Moving Pressure Sensing Level Transmitter from Top to Bottom

A water storage vessel is elevated by a tower structure, to provide a natural source of water pressure to all points of use below:

Pressure Sensing Level Transmitter

A pressure-sensing level transmitter is presently located at the base of the vessel, at the top of the tower structure, to measure water level inside the vessel.

It has a calibrated range of 0 to 10 feet (0 to 120 inches W.C.). Unfortunately, the water inside the transmitter sometimes freezes in the winter months, preventing operation of the level measurement system.

The water inside the storage vessel and the large pipes never freezes, because there is enough circulation as a result of water usage to raise the temperature and prevent ice crystals from forming.

It is decided to move the transmitter to ground level, at the base of the tower, so that it may be located inside a small, heated shelter where it will never freeze.

By connecting the transmitter directly to the large water pipe carrying water from the vessel to the points of use, the hydrostatic pressure will still be measurable at this point:

Calculate the new calibration points (lower and upper range-values) for the transmitter in its new location.

Also calculate the water level in the vessel when the transmitter output is 13.7 mA, and the amount of hydrostatic pressure at that point in units of PSI.

Finally, identify whether the transmitter move resulted in a shift of its zero, a shift in its span, or both.

Answer:

Lower range-values: 100 feet W.C. input (1200 inches W.C.) = 4 mA output

Upper range-values: 110 feet W.C. input (1320 inches W.C.) = 20 mA output

Water level in vessel at 13.7 mA = 6.0625 feet ; applied pressure = 45.98 PSI

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Credits: Tony R. Kuphaldt