Taking fuel measurement to a new level

Fozmula launch new calibration-free, capacitance-type universal liquid level sensor for fuel tanks

UK-based sensor specialists Fozmula Ltd have unveiled a new universal liquid level sensor, the T/LL350, which can accurately detect levels in many different liquids, without the need for recalibration.

The T/LL350’s dual-probe design, which employs two different geometries of probe, allows the sensor’s electronics to recognize if a new and, therefore, different dielectric constant has been found in the media.

Effectively, this means that if a diesel engine fuel tank is filled with conventional diesel for one fill and then with biodiesel on the next fill, the T/LL350 will sense that biodiesel differs from ordinary diesel and recalibrate its output accordingly, correcting for the different value of the biodiesel’s dielectric constant.

With all other capacitance sensors, if they were originally calibrated for use in diesel then a subsequent fill of biodiesel would result in an incorrect output being sent to the PLC or engine-management system.

The T/LL350 sensor is available in lengths from 150mm to 2,000mm and offers an integral 1in BSPT thread or a five-hole SAE flange as the mounting options.

Housed in an IP67 enclosure, the sensor’s electronics feature over-voltage and reverse-polarity protection, and can be used to detect if an incorrect fuel has been used or if a sudden loss of fuel has been encountered, perhaps due to the fuel tank splitting or even fuel theft.

Output values from the sensor are in voltage, resistance or mA, and a user-definable alarm switch can be set at any point along the sensor stem.

Designed mainly for use in fuel tanks, the sensor is constructed from aluminium, PTFE and nitrile, allowing it to be used with a wide range of fuel types including diesel, biodiesel, kerosene and petrol.