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Portalevel® IS

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Hazardous Zone Approved Ultrasonic Liquid Level Indicator with Advanced Calibration Features.

The Portalevel® INTRINSICALLY SAFE is an ultrasonic liquid level indicator approved for Zone 1 and Zone 2 ATEX and IECEx hazardous or explosive environments.

P/N: 2290334-IS

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Overview

Zone 1 Ultrasonic Level Indicator

The Portalevel® INTRINSICALLY SAFE is a specialist, intrinsically safe ultrasonic liquid level indicator. It is designed for non-invasively monitoring the contents of fire suppression systems in hazardous, explosive environments. This device is the ideal tool for testing cylinder contents in ATEX Zone 1 Zone 2 hazardous areas. classified areas. 

Intrinsically Safe Ultrasonic Level Indicators 

  • Approved for use in Zone 1 and Zone 2, ATEX II 2 G Ex ib IIA T4 Gb and IECEx (Ex ib IIA T4 Gb) certification, the Portalevel® INTRINSICALLY SAFE can be used in even the most sensitive of environments. 
  • It can be used to locate the liquid level in any liquified fire suppression system, including CO2, FM200®, NOVEC™ 1230, when such systems are installed in ATEX Zones. 
  • This removes the need for a Hot Work Permit to inspect your fire suppression systems, offering significant time, cost and safety benefits compared to individually weighing your cylinders. 
  • The dual certification allows for global compliance and offers the long-term benefits of safer testing practices, no downtime and confidence that the liquid levels are where they need to be
  • The ATEX standards certified are: EN IEC 60079-0:2018 and IEC 60079-11:2023
  • The IECEx standards certified are: IEC 60079-0:2017 and IEC 60079-11:2023

In order to meet ATEX requirements for power output, the Portalevel® INTRINSICALLY SAFE outputs a much weaker signal than our Portalevel® MAX range. To adapt to this, we developed and adapted our calibration algorithms to offer three “modes” of calibration, including an intelligent calibration mode (iCal). 

The Portalevel® INTRINSICALLY SAFE also has four different power settings, for larger or more corroded cylinders. This, in combination with the three calibration options, allows the unit to be used on a wide variety of cylinder types and agents, with minimal user input. This was critical in allowing us to maintain our high standards of accuracy (±1.5mm of the true level) and ease of use in a handheld, ATEX Zone 1 approved package.  

Designed with safety in mind, the Portalevel® INTRINSICALLY SAFE is perfect for areas where volatile or explosive gases, vapours or mists are likely to be present in the air (IECEx Zone 1), such as: 

  • LNG and LPG carriers
  • Oil tankers
  • Offshore platforms with flammable gases
  • Chemical plants
  • Gas plants and facilities 

 

Converting Liquid Level to Weight 

Monitoring the liquid level in fire cylinders is a vital aspect of any fire suppression system maintenance schedule, however, understanding how the liquid level relates to the fill weight of the cylinder is equally important. Coltraco Ultrasonics offer, in conjunction with the Portalevel® range, the world’s first liquid level to agent mass calculator.  

The Portasteele® CALCULATOR calculates the agent weight of a fire suppression cylinder. It does this by using the liquid level determined by our Portalevel® range or inversely, by using the required fill level for a certain weight of suppression agent. The Portasteele® CALCULATOR is sold as a stand-alone unit on a 7’’ hand-held tablet to be used in conjunction with our Portalevel® range. 

What's In The Box

  Portalevel® INTRINSICALLY SAFE Main Unit:Handheld, portable, battery-powered main unit with display for digital readings. Approved for use in hazardous, ATEX zones.
  Portalevel® INTRINSICALLY SAFE Sensor:Ultrasonic sensor with magnetic applicator, approved for use in hazardous, ATEX Zones.
  Ultrasonic Gel:ensures perfect connection between cylinder and sensor allowing the transfer of ultrasound into the inspection surface.
  8 x Energizer L91 AA Batteries:Ex-rated AA batteries
  125ml Bottle of Ultrasonic Gel:Ensures perfect coupling between the sensor and the cylinder wall for reliable readings
  Infrared Thermometer:For measuring the temperature of your cylinder. Please note: This is not Intrinsically Safe
  Operating Manual:Contains further information regarding the functionality of the instrument and how-to-use
  Calibration Certificate:As evidence that the unit has been tested and shown to be working before dispatch
  Robust Carrying Case:For portability and ease of carrying the equipment

