Differential pressure measurement is trusted as a way for monitoring the amount of closed vessels. Oftentimes, operators use individual instruments with an output signal or on-site display. On the other hand, a far more precise and fault-immune solution may be the measuring arrangement produced by WIKA using two process transmitters in a primary-secondary relationship.
Each level monitoring application using differential pressure measurement is based on the next principle: For the amount of the contents in the vessel, the differential pressure between your liquid and the gaseous phase is determined. Furthermore, the hydrostatic pressure, the specific density of the medium and the vessel geometry are contained in the calculation. Typical measuring instruments have two adjacent process connections for the pressures P1 and P2. For level measurement, a capillary has to bridge the pronounced distance between your two measuring points.
Measurement with two process transmitters as Primary instrument (right) and Secondary instrument. This measuring arrangement for level monitoring may be used flexibly, e.g. for home elevators the mixing ratio of liquids.
Connection via signal cable
When monitoring the level using electronic differential pressure measurement, alternatively, both measuring points have one process transmitter each. For example, the WIKA models CPT-2x and IPT-2x are suitable for this. Both transmitters are arranged as Primary instrument and Secondary instrument. They’re connected, purely electrically, with a signal cable and so are therefore not vunerable to disturbances. THE PRINCIPAL instrument supplies the Secondary instrument with power. ที่วัดแรงดันน้ำ is parameterised with a serial interface or through the display on the principal instrument. Finally, communication takes place via an internal bus.
Level monitoring in a closed tank
Application example
The figure on the left shows a typical application example for level monitoring with electronic differential pressure measurement on a liquid tank. The Secondary instrument measures the pressure P1, in this case the gas pressure, and transmits it to the Primary instrument. This detects the pressure P2, here the pressure in the liquid column in the bottom of the tank. The Primary instrument calculates the differential pressure from P1 and P2. Utilizing the measured value and considering the other parameters mentioned, it determines the volume in the tank being an indication of the particular level. This value could be output either being an analogue or digital signal to the control room and/or to the display of the principal instrument.
Advantages of the measuring arrangement with two process transmitters
The method for level monitoring described here has several advantages in comparison with a conventional method, for instance, with a differential pressure transmitter:
Higher accuracy and ?turndown?
Process transmitters deliver higher levels of accuracy. In the case of the WIKA models, these are around 0.05 % of the set span. In addition, there is the chance of ?turndown?, the individual setting of a particular measuring span (that is also possible retrospectively with instruments which are already installed.)
Minimised temperature effect
Transmission via signal cable with electronic differential pressure measurement minimises the temperature effect. In contrast, the capillaries found in the traditional measuring method are much more susceptible here. This, in turn, can ultimately affect the measuring result.
Fast commissioning
The electronic measuring arrangement can be commissioned faster. Contrary to a remedy with capillaries, it generally does not require any test run.
Reduced maintenance effort
The maintenance effort is lower: In the event of a fault, only the procedure transmitter concerned needs to be replaced. In contrast, with measuring differential pressure with capillaries, the entire measuring arrangement should be replaced.
Note
More info on the model CPT-2x and IPT-2x process transmitters, which are suitable for electronic differential pressure measurement for level monitoring, is available on the WIKA website.

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