DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name of the faculty : D Saritha
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : D.A.E.I.E
Institute : Govt Polytechnic, Kothagudem
Year/Semester : IV Semester
Subject : Process Instrumentation –II
Sub-Code : AEI-405
Topic : Level Measurement
Duration : 50min
Sub-Topic : Level Switches
Teaching Aids : Diagrams
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 Objectives

Upon the completion of this topic you would be

able to know about

• Types of level switches

• Construction and working principle

• Advantages and disadvantages

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 Recap

In last class we have discussed about

• Capacitive type level indicator

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 Level Switches

• Level switches are used to regulate the level of liquids

in tanks at desired point.

• The level switches are of various types.

Float level switches.
Displacer type of level switches.
conductivity and Field effect level switches.
Microwave level switches.

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 Principle of Operation

• In a float-type level sensor the buoyancy force holds the

float on the surface of the liquid.
• The float carries a member having a magnetic coupling
with a transduction element (coil, magnetic reed, or Hall-
effect switch)
• The element is mounted on the outside wall of the tank
• It can be actuated by the proximity of the float.

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 Principle of Operation…

• In some designs, the float mechanically links the

switching mechanism through the sealing in the wall
(e.g., bellows).
• The switching system can respond to the restraining
force
• The force is developed by a spring element
• The spring element is connected to the float or by an
actuator of a force-balance servo system.

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 Float Materials & Design

• Standard floats are normally

• spherical or cylindrical for top mounted design
• spherical or oblong for side mounted designs
• Spherical floats are available from 3 to 7 inches (76 to
178 mm) in diameter.
• The small diameter floats are used in higher density
materials
• Whereas the larger floats are used for liquid-liquid
interface detection

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 Materials…

Materials used are

• Brass
• Copper
• stainless steel
• Monel
• Polypropylene
• other plastics

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Magnetic float operated switch

Fig : 1
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 Construction

• Consists of a magnetic piston or sleeve carried by a float

• The piston moves in a non magnetic enclosure to which
a permanent magnet is attached.
• The magnet is attached to the crank lever which is spring
loaded which carries a mercury switch
• The mercury switch is used to start and stop a pump
motor for refilling the tank

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 Working

• When the level of the liquid is high enough, the

magnetic piston or sleeve moves into the field of a
permanent magnet

• The magnet is attracted towards the sleeve and it rests

against the enclosure tube

• When the level falls the sleeve moves down and after a
certain stage goes outside the field of the magnet .

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 Advantages

• Continuous level indication is possible

• Low cost

• Reliable

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 Disadvantages

• In some applications the size of the float is too large

• Cannot be used in dirty liquids as the moving parts are

exposed to the process

• Ferrous metal particles in the process can interfere with

proper switch operation

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 Summary

We have discussed about

• Level switches
• Construction & Working of Float operated level
switch
• Advantages and disadvantages

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 Quiz

2) Float operated level switches works on the

principle of

a) Electro magnetic effect

b) Photo electric effect
c) Buoyancy force
d) None of the above

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 Quiz

2) The material used for float in float operated

level switch is

 Silver
 Stainless steel
 Wood
 None of the above

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 Quiz

1) The float operated level switch cannot be used

for

a) Clear liquids
b) Corrosive liquids
c) Dirty liquids
d) Both Corrosive and Dirty

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 Frequently asked questions

2) Write the principle of operation of Magnetic Float

operated level switch
3) List the advantages & disadvantages of Float operated
level switch
4) Explain the working of a of Float operated level switch
with a neat sketch

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