Industrial Application of Level Switches and Their Various Types

Level switches are devices that are used to detect the presence of liquids and other materials in tanks and silos. They are commonly used in food and beverage, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and water treatment industries. There are two main types of level switches: float-type and displacer-type. Float-type level switches use a buoyant object, such as a ball or bubble, to activate a switch when the liquid level reaches a certain point. Displacer-type level switches use a weighted object, such as a chain or cable, to activate a switch when the material level reaches a certain point. Level switches can be used to measure both high and low levels and monitor for leaks.

The different types of Level Switches in use today

Level switches detect the level of liquids or solids within a container. There are various types of level switches in use today, each with its unique advantages and disadvantages.

The most common type of level switches in use today

• Float switches consist of a float that is attached to an armoured cable. The float rises and falls with the level of the liquid, and this movement is used to trigger a switch. Float switches are simple and reliable, but they can become fouled by debris in the liquid.
• Ultrasonic level switches emit sound waves reflecting off the liquid’s surface. The time it takes for the sound waves to return to the sensor determines the level of the liquid. Ultrasonic level switches are very accurate, but they can be disrupted by air bubbles or foam on the surface of the liquid. 
• Conductivity level switches rely on the fact that most liquids are good conductors of electricity. An electrode is submerged in the liquid, and as the level of the liquid rises and falls, so does the conductivity between the electrode and a ground reference. Conductivity level switches are inexpensive and easy to install, but they only work with liquids that conduct electricity well. 
• Tuning fork type level switches A piezo-crystal assembly, typically, drives a two-pronged fork to oscillate at its inherent frequency in a tuning fork switch. Usually, a flange or threaded process connection is used to install the switch on the side or top of a tank such that the forks stick out into the tank.

These are just a few of the different types of level switches that are in use today. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, so choose the one that best meets your needs.

Kindly Contact Scientific Devices if you need to learn more about Level Switches.