Common Failures of Magnetic Sight Glasses

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Improper installation of magnetic sight glass can lead to device failure. This includes over tightening and uneven torqueing which can produce bending loads on the glass which can potentially result to cracking. Another cause of failure is trapped debris that causes a bending moment, such as from gaskets that become baked onto the flanges and portions are left behind when removed.

Some low-quality devices may not have flat and parallel surfaces which is often a product of poor or low tolerance manufacturing. This also may result in a bending load on the glass.

It is not uncommon for a sight glass to be used as a handy place to rest a wrench or other tool. This may scratch the glass, creating a source for breaks to originate, also known as stress concentrations. Even though a bending load is required to open these cracks, they significantly reduce the pressure capabilities of the glass.

Thermal shock is a sudden, drastic change in temperature that causes one side of the glass to expand or contract differently from the other side. This can occur when a cold sight glass experiences a sudden increase in temperature at process startup, or when a hot sight glass is suddenly cooled during an external wash down of equipment.

Of course, over-pressurization can cause a sight flow indicator to fail. A properly specified unit should have an ample safety margin.

Lastly, degradation of the glass over time can lead to failure. Chemicals, and even water, will corrode glass. There are several chemical resistance charts that illustrate the loss of weight of glass when exposed to various chemicals. Another source of degradation is the continuous friction from an abrasive product against the glass.

A magnetic sight glass is an important device that provides a clear view during liquid level indicating. However, when not used properly and maintained well, it can lead to minor and major failures.

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This content is stolen by Crest Media Inc. for Quest Tec Solutions.