UNIVERSITI KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL & BIOENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

CLD 20202

PROCESS INSTRUMENTATION
BACHELOR OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY

EXPERIMENT 3
Density Measurement & Calibration Systems

SEMESTER
January 2013

Experiment 3: Density Measurement & Calibration Systems

EXPERIMENT 3
DENSITY MEASUREMENT & CALIBRATION SYSTEMS

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate and study the measurement of density using the differential pressure /
level transmitter

To check the calibration using the following; a hand pump (AMETEK MODEL
T730), DP calibrator (Digital Manometer) (AMETEK JOFRA MODEL AMC900),
Pressure Module (AMETEK MODEL APM015PGSG), Multimeter (GW GDM 391A)
and Hand Held Terminal (Model ABB 691HT)

1. INTRODUCTION
The plant model DMC200 is a scaled-down real industrial process built on a 5ft x 5ft steel
platform with its own dedicated control panel.
The process equipment and instrumentation are real industrial process type. The plant is
constructed in accordance to industrial process plant standards and practices with fail-safe
features. The process flowrates are at commercial production flowrates using pipes and not
tubings.

2.2 Start-up Procedures

1. Fill up the water in tank T2 to marked level. Make sure its drain valve is fully shut.
2. Switch ON the main power supply.
3. Make sure the heaters and pump are OFF.
4. Fully open pump suction valve and all pump discharge valve.
5. Open one turn pump by-pass valve (BV) before starting the pump. After pump start
up, close fully BV.
6. Set air supply 30 psig from AFR.
7. At tank T1, make sure its top vent (V) and overflow valve are fully open. Make sure
bottom globe valve is fully open and gate valve is fully close.
8. Locate the air inlet manual isolation valve is 90 to the air supply inlet tubing.

Experiment 3: Density Measurement & Calibration Systems

9. If the water level is below the preset low level, top up some more water into tank T2
form external water supply.

2.3 Experiment 1: Density Measurement (Water, Heater OFF)

1. Perform start-up procedures.

2. Start the pump and stirrer by turning clockwise the knob.
3. Observe the level in tank T1 rise until overflow. Let the water circulate throughout
tank T1 and the Tank T2.
4. Shut the manual discharge globe valve at the tank T1.
5. Stop the pump and stirrer.
6. RUN 1:
a) Let the water in tank T2 to stabilize, read the Specific Gravity of water in tank T2
using the hydrometer.
b) Take three consecutive (3) set of readings from density indicator (DI) and actual
temperature in tank T1 from temperature gauge (TG).
c) Record the data
7. RUN 2:
a)
b)
c)
d)

Set tank T1 to close tank (top space of tank T1 is pressurized).

Shut fully the overflow valve and vent.
Shut fully the bottom gate and globe valve.
Let air flow into top space of tank T1 by turning the air inlet manual isolation
valve.
e) Take three consecutive (3) set of readings from density indicator (DI) and actual
temperature in tank T1 from temperature gauge.
f) Record the data
8. Set tank T1 back to open tank.
a) Shut the air inlet manual isolation valve.
b) Open fully the overflow valve and vent (V).

2.4 Experiment 2: Density Measurement (Water, Heater ON)

1. Perform start-up procedures.

2. Start the pump and stirrer by turning clockwise the knob.

Experiment 3: Density Measurement & Calibration Systems

3. Observe the level in tank T1 rise until overflow.

4. Switch ON the heaters.
5. Let the water circulate throughout tank T1 and the Tank T2 until it reaches around
50C.
6. Shut the manual discharge globe valve at the tank T1.
7. Switch OFF the heaters.
8. Stop the pump and stirrer.
9. RUN 1:
a) Let the water in tank T2 to stabilize, read the Specific Gravity of water in tank T2
using the hydrometer.
b) Take three consecutive (3) set of readings from density indicator (DI) and actual
temperature in tank T1 from temperature gauge (TG).
c) Record the data
10. RUN 2:
a)
b)
c)
d)

Set tank T1 to close tank (top space of tank T1 is pressurized).

