Combining 2 Trusted Level Technologies into a Single Solution - L10™ Liquid Level Gage with GWR

Sep 12, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Aug 10

Jerguson offers a single solution technology, combining our Jerguson® Series L10™ Liquid Level Gage with your preferred Guided Wave Radar (GWR).

The Problem: Surging and Boiling Fluids

Jerguson Large Chamber Liquid Level Gages are designed to give an accurate liquid level reading of liquids that have a tendency to surge or boil. Standard-size gage chambers struggle with these fluids in three specific ways:

Boiling effects of entrained gas being released under low pressure can create apparent level fluctuations that don't reflect the actual liquid level
Apparent level fluctuations occur in standard gages with small chambers when boiling or flashing vapors try to rise to the surface, disturbing the visible reading
Below-freezing operating temperatures combined with high ambient temperatures can cause the fluid temperature inside the gage to exceed the liquid's boiling point - in these applications, the gage must be equipped with non-frost extensions

The L10's large chamber design directly addresses these issues, giving operators a stable, accurate reading even with fluids that would cause a standard-size gage to show misleading fluctuation.

L10 Liquid Level Gage: Key Features

Recessed gasket seat in both chamber and cover
Tempered borosilicate glass conforming to BS3463, JIS B8211, and DIN 7081 - three separate international standards, reflecting global applicability
All parts listed in ASTM & ASME B31.3, the Process Piping Code
ABS Certified (American Bureau of Shipping), relevant for marine and offshore applications
Designed for fluids with low boiling points, including ammonia, propane, butane, methane, ethylene, LNG, and refrigerants

This combination of international glass standards, ASME/ASTM material compliance, and ABS certification reflects a gage engineered for genuinely demanding, often hazardous low-boiling-point service - not a general-purpose component adapted after the fact.

Guided Wave Radar: Dielectric-Based Level Measurement

Guided Wave Radar operates on a different physical principle than the L10's visual glass reading. An onboard electronic module sends low-power microwave pulses down the GWR probe, which are reflected by the process media. The time of flight for that reflection is measured to determine process level.

Why GWR Complements the L10:

Measurement independent of density, conductivity, dielectric constant, and temperature - unlike float-based or visual methods, GWR isn't thrown off by fluid property variation
Interface application models available - both total level and interface level can be provided with a single HART signal, useful for applications with layered or multi-phase fluids
Unaffected by foam or turbulent surfaces - directly relevant given the L10 was specified precisely because these fluids tend to surge and boil
Steam application compensation models available
Various GWR manufacturers available based on customer preference, rather than requiring a single proprietary transmitter brand

Why Combining These Two Technologies Makes Sense

The L10 addresses the visual, direct-reading requirement for genuinely difficult fluids - surging, boiling, low-boiling-point service where a standard gage chamber would give an unreliable reading. GWR adds a continuous electronic signal that's specifically unaffected by the same turbulent, foaming conditions that make these fluids challenging in the first place. Pairing them gives a facility both a reliable direct visual reading and a continuous electronic signal, from fluid service that's difficult for level measurement generally.

Applications

This combination is particularly valuable for:

LNG and Refrigerant Handling: Low-boiling-point fluids requiring stable, accurate level indication
Chemical Processing: Ammonia, propane, butane, ethylene, and similar volatile fluid storage and process vessels
Marine & Offshore: ABS-certified applications requiring both visual and electronic level confirmation
Any Application with Surging or Boiling Fluid Behavior: Where standard gage chambers produce misleading level fluctuations