What Is A Radar Level Transmitter and How Can It Be Used To Do The Level Measurement
What Is A Radar Level Transmitter and How Can It Be Used To Do The Level Measurement
A radar level transmitter can be used to measure the level, it uses the microwave pulse to do the
measurement. So it will transmit a microwave pulse and then it calculates the time taken by the
pulse to reflect back and that’s how it measures the level. We must consider the frequency for the
radar different frequency is used for different applications. Radar level measurement is similar to
microwave level measurement because both of them use electromagnetic waves.
What are the factors that would affect the reliability and accuracy of process-
level transmitters?
Density
Dielectric constant
Conductivity
Temperature
Pressure
Vacuum
Vapors and condensation
Dust
Mostly a radar transmitter would be mounted on the top of the tank and the transmitter’s antenna
would transmit microwaves and this would reach the fluid’s surface that is to be measured. The
reflected microwave will be picked up by the antenna and the received signal would be varying
in frequency. So the frequency of the received signal will be slightly different from the
transmitted signal and the frequency difference will be proportional to the distance to the product
surface, and so the level can be accurately calculated.
How to select a radar level transmitter?
The radar transmitters have many types of antennas and this could be selected according
to the application
While measuring vapor and foam we can use low frequency
The high frequency is used for other applications rather than vapor and steam
If the radar transmitter is mounted in the vessel then we should use isolation valves with
it
These transmitters would be mounted on the top of the vessel without a standpipe or valves. If
the radar is installed in a nozzle then we should check the tank drawings before selecting the
antenna. The sensors must be perpendicular to the surface, the mounting socket on the top of the
vessel must be short.
The radar transmitter uses radio waves while the ultrasonic level transmitter transmits the sound
waves. The radar transmitter has an advantage over the ultrasonic level transmitter which is it
doesn’t need a medium to transmit because of the electromagnetic waves.
Temperature
Pressure and vacuum
Conductivity and dielectric constant
Specific gravity
It is not affected by dust, steam, or movement of air
The low frequency is suitable for foam, steam, dust, mist, dish bottom vessels, heavy agitation,
and severe build-up. High frequency is suitable for small vessels, it doesn’t need a larger antenna
and it doesn’t have the problem of false echoes.
It is really expensive
These sensors would respond to build upon the sensor face
Guided wave radars are used to measure the level of fluids and dry media
Non-contact type radars can be used to detect the dry fluids and also it can detect surfaces
that detect energy
Radar transmitter can measure level through plastic tanks
By using this we can check the contents of boxes
It can also be used to detect obstructions