Single Chamber MGWR's headed to a gas processing plant in Ohio

Aug 24, 2023

3 min read

Updated: Aug 10

We have three Single Chamber Magnicator® with Guided Wave Radar (MGWR™) units headed to a gas processing facility here in Ohio. These MGWRs come equipped with hot insulation jackets, which cover the entire gage and include drawcords at each end for closure, with openings provided for gage process connections, indicator, and switches or transmitters.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/1bdacb_c431fb46ec744b7eb20862a5601b0bce/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

What MGWR Actually Combines

By combining Guided Wave Radar (GWR) with a Magnetic Level Gage, the Magnicator Guided Wave Radar brings a new standard of assurance to level indication. The MGWR seamlessly integrates two independent level technologies off a single set of process taps for true redundant measurement.

Why Two Technologies in One Unit

The Jerguson Magnicator side uses a wide indicator for superior level visibility and a unique magnet arrangement, so operators never have to worry about skipped or missed flags. The GWR transmitter obtains an entirely independent reading of the liquid level, providing accurate output even in the case of float failure. Critically, the GWR transmitter reads the true level of the fluid even when the density of the product varies - a limitation that affects purely float-based measurement, since float buoyancy depends on the specific gravity of the fluid it's calibrated for.

This means the two technologies cover for each other's respective weak points: if something affects the float's response, the GWR reading remains independently accurate, and vice versa. That's what "true redundant measurement" means in practice - not just two instruments in one housing, but two genuinely independent measurement principles backing each other up.

The Single Chamber Design

Rather than running the float and GWR probe in separate chambers, this design uses a slotted internal baffle plate to provide separate compartments for the float and GWR probe within a single chamber. This delivers several practical benefits:

Compact design minimizes space requirements and potential weight concerns compared to a dual-chamber arrangement
Reduced flashing and plugging effects - the baffle plate inherently reduces the impact of flashing or particulate buildup in heavy particulate media, since each compartment is partially isolated from turbulence affecting the other
Variety of custom arrangements available to match specific application requirements
True redundant level technologies maintained within the more compact single-chamber footprint

Why Hot Insulation Jackets Matter for This Order

The hot insulation jackets specified for this Ohio installation cover the entire gage assembly, closing with drawcords at each end while still providing access openings for process connections, the indicator, and switches or transmitters. This allows the unit to maintain thermal insulation for hot process service without sacrificing access to the components that need to be read, wired, or serviced.

Why This Matters for Gas Processing Applications

Gas processing facilities often handle fluids where density can vary with composition, temperature, or process conditions - exactly the scenario where GWR's density-independent reading provides a genuine advantage over float-only measurement. Combined with the redundancy of having two independent technologies confirm level from the same process taps, this configuration supports both accuracy and continued operation even if one measurement principle is affected by process conditions.

Applications

Single Chamber MGWR units are well suited for:

Gas Processing: Applications with variable product density or heavy particulate content
Oil & Gas: Separator and process vessel level monitoring requiring redundant measurement
Any Hot Process Application: Requiring thermal insulation without sacrificing instrument accessibility
Facilities Requiring True Redundancy: Rather than a single measurement technology with a backup indicator only