Method and apparatus for detecting the internal liquid level in a vessel

Abstract

A system for detecting the level of a liquid in a vessel, comprises a detector assembly including a thermally conductive substrate supported within the vessel. One or more heaters are mounted on the substrate within the vessel. One or more temperature sensors, each associated with a respective heater, are mounted on the substrate. The sensor(s) may be actuated to generate an electrical signal defining a temperature signal indicative of the detected temperature. A processor is electrically connected to the sensor(s) for receiving the temperature signal(s) after actuation of the associated heater(s). The processor is programmed to calculate a “temperature index” proportional to the temperature signal(s). The temperature index(s) indicates the temperature increase detected by the sensor(s) resulting from actuation of the heater(s). This, in turn, indicates the presence of liquid or vapor adjacent to the sensor(s). The processor is programmed further to compare the temperature index(s) to a “reference” and to generate an electrical signal(s) defining an elevation signal indicative of the presence of liquid or vapor. The processor is electrically connected to an interface for communicating to a user the elevation of the upper surface of the liquid in the vessel. The aforementioned system is operated according to a method for detecting the level of liquid in the vessel.