Shut fully the overflow valve and vent.
Shut fully the bottom gate and globe valve.
Let air flow into top space of tank T1 by turning the air inlet manual isolation
valve.
e) Take three consecutive (3) set of readings from density indicator (DI) and actual
temperature in tank T1 from temperature gauge.
f) Record the data
11. Set tank T1 back to open tank.
a) Shut the air inlet manual isolation valve.
b) Open fully the overflow valve and vent (V).
12. Drain out all the water in tank T1 by opening the manual discharge valve.
13. Before continuing with the next experiment, cool down the heater elements in tank
T2.
a) Open the manual drain valve of tank T2 to drain out all its water.
b) Open external water supply valve to add more fresh water into tank T2.
c) When the temperature at TIC reads around 35C, shut the external water supply
valve.
d) Let the water inside tank T2 to drain out.

Experiment 3: Density Measurement & Calibration Systems

2.5 Plant Shut-down

1. Make sure heaters and pump are switched OFF.
2. Turn OFF the stirrer.
3. Make sure air inlet isolation valve is 90 to the air supply inlet tubing.
4. Fully open top vent and overflow valve.
5. Drain out all water in tank T2 by opening manual drain valve.
6. Switch OFF the main power.

3. RESULTS

3.1 TABLE 1: Density Measurement (Water, Heater OFF)

Specific Gravity (SG) read from hydrometer: __________

RUN I: OPEN TANK

A
Temperature (TG), C
B
Actual density (DI), kg/m3
C
Density from table, kg/m3
D
Deviation B from C, kg/m3
E
Calculated Specific Gravity
F
Deviation E with hydrometer

SET 1

SET 2

AVERAGE

RUN II: CLOSE TANK

A
Temperature (TG), C
B
Actual density (DI), kg/m3
C
Density from table, kg/m3
D
Deviation B from C, kg/m3
E
Calculated Specific Gravity
F
Deviation E with hydrometer

SET 1

SET 2

AVERAGE

REMARKS:
A: Read from the Temperature Gauge (TG)
B: Read from the Digital Density Indicator (DI). Take average value for further calculation.
C: Read from the Table 2-28, Perry VII at temperature TG
D: Calculate from equation deviation = (C-B)
E: Calculate from equation

Experiment 3: Density Measurement & Calibration Systems

SG

w at opearting temperatur e TG
w at reference temperatur e 4C

F: Calculate from equation deviation = (E-hydrometer)

3.2 TABLE 2: Density Measurement (Water, Heater ON)

Specific Gravity (SG) read from hydrometer: __________
RUN I: OPEN TANK
A
Temperature (TG), C
B
Actual density (DI), kg/m3
C
Density from table, kg/m3
D
Deviation B from C, kg/m3
E
Calculated Specific Gravity
F
Deviation E with hydrometer

SET 1

SET 2

AVERAGE

RUN II: CLOSE TANK

A
Temperature (TG), C
B
Actual density (DI), kg/m3
C
Density from table, kg/m3
D
Deviation B from C, kg/m3
E
Calculated Specific Gravity
F
Deviation E with hydrometer

SET 1

SET 2

AVERAGE

REMARKS:
A: Read from the Temperature Gauge (TG)
B: Read from the Digital Density Indicator (DI). Take average value for further calculation.
C: Read from the Table 2-28, Perry VII at temperature TG
D: Calculate from equation deviation = (C-B)
E: Calculate from equation
SG

w at opearting temperatur e TG
w at reference temperatur e 4C

F: Calculate from equation deviation = (E-hydrometer)

Experiment 3: Density Measurement & Calibration Systems

4. TUTORIALS
1. Define Density. What are its S.I. Units?
2. Name other units for Density.
3. Define Specific Gravity of liquid.
4. Is density of liquid is constant?
5. How does a hydrometer measure density?
6. How does hydrostatic pressure relate to density?
7. What are the densities measuring instruments used in this plant?
8. Name some other density measurement method, besides the differential pressure
method shown
9. The site calibration is carried out in this experiment. Is the calibration of pressure
transmitter necessary?
10. Discuss briefly the possible errors affecting the accuracy in pressure/density
measurement as observed in the experiment.

REFERENCE
1. Experiment Manual DMC 200. QDR Marketing Sdn Bhd

Experiment 3: Density Measurement & Calibration Systems

Experiment 3: Density Measurement & Calibration Systems