adccommunitymod (AutomationDirect) asked a question.
Created Date: March 20,2017
Created By: jrbe
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Hi, I used a click PLC to automate my RO system (C0-11DRE-D) along with a 0-10v add on module (C0-04AD-2.) I will be adding a HMI (EA3-T6CL) soon to display different info of the water system. I'd like to add heating oil level info to the screen. My question is how to measure the oil level in a 275 gallon home heating oil tank? I was considering an ultrasonic level sensor (DX10-00) but i'm not sure how it will respond to the oval shape of the tank as it gets low (and its pricey.) There are screw in type pressure senders, but there is normally some crud in the bottom of oil tanks. I'd fully expect to have a gummed up sensor at some point. There are submersible pressure sensors that are supposed to be ok in oil. I'm finding $500 versions or $50 ebay sensors that look like they would maybe work for an hour. I'm not sure if sludge would effect the values but would plug up the small hole types. The materials of the wire jacket and seals of the sensor have to be ok with home heating oil. Any ideas on how to do it reliably without spending a bunch of $?
Created Date: March 20,2017
Created by: jrbe
Hi,
I used a click PLC to automate my RO system (C0-11DRE-D) along with a 0-10v add on module (C0-04AD-2.) I will be adding a HMI (EA3-T6CL) soon to display different info of the water system.
I'd like to add heating oil level info to the screen. My question is how to measure the oil level in a 275 gallon home heating oil tank? I was considering an ultrasonic level sensor (DX10-00) but i'm not sure how it will respond to the oval shape of the tank as it gets low (and its pricey.) There are screw in type pressure senders, but there is normally some crud in the bottom of oil tanks. I'd fully expect to have a gummed up sensor at some point. There are submersible pressure sensors that are supposed to be ok in oil. I'm finding $500 versions or $50 ebay sensors that look like they would maybe work for an hour. I'm not sure if sludge would effect the values but would plug up the small hole types. The materials of the wire jacket and seals of the sensor have to be ok with home heating oil.
Any ideas on how to do it reliably without spending a bunch of $?
Created Date: March 20,2017
Created by: dd33
I use a lot of the DL10 ultrasonic sensors and find them to be quite reliable, most are used to monitor water level but some are used to monitor diesel fuel.
The oval tank shape shouldn't be a problem but you do need to have a 1 " threaded hole in the top of the tank. If the tank can be filled to the very very top you will need to elevate the sensor in a pipe fitting so that the bottom of the sensor is about 2 " from the highest point the oil could possibly reach. If you wind up elevating the sensor you will need a larger threaded hole in the tank, at least 2 "npt.
Created Date: March 25,2017
Created by: jrbe
That's the direction I was looking. I should just suck it up and get the right thing.
Since asking the original post my water tank level sensor has had an issue. I used a 0-5 psi sender to monitor water level in my tall 300 gallon RO water tank. It has drifted ~.2v or about 10 " (reads lower than actual tank level now, water level hit my safety float while filling and plc turned it off seeing that.) I'm guessing pressure surges distorted the sensing element. That pressure sensor was ~$100 (TE connectivity pressure sensor iirc.) Thinking I probably wasted $100 there in the long run too. Guessing I'll end up ultrasonic there too. I'll be keeping an eye on it.
Good to hear you 've used a bunch of those ultrasonic sensors and they seem reliable.
Thanks for the info.