Level Measurement in Steam Drums

A steam drum is a standard feature of a water tube boiler. The drum stores high pressure steam generated in water tubes and acts as a phase separator for the steam/water mixture. Saturated steam is drawn off the top of the drum. Inaccurate drum level control can cause damage to the steam drum, boiler, and turbine. If the drum level falls below the set point, the boiler may run dry and explode. If the level is higher than the set point, wet steam may be carried over to the turbine, which can damage turbine blades, creating a hazardous situation. Redundant level measurements are required to ensure safety and reduce damage to equipment. A challenge of this application is the dielectric change in the steam, which requires compensation for the guided wave radar. This can be done automatically and in real time with Dynamic Vapor Compensation (DVC) functionality. The recommended choice is the Rosemount™ 5300 Level Transmitter.