Bubble trap level control using non-contacting capacitance probes

A system for non-contact sensing the level of a process fluid within a hygienic bubble trap having an internal volume and a vessel wall, the system comprising:

• one or more capacitance probes comprising a sensor tip and an oscillator circuit, the one or more capacitance probes being positioned external to the vessel wall of the hygienic bubble trap and not in direct contact with the process fluid therein, the oscillator circuit being operative to generate an electrical field at the sensor tip, the electrical field being operative to penetrate the vessel wall;
• and
• a controller for evaluating the presence of a change in the level of the process fluid within the hygienic bubble trap via detection at one or more of the oscillator circuits of one or more of the capacitance probes of one or more of:
• a voltage drop measured across a reference resistor, a change in measured resonant frequency, or combinations thereof;
• wherein the system is operative to determine the presence of a change in the level of the process fluid within the hygienic bubble trap via detection at one or more oscillator circuits of or more of the capacitance probes of one or more of:
• a voltage drop measured across a reference resistor, a change in measured resonant frequency, or combinations thereof.