SIGHT GLASS WITH FLANGE
A sight glass is an object that is added to a reservoir tank or machine to see the oil inside. They come in two basic forms, bullseye and columnar, and can be used to monitor oil levels as well as contaminants. Sight glasses are an alternative to using a dipstick or simply opening a tank to look inside, because both of these options allow air, condensation and other contaminants to enter closed systems.
It’s also worth considering the risks associated with installing them. Columnar sight glasses are mounted outside tanks, which can leave them vulnerable to damage. Bullseye sight glasses don’t have this drawback, but you must be able to place them precisely or they’ll give inaccurate readings.
Sight Glass Applications
It is important for a sight glass to be able to withstand whatever material, fluid, or gas it encounters. Oil sight glasses are made to withstand petroleum, oil, and gas. It is important to ensure the glass is of grade and quality needed for a specific application, so it does not tarnish or degrade your ability to use it for system monitoring.
Applications such as steam boilers use sight gauges to ensure the water level is maintained to prevent system failure. If the pressure of both the water and steam are equal, the water level will stay put. If you notice on the sight glass level indicator that the water level is different you could have unequal pressure which could cause a system failure or a dangerous fire or explosion. Sight glasses and gauges are important tools to monitor vital equipment.