Not having the right tool for the job can be a major detriment. Level transmitters can sometimes be too large for the area they need to be used in. But at only 0.63 inches in diameter, the Microlevel from KELLER America is a fully media-isolated level transmitter built to easily install into 3/4-inch Schedule 40 pipes.
“Considering the high failure rate of other small-diameter instruments, many users were left with little recourse,” says John Wadley, marketing manager for KELLER America. “There simply wasn’t a submersible level transmitter that could fit within the same installation site and survive deployment where the other products had already failed. The Microlevel does.”
The Microlevel is media-isolated, meaning that the actual sensor will never come into contact with the water. This is significant because previous small-diameter transmitters only achieve temporary media isolation by covering the sensor with lithium or dielectric grease, which can only work until the grease dissipates, leaving the sensor directly exposed and therefore soon to fail, according to Wadley.
“We have used feedback to improve the Microlevel’s utility, including increasing pressure ranges for deeper wells, titanium construction for wells facing infiltration of saltwater, and drinking water certifications to ensure safe use in municipal water systems,” says Wadley.
The Microlevel, like all other KELLER submersibles, operates by measuring the hydrostatic pressure of the water. As such, it can be used in any standard liquid level measurement application. It is most often used in groundwater applications, especially those with narrow casings. With the new inclusion of titanium construction, the Microlevel is now capable of deployment in chemical or saltwater level measurement as well. According to Wadley, the product’s development was simply the next evolution of proven technology.
“For development, the short answer is that there wasn’t much in the way of research necessary. KELLER already manufactures small-diameter pressure transducers and already utilizes high-accuracy microprocessor-based conditioning electronics,” he says. “All that was needed was an application that required putting those two core KELLER competencies together. And while the development of an appropriately sensitive and accurate sensor brought challenges of its own, the real feat is the electronics, … recreating the compensation electronics in a form factor that could fit within the narrow housing while still incorporating our lightning protection. We feel we’ve been successful in both endeavors.” 877-253-5537; www.kelleramerica.com
