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 : 100min
Sub-Topic : Ultrasonic Level Gauges
Teaching Aids : PPT, Diagrams

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 Objectives

Upon the completion of this topic you will be able

to know about

Ultrasonic level Detector

• Construction and working principle
• Advantages and disadvantages

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 What are Ultrasonic ?

• Ultrasonic is a term used in acoustics to denote the

frequencies which are beyond the range of human
hearing

• Ultrasonic waves are sound waves of frequencies above

about 20000c/s

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 Ultrasonic type of level detectors

• Radiation at different frequencies can be used for level

measurement which include
• Ultrasonic
• Radar (microwave)
• LASER (infrared light)
• Neutron and gamma radiation.

• These are used where other electrical methods would

not survive.
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Ultrasonic type of level detector

Fig : 1

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 Principle

• Sonic (9500 Hz) and ultrasonic level switches operate

either by the absorption of acoustic energy as it travels
from source to receiver or by the attenuation (frequency
change ) of a vibrating diaphragm face, oscillating at
35,000 to 40,000 Hz

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 Construction
• An Ultrasonic transmitter receiver is mounted on the
top of tank for measurement of level of either solids
or liquids

• The output from the transmitter receiver is connected

to appropriate electronic circuitry to the display
device

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 Working

• The acoustic wave sent by the source (transmitter-T)

is reflected at the interface and received by the
receiving crystal R

• As the level of the liquid changes the time taken by

the beam changes

• this time is a measure of the distance traveled by the

beam

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 Working…

• The time ‘t’ between transmitting and receiving a

pressure pulse is proportional to the distance between
the ultrasonic set and surface of the contents of the tank

• The time t is a measure of the level of liquid in the tank

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 Advantages

1. No physical contact with the process material

3. The absence of moving parts

5. The reliability of the reading is unaffected by changes

in the composition, density, moisture content, electrical
conductivity or dielectric constant of the process fluid

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 Disadvantages
• Ultrasonic level transmitter is just as good as the echo it
receives. The echo can be weak due to dispersion and
absorption. The energy content of the echo will be
further reduced if the bin is tall, if the vapor space is
dusty, or if it contains foam or other sound-absorbing
materials such as water vapors or mists

• The reflective properties of the process surface results

in errors in the output

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 Applications

• Wetted and non contacting switch and transmitter

applications for liquid level or interface and solids
level measurement

• Used as open-channel flow monitors

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 Summary

We have discussed about

Ultrasonic Type of level detectors

• Construction & Working

• Advantages and disadvantages

• Applications

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 Quiz

2. Ultrasonic are
a) Electromagnetic waves
b) Sound waves
c) Light waves
d) None of the above

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2) In the Ultrasonic level detector, the time
taken by the beam is a measure of
a) Distance traveled by the beam
b) Square of the distance traveled by the
beam
c) Cube of the distance traveled by the beam
d) None of the above

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2) In the Ultrasonic level detector, the detector
has

a) No physical contact with the liquid

b) Physical contact with the liquid
c) Sometimes has physical contact with the liquid
d) None of the above

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1) The Ultrasonic level detector is used for
detection of levels of

a) Liquids only
b) Solids only
c) Both solids and liquids
d) None of the above

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1) In the Ultrasonic level detector, the time
between transmitting and receiving a
pressure pulse is

a) Directly proportional to level of process material

b) Inversely proportional to level of process material
c) Independent of level of process material
d) None of the above

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 Frequently asked questions

2) Write the principle of operation of Ultrasonic level

detector

4) List the advantages & disadvantages of level

measurement using Ultrasonic level detector

6) Explain the working of a of Ultrasonic level detector

with a neat sketch

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