The blowout level gauge gets clogged frequently
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The factory uses many air-operated level gauges, and several of the older ones are frequently clogged, requiring acid to be added in order to clear them – the reason for this is unknown. “In industrial production, when it is necessary to measure the level of liquids that are corrosive, highly viscous, or contain suspended particles, \"air-blown level gauges\" are often used. Question 1: Is it related to the operating environment? Logically, a blow-out level gauge should be able to measure liquids that are prone to crystallization and have high viscosity, and there should always be positive pressure inside the blow-out tube with air continuously blowing, so it shouldn’t get clogged easily, right? Question 2: Is it related to installation? Are there several right-angle bends between the on-site air supply pipe and the equipment, as well as longer sections of horizontal piping? Are there any relevant specifications for the air supply pipe? I’ve been trying to find it, but I haven’t succeeded. Need advice?
If it’s blocked, it means liquid is entering the pipe, indicating that the backflow flow rate is too low. Is the blowout flow meter too small? Especially the backflow measurement of those pressure vessels. Is a backflow constant-current valve installed, which can maintain the set backflow velocity?
Thank you for your reply. The blowing level gauge is used in conjunction with the blowing device manufactured by Shanghai Guanghua; the flow rate is adjusted to around 0.4 L/MIN as recommended in the user manual. The blowing device is equipped with a flow meter, a constant flow valve, and other components.
No installation specifications for the air supply pipes were found. There are several right-angle bends between the air supply pipes at the site and the equipment, as well as longer sections of horizontal piping. It’s not clear whether such an installation of the air supply pipes at the site is also a major factor contributing to blockages.
Check the scale unit of the flow meter; if it is NL (standard), 0.4 L/Min is suitable for a tank at normal pressure. But if the tank pressure is 1 BARG, then the blowing volume should be 2/1 = 2 times, = 0.8 NL/Min. Additionally, if the pipe is clogged at the surface of the liquid, heating can be added if the medium permits it.
Only those high-temperature media with a pressure of 0.4 MPa, a flow rate of 2–3 L/min, and a tank pressure of 0.1 MPa that are prone to scaling get clogged; they need to be cleared only once every six months. Negative pressure systems hardly ever get clogged