Metritape

Industrial

Whether your application is an individual tank, a tank farm, a reservoir, or a river, our unique Metritape level sensor provides a reliable solution. This is because resistance-tape is remarkably different from other level sensors; in principle, appearance, and performance.

Metritape Simply Works

With more than 50,000 Metritape sensors installed worldwide, this simple, rugged technology is selected because of its many features and benefits:

No moving parts; nothing to wear out
High reliability; virtually maintenance free
Easy to install from tank-top; no need to empty tank
Not adversely affected by agitation, foam, vapors, or product build up
Calibration remains stable and drift free
Intrinsically safe for use in flammable liquids
Temperature detectors can be added to sensor

(Figure 1)

(Figure 2)

Resistance-Tape Operation Principle

The reason for Metritape’s success is its simple principle of operation and the high quality materials used in its construction. The sensor consists of a gold plated, stainless steel base strip, partially insulated from a gold plated wire that is wound around the base strip to form a helix (figure 1). This helix is sheathed in either Mylar or Hastelloy^™ to insulate the sensor’s inner elements from the liquid to be measured. Sliding the sheathed helix into a protective channel that leaves the front of the sensor exposed then completes the sensor. The sensor is generally contained within a still pipe suspended from the top of the tank. However, other mounting options are available. When the sensor is installed (figure 2), the outer envelope jacket (1) is compressed by the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid (2). This causes the gold wire winding to contact the gold plated base strip. The resulting change in the resistance of the gold wire (3) indicates the length of active helix and the distance from sensor top to liquid surface. The helix is wound at 4 turns per inch, 1000 ohms per meter (305 ohms per foot) resistance gradient providing ¼ inch resolution. Metritape sensors are easily installed from the tank top by dispensing the flexible sensor from its cardboard shipping reel into a customer supplied still pipe of PVC or Steel.

Metritape Product Selection

The Metritape product line includes Aquatape for water and wastewater, Petrotape for petroleum and fuel and Chemtape for chemicals and petrochemicals.

Aquatape

The Aquatape Level Gauge is a packaged system for monitoring levels in water and water-based non-corrosive materials…

Petrotape

The Petrotape Gauging System is a cost effective solution for monitoring above or below ground storage tanks that are at or…

Chemtape

The Chemtape Gauging System is a cost effective solution for monitoring above or below ground storage tanks that are at or…

Applications

Metritape is the solution for a wide range of level gauging applications, including:

Inventory Control
Distributed Data Collection and Telemetry
Process Tank Monitoring
Hydrology and Flood Control

Water and Wastewater

The Metritape level sensor is ideal for ponds, streams, tanks or sumps because of its high resolution, stable output and simple pipe mount installation. Since it has no moving parts and because specific gravity and viscosity do not adversely affect its output, Metritape is perfect for gauging raw sewage and sludge. Hundreds of municipalities and treatment plants use this reliable sensor in diverse applications including cooling ponds, digesters, groundwater, reservoirs, raw sewage, sludge pits, and wet wells.

Slurries and Viscous Liquids

Metritape has proven durability in the gauging of slurries and dense liquids. The sensor’s smooth, non-mechanical design resists buildup and is unaffected by agitation. Heavy ores, syrups, viscous muds and high viscosity oils do not hamper its operation. Applications include coal slurries, drilling mud, iron ore slurries, lime slurries and pulp and paper.

Chemicals

Organics, inorganics, solvents, toxic substances and chemical waste tanks have all been successfully gauged with resistance-tape level sensors. Applications include acetic acid, acetone, benzene, caustics, chromate, condensate, methanol, phenol, plating solutions, sulfuric acid, toluene and xylene.

Petroleum

The Metritape sensor’s outer sheath gives it a smooth, nonstick surface ideal for gauging waxy crudes and heavy oils. Its chemically inert surface is also ideal for gauging refined products. Up to three temperature detectors can be built into the Level / Temp model which carries full intrinsic safety approvals. Applications include avgas, bunker C, crude, diesel oil, fuel oil, gasoline, jet fuel and naptha.

The Metritape family also includes the LA sensor series for higher temperatures and pressures. Please consult the product selection chart to determine which Metritape sensor is right for your application.

Service	Sensor Type	Wetted Materials	Temperature Range	Level Range	Pressure Range
Water, Wastewater, Sewage	Aquatape	Polyester, Epoxy, Polypropylene, Stainless Steel	5° - 140°F (-15° to 60°C)	3 - 50 feet (1-15 M)	Atmospheric only
Crude Oil, Petroleum Products	Petrotape	Hastelloy C276, Nylon 12, Glass-filled Polypropylene	5° - 225°F (-15° to 107°C)	3 - 100 feet (1-30 M)	±2 PSI
Chemicals, Solvents	Chemtape	Hastelloy C276 or Polypropylene	Hastelloy: 5° - 225°F (-15° to 107°C)	3 - 100 feet (1-30 M)	±2 PSI
Water, Wastewater, Sewage	LA	Polyester, Epoxy, Glass-filled Polypropylene, Stainless Steel	5° - 158°F (-15° to 70°C)	3 - 100 feet (1-30 M)	±15 PSI (±1 atm)
Crude Oil, Petroleum Products	LA-HN	Hastelloy C276, Nylon 12	5° - 225°F (-15° to 107°C)	3 - 100 feet (1-30 M)	±15 PSI (±1 atm)
Chemicals, Solvents	LA-HP	Hastelloy C276, Polypropylene	5° - 225°F (-15° to 107°C)	3 - 100 feet (1-30 M)	±15 PSI (±1 atm)