Specific gravity level gauge and method

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus which utilizes pipes of different lengths oriented vertically within the fluid of a reservoir which are constantly pressured with a gas source, normally air. Since the pipes are of different length, but the pressure is the same, a different back pressure will occur in the longer pipe as compared to the shorter pipe due to the differing head of fluid which must be displaced by the gas to slowly bubble out of the lower end of the pipes. This pressure differential is then read and the calculations applied, either from a table or constantly monitored through a computer, to measure the pressure differential and calculate the same in terms of specific gravity. Once the specific gravity is known, the back pressure on either the short pipe or the long pipe can be impairedly calibrated, or calculated by an equation having the specific gravity now known, and then determining from that the back pressure which will vary with the height of the fluid in the reservoir. The apparatus includes an enclosure, a dome-like plenum chamber, and pressure chambers which are connected directly to a short pipe and a long pipe. Bleed holes are provided at the top of the pressure chambers of the size of a hypodermic needle to constantly permit the gaseous fluid to flow from the plenum into the long and short tube, and pressure transducers are directly coupled to the pressure chambers to provide a constant read-out.