Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Key Considerations when Specifying Displacer Level Transmitters

Displacer level transmitter is used in Process measurements of liquids across many process industries. In this article we discuss the Principle of operation and industrial level applications that displacer transmitter technology offers.
Principle of Operation
Displacer Level Transmitter

Operation is based on buoyancy force. The buoyancy force works on the displacer which will vertically move in (increasing liquid level) and out (decreasing liquid level) the linear differential transformer (LVDT). Due to this movement, voltages are induced in the secondary winding of the LVDT. These signals are then processed in the electronic circuitry and used to control the output signal.
Industrial Applications
Displacer transmitters are ideal solution for liquids or slurries, clean or dirty and light hydrocarbons to heavy acids with a specific gravity (SG) of 0.23 to 2.20.
Displacer transmitter technology works well in a variety of vessels including process & storage, bridles, bypass chambers, interfaces, sumps and pits up to unit pressure and temperature ratings. They can also handle most liquid conditions including varying dielectric, vapors, turbulence, foam, buildup, bubbling or boiling and high fill/empty rates.
Some of the specific industrial applications include:
Boiler control – The displacer unit provides a stable output signal for valve control on turbulent surface applications, such as feed water heaters, flash tanks, and reactors. 
Interface control on storage tanks – The displacers are tolerant of emulsions. They can track towards middle of emulsion, and are tolerant of unstable interface. They also ignore vapor/liquid interface point above displacer.
Mixing Tank – The displacer transmitter can also be used in harsh production environments like those in a mixing tank. It provides a stable output, easier to configure and is resistant to heavy surging caused by the mixer.
Water elevation – The displacer can be used to maintain a water elevation at a given height by sending out a proportional 3-15 PSIG signal (over a 14 ″ control band) to a control valve to maintain water level at midpoint by regulating the water flow rate out of the separator. The control valve is fully open at 15 PSIG input and fully closed at 3 PSIG input.
In Summary the advantages and limitations of Displacer transmitter include:
Advantages
  • Stable signal in turbulent applications
  • High Pressure/Temperature capabilities
  • No flexure of pressure boundary part

Limitations
  • Shifting SG can affect this technology

Some of the manufactures of Displacer level transmitters include:
Sources: Magnetrol
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