Reactor bottom level gauge
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The distillation vessel in the workshop is a type with internal coil tubes and operates on a batch basis. The liquid level in this vessel is measured using a pressure difference-based level transmitter. However, during production, positive or negative pressures can occur in the vessel (with the pressure ranging from -50 kPa to 50 kPa), which causes the displayed liquid level to be inaccurate. I would appreciate your help in finding a solution to ensure accurate measurement of the liquid level. If a new level gauge is to be installed, what type would be suitable? Thank you!
The liquid level is inaccurate, likely due to changes in the properties of the material inside the tank; therefore, a level gauge that operates on the principle of differential pressure should not be used. Radar might be better.
There are coils inside the pot, and the radar version doesn’t work either. Do you have any other types recommended? Thank you!
A combination of differential pressure level gauge and magnetic flip plate is commonly used. The boiling of the medium itself, as well as the fluctuations in liquid level caused by stirring – I’m not sure what methods can be used to overcome these issues
I agree with you; there’s no good way to accurately measure liquid level fluctuations.
Using a differential pressure level gauge is the right choice! What brand of level gauge are you using? Your operating conditions involve alternating positive and negative pressures, so domestic level gauges may not be suitable; they certainly won’t work well under negative pressure conditions! I recommend using Yokogawa’s!
It is possible to argue whether weighing can be used
It would be better to specify the operating conditions: temperature and properties of the medium. For your reference: for tanks with larger bottoms, top-mounted magnetostrictive level gauges or guided-wave radar level gauges are suitable (I use both of these, and they perform well). If the tank bottom is small and top mounting isn’t possible, then magnetic flap level gauges can be used, along with jacket heating.
What is the height of the coil inside the tower bottom? What is the normal production liquid level? Is it possible to ignore the height of the coil (after all, it won’t be completely dried out in the end)? If so, there is a type of float level gauge; we have internal float level gauges for use in batch internal-coil heating reactors.
The materials we use here basically need to be steamed dry; I’m not sure whether internal float level gauges can be used in this context. Also, we carry out waste solvent recycling here, and there are various types of solvents involved – are there any restrictions regarding solvents for internal floats?
It then depends on the height of your coil; the lowest position of the float ball must be higher than the top of the coil (because otherwise it won’t be able to drop down), and this is what creates a blind spot. I’m not sure if it will suit your working conditions. As for the solvent issue, it depends on the material of the internal floating ball; it’s easy to resolve.