If you would like to measure the degree of a liquid easily and reliably, a lot of people can do this using hydrostatic pressure measurement, e.g. with a submersible pressure transmitter or perhaps a so called level probe. The characteristic submersed application implicates a maximum exposure to the surrounding, mainly water-based medium, respectively to ?moisture?.
Exposure is not only limited to the wetted parts of the pressure sensor housing, but also to the entire immersed amount of the cable. Furthermore, outside the directly immersed level probe parts, the cable, and in particular the cable end, are often exposed to moisture as a result of splash water, rain and condensation. That is true not merely during operation, but a lot more during installation and commissioning, or when maintenance or retrofitting is necessary. Irrespective of the prospective application, whether in water and wastewater treatment or in tank monitoring, moisture ingress into the cable ends of the submersible pressure transmitter can occur early and irreversibly with insufficient protection measures, and, in virtually all cases, lead to premature failure of the instrument.
The ingress of moisture in to the cable outlet and from there on downwards into the electronics of the particular level probe must be actively eliminated by preventive actions by an individual. To measure the level with highest accuracy, the varying ambient pressure above the liquid media, that is also ?resting? on the liquid, must be compensated contrary to the hydrostatic pressure functioning on the pressure sensor (see article: hydrostatic level measurement).
Ventilation tube
Thus, it really is logical that there is a constant threat of a moisture-related failure because of moisture ingress (both via the ventilation tube and through the actual cable itself) if there are no adequate precautionary measures. To compensate the ambient pressure ?resting? on เกจวัดแรงดัน4บาร์ , a ventilation tube runs from the sensor element within the particular level probe, through the cable and out of the level probe by the end of the cable. Due to capillary action within the ventialation tube used for ambient pressure compensation, moisture can be transported from the encompassing ambience down to the sensor.
Thus not merely air, but also moisture penetrates into the tube, hence the sensor in the probe and the electronics around it really is irreparably damaged. This may lead to measurement errors and, in the worst case, even to failure of the level probe. To prevent any premature failure, the ingress of moisture into the ventilation tube must be completely prevented. Additional protection against moisture penetration through the ventilation tube is provided by fitting an air-permeable, but water-impermeable filter element by the end of the vent tube.
bare wires
Never to be ignored is also the transport of the liquid through high-humidity loads across the only limitedly protected internals of the cable, e.g. across the wires, all the way right down to the submersible pressure transmitter. As a respected manufacturer, WIKA uses appropriate structural design to avoid fluid transport, so far as possible, in to the electronics of the submersible pressure transmitter. Due to molecular diffusion and capillary effects, a guaranteed one-hundred percent protection on the full duration of the submersible pressure transmitter, however, is never achievable.
It is therefore recommended that the cable is definitely terminated in a waterproof junction box with the appropriate IP protection (e.g. IP65) that is matched to the installation location. If this cable junction box is subjected to weather and varying temperature conditions, it is also recommended to pay attention to a controlled pressure equalisation to be able to avoid the formation of condensation or perspiration water and pumping effects. To handle this technical requirement, as an accessory to a submersible pressure transmitter, you’ll be able to order a link box with an integrated air-permeable, water-impermeable membrane.
Ultimately, moisture ingress can occur not only through the exposed end of the cable, but also through mechanical damage to the cable sheath or as a result of liquid diffusion because of improper chemical resistance of the cable material. In this article ?Selection criteria for preventing moisture-related failures of submersible pressure transmitters or level probes? this failure mode is described at length.
WIKA offers comprehensive solutions for your hydrostatic-pressure level measurement. For further assistance in selecting the submersible pressure transmitter most suitable for the application, please use our contact form.
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