Measure distance in a steel pipe - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Davon322
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 01:40:21 pm
content: Hi Folks,I have a problem, I am trying to find the distance of a ball inside a steel pipe.see attached picture. currently using a piece of string with a ball on either end,manually checking the silos is an inconvenience and would like to remotely know the levelof the silo. radio side of this project isnt an issue.thanksDavon

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 02:19:11 pm
content: laser range finderbut it must hit a reflective surfacewell aligned in the pipe an a mirror at the other end worked for me for 30 ft 6 inch diameter pipe@davon322 i dont see any attached picture

author: Davon322
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 02:48:05 pm
content: sorry new to the forum3" diameter pipe 30ft silo

author: KrudyZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 03:33:02 pm
content: I would look into an ultrasound range finder right inside the tank.This would allow you to get rid of the pipe system altogether.

author: ice595
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 03:45:03 pm
content: is the liquid in the tank conductive? if so you can insert 2 conductive rods at a fixed distance from each other measure the resistance between them

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 04:47:01 pm
content: I second the ultrasound rangefinder. Looks like you already have an opening in the top of the tank, so no new penetrations would be required. It's a seasoned technology, nothing new to invent.Another option not yet mentioned is the fact that liquid in a tank generally results in a temperature difference in the wall of the tank, with a dividing line above and below the liquid's level. Some installations I've seen have instrumented this, and you could also literally view it with a handheld IR imager. The latter approach would require no installation and zero time to implement once the imager was purchased. Also no moving parts and zero maintenance. Resolution and accuracy would have some human factors but on a tank that large a few percent may be sufficient.

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 05:23:16 pm
content: Time of flight ultrasound distance measurement would be the cheapest option. A capacitive probe might also be an option but then again you could turn the empty space into a resonant tuned cavity and use RF probing techniques. Laser range finding is expensive, been there.

author: drussell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 05:52:04 pm
content: Quote from: Davon322 on March 20, 2020, 01:40:21 pmThere are many ways to measure the level of liquid in a container...eg. see:https://new.abb.com/products/measurement-products/level/a-dozen-ways-to-measure-fluid-levelThere are probably several companies with entire catalogs of options.Somewhere I have a big yellow Omega temperature measurement catalog from the '70s or 80s and I remember being absolutely flabbergasted as a kid seeing how many ways there were to measure the temperature of different things.Even Omega has some ultrasonic and radar sensor units:https://www.omega.ca/en/search?q=liquid+level%3Arelevance%3Acategories%3AUltrasonic%2BSensor%3Acategories%3ARadar%2BSensor&text=liquid+level&view=grid#

author: Etesla
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 07:54:05 pm
content: +1 for ultrasonic sensing the level. The el cheapo HC-SR04 modules are apparently good to about 13 feet. If you need a longer distance, just use some waterproof version like this one (https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1505.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw09HzBRDrARIsAG60GP8CsqIEr0OjmzZrEM71TjS52ZwkqvqRpGV2vUJCkJBODpeE10TqS4IaArukEALw_wcB) and stack them every 13 feet, and use some sort of float valve switch like mechanism to tell the controller which sensor to use for sensing.

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2020, 02:56:45 am
content: I’ve done this several ways: ultrasonic, fluid pressure at the bottom of the tank, radar, laser, and external sight glass with multiple optical or proximity sensors

author: rvalente
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2020, 11:24:28 am
content: Check these, Amazing product.https://www.burkert.com/en/products/sensors-transmitters-and-controllers/level/guided-radarAlso, check balluff bes003, used it a lot, works fine and its cheap