A sight glass a transparent glass window or tube inserted in a pipeline or a reservoir that enables you to observe and monitor the flow of fluids. This visual inspection allows you to check and detect any defects in the system that need to be corrected for ensured optimum safety and quality standards.
Without their use, one would either just hope things were running well until the whole system ran to a grind or periodically halt the workflow to inspect the system for any defects. The effect would be loss of production time, inefficiency, uncertain defect detection.
Sight glasses are practically the most effective way to check the flow through the pipeline while not interfering with the work process. You can click here to learn more and buy. They allow you to easily and quickly inspect your system’s flow hence detect any blockages or leakages in the system. They are windows through which you can check the quality and quantity of the fluids flowing in the pipelines.
Type of Sight Glass
Set up and Assembly
There are several ways of installing a sight glass or gauge glass into your system. The most common and traditional one is where a glass disc is sandwiched between two gaskets.
Sight port window
This is another type of sight glass assembly where the glass disc is mounted in an opening on a tank or reservoir with lighting. Mounted this way, the sight glass is commonly referred to as a sight port window. It allows you to check the contents of the reservoir through the glass aperture.
Sight Glass window
This assembly consists of glass mounted onto a metal frame forming a single unit. The fusion allows the metal frames to support the glass disc by absorbing the stress from the mounting, general wear and tear hence are the preferred choice for their longevity. Because they can withstand high pressure and extreme temperature environments, they are not frequently replaced due to damages, therefore, considered cost-effective.
Cost
Sight glasses can be costly, and frequently replacing them can be an even more painful experience. To ensure that you get the best quality and value for your money, these are some of the points that can guide you in choosing the best sight glasses in the market.
Installation and Maintenance
While most of the sight glasses are simple to install and maintain, others may require sophisticated skills and expertise. Ensure you get easy to install and maintain units while not compromising on the quality. If you want to use the glass on a port used for different tasks, you may consider going for a multifunctional sight glass.
The Hardware
Evaluate the sight glass while considering the kind of hardware that it requires for mounting. Some sight glasses may require more hardware than others. For example, a columnar sight glass may need additional tubing and pipes to connect to the headspace. Other sight glasses may require that you create new ports for installation on the pipeline.
Vulnerability
Before settling for sight glass, consider how it is mounted. Some sight glasses are mounted on the pipes or tanks such that they remain sticking out from the equipment. This makes them more vulnerable to damages. While considering this factor, review each glass’s durability, thickness, and ability to resist pressure and adverse temperature levels
