Patent ID: 6668625
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: G01F,G01N

Abstract:
A method of determining the level of settled particles in a vessel containing a volume of liquid defining a liquid level and a volume of particles settled in the liquid and defining a submerged level of settled particles, comprising the steps of:fluidizing particles above a sensed position, said sensed position below the submerged level; measuring a fluidized static pressure of the liquid after the particles are fluidized; correlating the fluidized static pressure to a pre-established relationship between level of settled particles and fluidized static pressure to determine the level of settled particles; wherein the step of fluidizing the particles is further defined in that fluid from said vessel above said submerged level is forced into said vessel below said submerged level to fluidize said particles; and wherein said step of fluidizing the particles is further defined in that fluid from said vessel is recirculated by pumping fluid away from a position of said vessel remote from said sensed position to an inlet position below said sensed position.