Is it okay to have a level gauge without a flow meter?
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I have a question: when a certain amount of liquid is poured into the reaction tank, there is a fork-type level gauge on the tank’s top. Can the reading from this gauge indicate the amount of liquid that has been poured in? Is it possible to avoid installing a flow meter in the feed pipeline?
A level gauge can be used without a flow meter, but the selection must be based on actual conditions; it is important to ensure that the performance parameters and technical specifications of the level gauge meet the requirements of actual use. -
It is sufficient to simply control the amount of material entering the reactor; if a time limit is required, a flow meter should be installed. It is still necessary to consider the actual requirements for setup, for reference only.
Intermittent feeding is no problem; setting the position at the fork as the feeding point is sufficient.
1. Level gauges are less accurate in measurement compared to flow meters； 2. By installing flow meters that can be compared with each other, safety and reliability are improved.
Level gauges and flow meters have different functions; whether to install them depends on the requirements of the production process. During HOAZP analysis, if the protective layer is insufficient, it is necessary to add flow meters.
That’s not possible, right? For example, if there is a leak in the pipeline, the level gauge will indicate that insufficient fluid has been injected, while the flow meter will show that an excessive amount of fluid has been injected. By comparing these readings, it becomes clear that there is a leak in the pipeline. However, if there is no flow meter and only a level gauge, it is not possible to detect pipeline leaks by comparison. The same is true for equipment leaks.
It should be designed as follows: one mass flow meter (or two mass flow meters), one control valve, and one shut-off valve. A continuous level gauge is installed in the reaction tank, and the DCS is equipped with an automatic feeding program; the operator sets the amount to be fed, and when this amount reaches a certain threshold, the control valve and the shut-off valve automatically close.
The flow meter measures the rate; it allows you to control the flow rate of injection, facilitating your control.