Poor liquid level control reduces the effectiveness of advanced control systems. Decoupled control systems depend upon using liquid inventory changes to dynamically compensate for control disturbances while minimizing regulatory changes to the system. High liquid levels damage equipment. Liquid backing into reboiler return lines damages trays. Entering reboiler vapors push the liquid up the tower. Tray damage results. Damaged trays do not work.
Many different devices measure the vessel level. Choices include displacement floats, buoyancy floats, thermal measurements, thermocouple arrays, radiation methods, sight glasses with optical sensors, and differential pressure cells. Due to the low cost and wide applicability, differential pressure (DP) cells are the most common.
Control calculations use an assumed liquid density to determine
the liquid level inside the vessel. Obviously, if the lassumed
density is the same density as the liquid in the vessel, the reading
is accurate. Problems begin when the vessel boot density does
not equal the assumed density.
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