Technical specifications

Technical Specification
Dimensions
  • Height: 215mm
  • Width: 82mm
  • Depth: 30mm
  • Weight: 480g
Sensor
  • 34mm diameter head, contained within a magnetic sensor applicator
  • Connects to main unit via BNC and 1m co-axial cable
Accuracy

± 1.5mm or ± 1/16 inch of the true level

Power Supply

215mm (L) x 82mm (W) x 30mm (D)

Display

4 x Energizer L91 AA Batteries

  • Only permissible batteries to retain ATEX approval
  • Two sets provided with unit
ATEX Rating

II 2 G Ex ib IIA T4 Gb

Operating Temperature

–20°C to +40°C / -4F to 104F

Warranty
  • Main unit – 3 Year Warranty
  • Sensor –  1 Year Warranty
  • Technical Support – Lifetime of the unit

See the Portalevel® IS in action.

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Frequently asked questions

The use of water or an ultrasonic coupling gel is essential to the operation of a Portalevel® unit. This is because the sensor emits a high energy pulse of ultrasound, which must travel through the cylinder so that the sensor can then detect the returning echoes. However, if there is not a perfect contact between sensor and cylinder, the signal will be reflected from the surface of the cylinder and will not be detected. Applying a thin layer of gel, or a small amount of water, to the cylinder, ensures that this perfect contact is achieved and that the sensor is reliably coupled to the sensor for the duration of the test.
Some cylinders, particularly large or heavily rusted/corroded cylinders, can present problems, even with perfect coupling between sensor and cylinder. This can also occur if the liquid inside the cylinder attenuates the ultrasound signal particularly strongly so that the returning echo is too weak. In these situations, users may engage the Special Power Application (SPA), to boost the output power of the Portalevel® and increase the signal strength.
The digital readings on the Portalevel® INTRINSICALLY SAFE display represent the strength of the returning echoes. The Portalevel® INTRINSICALLY SAFE can then be calibrated to an area of higher readings, which will cause the bar graph on the display to completely fill. The sensor can then be gradually moved towards lower readings until the bar graph disappears. The point that this occurs is the liquid level.
For some liquids at certain pressures, it is vital that liquid level testing is done at temperatures below what is known as their “critical temperature”. The critical temperature is the temperature at which, above some “critical pressure”, a liquid will transform from its normal liquid state into a new state known as a “supercritical fluid”. At this point, there will be no distinct liquid and gas phase and so there will be no identifiable liquid level. For most substances, this critical temperature is outside of regular operating temperatures (e.g., NOVEC™ 1230 has a critical temperature of over 150ᵒC). CO2 and FE-13™, however, have their critical points at 31ᵒC and 26ᵒC, respectively. If a cylinder containing either of these agents is at a higher temperature than this, the cylinder must be cooled down before a liquid level test can be conducted. This can be done with AC units, running water over the cylinder or using ice packs around the cylinder.

Related Products

Portasteele® CALCULATOR

The Portasteele® CALCULATOR is the perfect partner to any of Coltraco Ultrasonics’ liquid level detectors. It allows you to convert your measured liquid level to an agent weight, precisely and accurately. These readings can then be saved and exported for future reference and traceability. 

Used in partnership with the Portalevel® Ultrasonic Level Indicator range 

P/N: CALC-007

Learn More

Portalevel® MAX MARINE PLUS

Portalevel® MAX MARINE PLUS is a highly capable, handheld liquid level indicator with ABS Type Approval for marine applications in level monitoring. Portalevel® MAX MARINE PLUS is fast, accurate, and reliable; with a survivable construction and cutting-edge ultrasonic capabilities, it allows an operator to non-invasively monitor the liquid level of almost any CO2, Halon, or Clean Agent fire suppression system at sea.

P/N: 2290334-COMXPSM
NSN: 6680-99-192-2735
IMPA MSG P/N: 652776

KD983 CAGE code – COLTRACO LIMITED

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Brand New Dual Certification Liquid Level Indicator: Portalevel® Intrinsically Safe

As one of the world’s first innovative portable ultrasonic liquid level indicator with a brand new dual certification, Coltraco Ultrasonic’s Portalevel® INTRINSICALLY SAFE (Portalevel® IS) meets stringent safety standards for explosive atmospheres, making it suitable for use globally in both Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous areas. The device measures liquid levels contained in fire suppression cylinders and other types of tanks stored in hazardous zone environments.

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July 23, 2024

British manufacturer of ultrasonic technologies, exporting to 120 countries and twice winners of The Queen’s Award 2019 and 2022.

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