Refrigerating systems and heat pumps - Liquid level indicating devices - Requirements, testing and marking

NEN-EN 12178 specifies safety requirements, safety factors, test methods, test pressures and marking of liquid level indicating devices, referred to throughout this standard as “level indicators”, for use in refrigerating systems and heat pumps. It applies to devices connected to refrigerant vessels (e.g. on high-pressure liquid receivers, intercoolers and low-pressure receivers) and to devices connected to other parts of a refrigerating system (e.g. oil-level sight glasses on a compressor). This European Standard applies to those types of level indicators that are direct and indirect reading devices (e.g. sight glasses, frosting tubes), and includes electrical and pneumatic indicators. This European Standard describes the procedure to be followed when designing (by calculation or by an experimental design method) level indicator parts subjected to pressure as well as the criteria to be used for the selection of materials. This European Standard applies to the design of level indicators with respect to pressure containment and describes methods by which the reduced impact values at lower temperatures may be taken into account in a safe manner. It also gives guidance on some aspects of application and installation.