gauge or anything of that sort. I was wondering whether there are any external mount indicators in the market that i could use for this application...I do not want to do any kind of modifications to the tank.
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not so smart
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#1

Re: Level Indicator

07/20/2010 12:02 PM

Is there a drain on the bottom of the tank? If so you can pipe off of it to a graduated glass tube to indicate the level in the tank.

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farmatt
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#2

Re: Level Indicator

07/20/2010 12:48 PM

JCB construction machinery uses sight glasses.

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not so smart
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Level Indicator

07/20/2010 12:53 PM

That's basically what I was suggesting but he says that he doesn't want to modify the tank. Most sight glasses require at least one hole be drilled into the tank. My way he can use an existing drain hole.

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farmatt
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Level Indicator

07/20/2010 1:19 PM

I realized my mistake too late to change it.

So I sent another idea.

Wasn't ther a similar question like this not tool long ago? I could not find it.

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powertrafo
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#5

Re: Level Indicator

07/20/2010 1:22 PM

you can use a parrellel glass guage but as per what others say you have to drill two holes & your glass guage is ready.You can also use magnetic level guagaes .or if you can do one hole on the topmost surface of the tank than you can go for radar level measurement.This is a modern technology & good one.

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Unredundant
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#6

Re: Level Indicator

07/20/2010 1:56 PM

"I am having a certified pressure tank that holds hydraulic oil." Is this tank under pressure?

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ozzb
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#7
In reply to #6

Re: Level Indicator

07/20/2010 2:32 PM

My thoughts exactly any modifications the take will need to be retested. Most of the sight guages are not designed for pressure.

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PWSlack
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#8

Re: Level Indicator

07/21/2010 3:42 AM

A word of caution: one needs to take account of any change in the speed of sound with pressure when using such a thing.

Experience suggests that using these devices at 0.3barg in pure nitrogen gives acceptable results compared to 0barg air; anything higher or more radical than this should be looked at as an individual case and the manufacturer's advice sought before purchase and installation.

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PWSlack
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#9

Re: Level Indicator

07/21/2010 3:44 AM

If branches are available on the inlet and outlet piping or a flange on the top of the tank, a magnetic follower level indicator of some sort might be used. Pick a manufacturer, oh, say KSR Kübler (usual disclaimer).

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mohitjainindiaagra
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#10

Re: Level Indicator

07/21/2010 11:11 AM

since u have a certifed pressure tank which holds a hydraulic oil.If I am not wrong , it handles a pressure of approx 10-20 barg. You do not want any modification or such in a tank too......than u can only use drain or vent of the tank for level measurement............,Various level measurement techniques can be used depends upon cost, pressure , Transmitter/Simple Gauge etc.... I can recommended for ultrasonic flow meter in such a case ....
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Jaguar
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#11

Re: Level Indicator

07/21/2010 1:09 PM

How simple do you want to go. Aiming a space heater at the tank for a short while easy now, I'm not talking about heating it to a boil and then, using a hand held infrared thermometer, find the point where the temperature of the tank changes. It will be cooler in the liquid area.

If there is a drain near the bottom, T off of it and install a pressure transducer, usually with an output of 4 - 20 mA, calibrated to the distance from the transducer to the top of the tank relative to the weight of the fluid (ex: in. of H2O, or in. of transmission fluid, or in. of sludge, etc.). Connect the transducer output to any of a number of readouts available capable of processing 4 - 20 mA signals.

(I only use the Ashcroft link as an example. There are hundreds of manufacturers at all price levels.)

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adeebulrehman
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#12
In reply to #11

Re: Level Indicator

07/21/2010 3:20 PM

Pressure Transmitter can't do good job Because Temperature changes Density and u know that quite well.

For Continous Level Indication with LOcal Monitoring

It is sure that you have a Drain Hole at the bottom Install the gauge glass and simply Install the Ultrasonic Level Transmitter Note Ultrasonic Tx is not good on Vapors So use Radar Level Transmitters

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Jaguar
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#14
In reply to #12

Re: Level Indicator

07/22/2010 5:06 AM

The use, as stated, was for a tank containing hydraulic fluid. Generally for this type application, the need is to determine when fluid needs to be replenished, as in: when the level gets to between 1/4 and 1/2 of what is determined to be a full tank, add x number of gallons of fluid to bring the level up to a predetermined level. This is done every day in home heating oil tanks and they use a simple float and indicator gauge whose accuracy and resolution is probably in the range of 5% to 10%. Of course, fluid density doesn't affect this type of gauge. In the transmitter setup, most reasonably priced, temperature compensated transmitters generally have an accuracy in the range of +/- .5% of scale or better (500 gallon tank = +/- 2.5 gallons). The variation of fluid density relative to temperature (expansion/contraction) is probably in the same region (I did not do any calculations). If the purpose of the tank is to supply a hydraulic system, density is not a particular issue. If the tank is being used to fill 5 gallon containers and the sensing system is being used to meter the fluid with some level of accuracy, yes, fluid temperature/density would be a consideration, but in that usage, an accurately calibrated/traceable flow meter might be required by law. It all depends on the particulars of the set-up, which we don't have.

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Anonymous Poster
#13

Re: Level Indicator

07/21/2010 10:46 PM

why not just tap and dye
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adeebulrehman (1); Anonymous Poster (1); farmatt (2); Jaguar (2); mohitjainindiaagra (1); not so smart (2); ozzb (1); powertrafo (1); PWSlack (2); Unredundant (1)

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