Level measurement in a container or well
Ensuring accurate level measurement is pivotal in various industries, from temporary water storage to permanent petrol tank installations. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into different sensor technologies, providing insights to aid in selecting the most suitable solution for your needs.
Different kinds of level sensors
Depending on the kind of liquid you want to measure, you have different sensor options.
- Corrosive liquids: titanium submersible level sensor, ultrasonic level sensor
- Non-corrosive liquids: stainless steel submersible level sensor, ultrasonic level sensor
Measuring water level in a container using an ultrasonic sensor
You could measure the water level with different techniques, one being an ultrasonic water level sensor. If you have enough space at the top, installing an ultrasonic sensor gets you water level measurements with an accuracy of up to 1 mm (0,04 inch). One of the most renowned sensor manufacturers is MaxBotix (US) with their low-power ultrasonic MaxSonar product line-up.
Using submersible level sensors for water level monitoring
Using pressure is another great idea if you have just limited space to install the sensor. You can either choose a submersible level sensor or just install a classic pressure sensor (like this pressure sensor from Honeywell) on the outside of a tank.
Submersible sensors are great because they require very little maintenance. Make sure however to choose a water level sensor that is suited for the liquid that is in the tank. The requirements for a diesel tank will be different from irrigation water. In the food business, or when you measure drinking water, make sure to ask for a proper certificate from the manufacturer. In many of these cases a titanium level sensor will be used.
Installing a pressure sensor on the outside of a tank will be cheaper in most cases, but of course your tank needs to have an opening on the bottom side in order for this to work.
Automatic data registration
To test the difference between the submersible level sensor and the ultrasonic distance sensor, we connected them to our sensor module (Reporter). Reporter is a versatile remote monitoring module with a connection to the cloud (Crodeon Dashboard). The system automatically logs its data, which means that we just had to download a csv file to get the graph below.
The graph above shows the data of this experiment over a period of three days and with an interval of one minute. The water level has been decreasing slowly in this period, as indicated in the graph.
In this test, we used the LMP307 from BD Sensors (DE) and the MB7389 from MaxBotix (US). Both sensors were connected to Reporter.
We installed these sensors in a container with a height of 200 cm, the pressure sensor on the bottom of the container and the ultrasonic sensor fixed on the upper side of the container pointing downwards.
The LMP307 from BD Sensors measures the distance between the bottom and the water surface while the MB7389 from MaxBotix measures the distance between the top of the container and the water surface.
Conclusion
Both sensors can be used to measure the level of the water in a container or well. Which level sensor is best suited for your project depends on two main factors:
- The first one is the environment you want to measure in and the type of liquid (corrosive or non-corrosive).
- The second factor is determined by the possibilities of installation.
The ultrasonic sensor needs quite some space while submersible sensors can be used in a 30mm pipe. The ultrasonic sensor is known to be sensitive to obstructions like dirt or spider webs. Submersible sensors are slightly less accurate.
Easy plug & play data logging
Reporter is customisable to fit your needs. It communicates with a vast variety of sensors through our sensor adapters (even the sensors that you already own). The sensor device also has the option to be powered through grid power supply, a small solar panel, or a DIN-rail module. Depending on the power you have at hand you can choose the option that best fits your needs.
Easily measure level of liquids, wherever you are
Empower your water management endeavors with precision. Explore our range of level monitoring solutions that will surely elevate your monitoring system's efficiency.
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