IF YOU plan on setting up a water treatment and distribution facility, chances are you will have to employ pressure sensors, including submersible pressure transmitters as part of your technology. Water treatment and distribution facilities involve a lot of boreholes, wells, shafts, lifts, pumping stations, storage tanks etc. At one moment or the other, you may want to know the level of liquid in these structures. That’s where a submersible pressure transmitter comes in handy.
What’s a submersible pressure transmitter?
Basically, a submersible pressure transmitter is exactly what its name says it is, a type of pressure sensor inserted directly in the fluid to be measured, usually liquids, to get hydrostatic pressure measurements. Basically, hydrostatic pressure is the pressure due to the weight of the liquid at rest and it helps estimate the height of the liquid in a tank, well, reservoir etc.
Submersible pressure transmitters are also called level probes and are typically heavy-duty steel constructions with flush diaphragm and leak tightness to prevent cross-contamination and clogging by the solids in the liquid being measured.
How does a submersible pressure transmitter work?
Parts of a submersible pressure sensor include the measuring cell and electronics which are housed inside a case featuring a cable inlet through which a connection cable runs. The connection cable features a signal line and venting capillary. The latter allows the transmitter to measure pressure within the static fluid relative to the surrounding pressure.
Basically, the device is immersed directly in the liquid allowing it to settle as close to the bottom as possible and take hydrostatic measurement from this point. The hydrostatic reading is then converted into an industrial signal for use in various protocols.
The electronic components in submersible pressure transmitters work just like those in standard pressure sensors utilizing piezoresistive effect to generate electrical signals corresponding to the pressure being applied by the liquid. However, unlike standard pressure transducers, submersible pressure transmitters feature built-in protection against overvoltage and effects of lightning strikes.
Moreover, as mentioned, the casing is typically corrosion-resistant steel and the cable inlet is hermetically sealed to prevent leaks and also keep out solids which would otherwise clog the device’s pressure port.
Care is also paramount when selecting material for the cable. You want cable material that will provide max opposition while also resisting penetration by the liquid to be measured. Ultimately, a lot goes into the submersible pressure transmitter construction process to ensure the device is suitable for the intended application.
Benefits of submersible pressure transmitters
Submersible pressure transmitters have various applications in liquid transportation and storage operations. They are used in liquid pumping stations and sewage lifts to generate a scaled electrostatic signal which lets the control unit atop a tank know when to turn pumps on or off so the tank can empty or fill accordingly. This eliminates the human element from the operation, reducing costs and errors.
In other cases, the scaled industrial signal can simply help determine the level of liquid in lakes, and reservoirs for recording and planning purposes. This is important for monitoring and controlling the level of water in these structures. For water distributors, it helps know when water sources and reservoirs are about to run dry so you can plan for alternatives.
Monitoring liquid levels in tanks, lakes, rivers, dams and basins is also important for generating alerts in case of overflows and floods during seasons of significant rainfall. Local residents need these alerts to know when to execute safety measures, protect properties and evacuate before disasters strike.
To cap it, submersible pressure transmitters, otherwise known as level probes have myriads of applications in water transportation and storage systems as well as gas and oil exploration. They generate readings of hydrostatic pressure which can be used to estimate liquid levels, monitor for overfilling and dry-running and determine when to activate or deactivate pumps. That’s why we are committed to ensuring you get top-notch submersible pressure transmitting products. We have been providing pressure sensors to clients in different industries worldwide for over 50 years now. Our designs meet ODM and OEM standards and we also work with custom specifications. Feel free to let us know what you have in mind and we’ll be happy to design it for you.
