Verification of liquid level in reaction vessels by using gamma-ray transmission techniques

A case study was conducted to verify the liquid levels in four reaction vessels by using gamma-ray transmission techniques. The study was carried out at a petrochemical plant in Kuantan. Under normal practice, the level of the liquid inside the vessels is determined by using the permanently installed nuclear level gauge (Cs-137) and Geiger-Muller survey meter. The problem arises when a known quantity of liquid is pump into the reaction vessels does not tally with the reading from these readings. In turn this condition makes the product off-specification and surplus of expensive chemical liquid that will increase the production cost. The gamma-ray transmission technique was introduced to determine the actual level inside the vessel. This technique also used to verify the existing data and to calibrate the plant permanently installed nuclear gauge(Cs-137). (Author)