Capacitive liquid level sensor is intelligent

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 11, 2006

Fozmula has announced the availability of a new type of intelligent capacitive liquid level sensor (the T/LL130) which will build upon the success of its existing T/LL100 range

Unlike the T/LL100 the T/LL130 can be 'programmed' to incorporate user selectable switching at any level and recalibrated 'by a push of a button' to enable it to work in a wide range of different fluid types - oil, diesel, water, water based solutions.

The T/LL130 achieves this level of intelligence because it incorporates a state of the art PCB which can be factory programmed to meet a wide variety of application requirements.

At the simplest level it can be programmed to operate in exactly the same way as the T/LL100, but for more complex situations it can become an intelligent sensor for an on board data network or an electronic engine management system.

For over 10 years, Fozmula has been producing capacitive sensors which have traditionally been used extensively by in the manufacture of electricity generating sets and compressors, because the sensors have no moving parts to clog up or break down especially when used in extreme conditions.

However, the lack of an easy method of re-calibration when the same device is deployed for use with different types of liquid has somewhat limited their application.

Even diesel fuel of different types (eg mineral and bio diesel) and from different supply sources can result in widely different gauge measurement for the same levels of liquid, making some form of easy recalibration essential.

With the T/LL130 this is no longer a limitation because of the addition of a re-calibration feature which enables the same device to be used for level measurement in oil and diesel fuels or water.

This re-calibration together with the other advanced product features help to put the T/LL130 in a class of its own for liquid level measurement.

Chris Hands, Fozmula's Head of Engineering with responsibility for new product development, said.

"The T/LL130 series of sensors is the first of a new range of capacitive sensors which will break the mould of capacitive sensors in the market so far".

"Our ability to incorporate greater intelligence into our sensor will enable us to introduce facilities such as true auto calibration and will also enable us to produce solid state sensors which can be easily calibrated for tanks of different shapes and sizes".

"This latter requirement is becoming an increasing challenge for manufacturers trying to make the best use of available space in the products they are developing by making their fuel tanks in more flexible materials and more bizarre shapes and sizes".

Fozmula released the T/LL130 in October and it is now being delivered to customers as a direct replacement for the T/LL100 in all existing applications.

Also many new applications are now currently being developed with existing and new customers in sectors such as construction, agricultural vehicles, utility vehicles and the marine industry.