5
PENBERTHY
SERIES U FLAT GLASS GAGES
INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS
7 MAINTENANCE
WARNING
Use only qualified, experienced personnel who
are familiar with liquid level gage equipment and
thoroughly understand the implications of the
tables and all the instructions. DO NOT proceed
with any maintenance unless the liquid level gage
has been relieved of all pressure or vacuum, has
been allowed to reach ambient temperature and
has been drained or purged of all fluids. Failure
to follow instructions can cause serious personal
injury and property damage.
The rate at which components degrade
is dependent upon a variety of conditions.
Pressure, temperature and process media all
influence the rate at which gage components
deteriorate. Higher temperatures can
accelerate the deterioration of gaskets,
cushions, glass and metals. Acids and similar
chemicals can break down the integrity
of almost any material. Concentration of
chemicals can accelerate the corrosion rate.
Emerson cannot create a blanket maintenance
schedule for every application.
The end user is the most familiar with the
process media and conditions and must
be responsible for creating a maintenance
schedule. The user must create maintenance
schedules, safety manuals and inspection
details for each liquid level gage. Realistic
maintenance schedules can only be determined
with full knowledge of the services and
application situations involved. These will
be based upon the user's own operating
experience with their specific application.
If bolting, gasketing or glass on any section of
a multi-section gage is disturbed, all sections
must be checked for integrity and retorqued or
repaired as necessary.
On all installations the following items should
be evaluated regularly by the user for purposes
of maintenance:
1. Glass, for cleanliness and signs of damage
or wear.
2. Gage, for signs of leakage around gaskets
or at connections.
3. Gage, for signs of internal or external
corrosion.
7.1 Maintenance procedures
Glass should be given regular and careful
attention. Keep glass clean using a commercial
glass cleaner and a soft cloth. Inspect the
surface of the glass for any clouding, etching or
scratching or physical damage such as bruises,
checks or corrosion. Glass that is damaged
is weakened and may break under pressure.
7.2 Troubleshooting
Problem: Glass becomes etched prematurely
or clouded in service.
Cause:
Fluid being handled is not
compatible with the glass.
Solution: Check application to determine
actual operating conditions and
contact an authorized Penberthy
distributor on how to proceed.
Problem: Glass breaks in service continually
despite careful attention
to maintenance procedures.
Cause:
Thermal shock, hydraulic shock,
mechanical loads, exceeding design
ratings or a combination of these.
Solution: Check entire system to determine
possible sources of loads. Check
application to determine actual
operating conditions and contact an
authorized Penberthy distributor on
how to proceed.
Shining a light at approximately a 45° angle
will aid in detecting some of these conditions.
Typically, damaged areas will glisten more
brightly than the surrounding glass because
the light is reflected.
Detection of any damage, problem areas or
surface wear is sufficient evidence to take
the liquid level gage out of service. DO NOT
proceed with operation of the liquid level gage
until the glass has been replaced with a glass
replacement kit following the disassembly -
reassembly instructions in Section 8.
Gasket leaks
must be repaired immediately.
DO NOT proceed with operation of a liquid
level gage until gaskets have been replaced by
following Section 8 disassembly-reassembly
instructions.
Connection leaks
at a flanged or threaded
connection should be corrected by tightening
the bolting at the connection or by taking the
liquid level gage out of service and wrapping
the connection threads with PTFE tape on all
male pipe threads.
Corrosion
may occur if the user has selected
an improper material for the liquid level gage
application. It is the responsibility of the user to
choose a material of construction compatible
with both the contained fluid and the
surrounding environment. If internal or external
corrosion is present, an investigation must be
performed immediately by the user. It may be
necessary to contact an authorized Penberthy
distributor to better determine the origin of the
corrosion.
