Level measurement and verification – Systems for solids

Bulk solids level measurement is ubiquitous in many industrial sectors as diverse as food, chemicals, energy and raw materials. Its complexity stems from the diversity of conditions of use, the physico-chemical properties of the products to be measured, and safety and, where applicable, legislative constraints (legal metrology for commercial transactions). Level measurement is used in automation management (process engineering), monitoring (storage of explosive powders, triggering of alarms) and analysis of physico-chemical data during measurement campaigns. In a first article [R 2 010] "Level measurement and control – Introduction", the basic concepts required to understand level measurement were presented. Certain methods can be applied to the measurement of levels of liquids as well as solids; these are introduced in the article [R 2 011] "Level measurement and control – Systems for liquids or solids". Methods specific to liquid levels are presented in article [R 2 012] "Level measurement and control – Systems specific to liquids". Methods which apply only to solid levels are mentioned in this article.

Comparative tables listing all the techniques presented in the other four articles can be found at [R 2 014] . They provide a useful tool for selecting the most appropriate method(s) for each particular case.