Patented Ballcheck Valve Eliminates Potential Commissioning Error

When using a ballcheck valve and commissioning a gauge assembly on a vessel containing liquid, a common mistake is to open the valve too quickly and engage the ball check. This will result in a false reading on the gauge. The 360 Series valve, from Jerguson, makes it impossible to get a false level reading during commissioning. The short video shows how the patented feature of the 360 simplifies commissioning by avoiding errors.

• Eliminate false level readings during commissioning
• Clean-out port enables internal inspection
• Handle clearly indicates open or closed position of valve
• Certifications for common applications
• Lock-out / tag-out capability is standard

More information on this and related level gauge products is available from product specialists. Share your challenges with application experts and develop an effective solution by leveraging your own knowledge and experience with their product application expertise.

Potential Application Problem Solved With Magnetic Level Indicator Design

Engineers, industrial process operators and stakeholders recognize the value and necessity of accurate and timely information from an operating process. Experience has shown that the environment and activities surrounding process installations and equipment can sometimes have a significant impact on the ability of measurement instrumentation continually gather and deliver accurate process data.

Concerns include:

• Weather - An element whose impact cannot be understated....or easily predicted.
• Physical Contact - Equipment and measurement devices must be protected from damaging impact.
• Security - Vandalism, cyber invasion, and other external threats are possible

Our task is generally to effectively manage the operation of whatever processes are in place. Our responsibility, as operators of machines and handlers of materials that can produce hazardous or life threatening conditions in the case of failure or error, is to foresee every reasonably probable event that could affect the safe and proper operation of our industrial processes and mitigate or prevent their impact.

One manufacturer has developed an innovative solution to a potential problem in the application of magnetic level indicators. The short video below describes the conditions which could potentially result in instrument failure, and the way in which the product design change successfully overcomes any adverse impact on process measurement. Invest less than three minutes of your time to watch the video and build your application knowledge by learning from the experience of others. Do not hesitate to contact a product application specialist for more detail, or to discuss your process measurement needs.

Safety Cover For Magnetic Level Gauges

Magnetic level gauges provide visual indication of vessel and tank liquid levels. Their application advantage lies in their high visibility, isolation of the indicator from measured media, and options flexibility that permits use in many environments. While armored gauges are available, there is another level of safety that can be added to almost any existing or newly installed gauge.

The video demonstrates the use and toughness of the SafeView™ shield from Jerguson. It accommodates the company's line of magnetic level gauges, as well as those of many other manufacturers.

Your process measurement and control challenges are best solved by working in concert with a product application specialist. The combination of your process knowledge and their product application expertise will develop an effective solution.

Armored Liquid Level Gauges With Specialty Indicators

Armored liquid level gauges provide protection from
mechanical stress and impact
Courtesy Jerguson / Clark Reliance

Sight glass liquid level gauges are a mainstay of fluid processing operations that store raw materials, intermediate, or final product in tanks and other vessels. Having a direct visual indication of fluid level at the tank enhances safety and provides the all important data point about what is happening inside the tank.

These level gauges are installed on the exterior of the tank, exposed to whatever environmental or operational hazards existing or occurring at the location. Armored level gauges are appropriately named because of their construction. They are designed to resist impact and mechanical stress, as well as a range or environmental conditions.

There are generally two versions of armored level gauges, reflex and transparent. The names refer to way in which light is handled by the gauge to reveal the liquid level. One manufacturer of armored level gauges and other level instruments, Clark-Reliance, provides a good description of the two gauge types. Their brand of armored level gauges is Jerguson, and I provide their description here of the two types (source)

Jerguson® Reflex Level Gauges are ideal for clean total level indication applications for refining, petrochemical and general use applications. The reflex prisms are molded and polished to provide a crisp black-silver bi-color indication of the fluid level. As light passes into the reflex glass, if there is fluid present, the light continues through the glass and reflects off the back of the level gauge, providing a black color for fluid level regardless of the actual color properties of the process fluid. If fluid is not present, the light is reflected off the glass back towards the user, providing a shiny silver or mirror-like appearance to indicate vapor space.

Cross section of reflex level gauge 

Jerguson® Transparent Level Gauges are selected for interface level indication, dirty service or any application that requires the use of a shield to protect the glass from corrosion. A transparent gage is also known as a “thru-vision” gauge since the gauge is constructed with two pieces of flat polished glass assembled on opposite sides of the level gauge chamber. Since the user can see straight through the gauge, it is also easy to view the fluid properties, such as color, whereas this would not be possible with a reflex gauge. The use of an illuminator is always recommended on a transparent gauge.

Cross section of transparent level gauge

Selecting an armored level gauge is an exercise in preparing for known and unknown events that might disable your ability to directly read fluid level. Armored level gauges are employed extensively in chemical, petrochemical, and other industries where reliability under challenging conditions is essential. Wherever there are mechanical hazards, an armored level gauge may ultimately prove to be cheap insurance against downtime or delay.

Share your level measurement challenges with a product application specialist. Combine their product expertise with your process knowledge to produce an effective solution. Below is a data sheet for one of several series of Jerguson armored level gauges, so you can explore more detail. Contact the product application specialists for more information about larger sizes, higher vessel operating pressures, and optional configurations that will best suit your application.

Jerguson armored liquid level gage series 300 l from CTi Controltech

Proper Way To Commission Jerguson Level Gage With Ballcheck Valves

A significant part of industrial process control is the proper commissioning and maintenance of the various physical components of the process. Doing things right, following proper procedures, is essential to establishing the proper equipment or instrument operating condition.

Level gauges with ballcheck valves are fairly common throughout industries that employ liquid storage tanks. The video below is produced by Jerguson, a recognized manufacturer of level gages, switches, and transmitters. Though it is specific for the manufacturer's product, seeing the interior workings of the valve and learning not only the proper procedure, but why the procedure is important, is useful knowledge for all stakeholders.

Product application specialists can provide additional information and help you meet your level gage challenges.

Vibrating Tuning Fork Level Switches - Classical Tech With Modern Application

Vibrating Tuning Fork Level Switch
Courtesy Clark Reliance - Jerguson

Tuning forks,when combined with appropriate electronics, can be used in the industrial process control field as liquid level switches. This simple, all solid state device can be a cost effective solution to wide ranging requirements for single point level detection.

This type of level switch is designed using the principles of a tuning fork.  Piezo-electric crystals induce fork oscillation at a fundamental frequency.  Employed as a high level indicator or alarm, the forks vibrate in air until the liquid level rises and covers the forks. The liquid measurably dampens the fork vibration frequency when it covers the sensor. The level switch electronics detect the frequency shift and change the state of a relay to provide an indication of the change. A variety of output options can provide on/off load switching or a direct interface with a PLC. Use the level detectors as high or low level switches with proper configuration. 

A primary advantage of the vibrating tuning fork level switch is its all solid state design. There are no floats or other mechanical linkages. It is also generally unaffected by flow, bubbles, foam, vibration, or solids content. They can also be installed in any orientation. Variants are available for special installations that may require hygienic fittings or explosion proof housings.

Explore these level switches for your applications. Share you requirements with a product specialist and attain the best solution.

Vibrating Tuning Fork Level Switch from CTi Controltech

Innovative Magnetic Level Gauge Provides Accurate Indication Under Adverse Conditions

Magnetic Level Gauge on Tank
Courtesy Jerguson

We, as engineers, industrial process operators and stakeholders, recognize the necessity and value of a continuous stream of accurate and timely information about our processes. Our experience has also taught us that the environment and activities surrounding our installations can have a significant impact upon our ability to continually gather accurate process measurements. Some of our concerns include:

• Weather - An element whose impact cannot be understated....or easily predicted.
• Physical Contact - Equipment and measurement devices must be protected from damaging impact.
• Security - Vandalism, cyber invasion, and other external threats are possible

Our responsibility, as operators of machines and handlers of materials that can produce hazardous or life threatening conditions in the case of failure or error, is to foresee every reasonably probable event that could adversely impact the safe and proper operation of our industrial processes.

One manufacturer has developed an innovative solution to a potential problem in the application of magnetic level controls.

The short video below outlines the source of the potential failure and the way in which the product design change successfully overcomes a potentially adverse impact on process measurement. Invest less than three minutes of your time to watch the video and build your application knowledge by learning from the experience of others. Do not hesitate to contact a product application specialist for more detail, or to discuss your process measurement needs.

Commissioning a Jerguson Glass Level Gage with Safety Ball Check Valves

Here is a how-to video, courtesy of Clark-Reliance/Jerguson on starting up a glass level gage (gauge) with safety ball check valves.