New level radar
for chemical
pilot plants
The new VEGAPULS 64, the
world’s first radar level sensor
for liquids with 80 GHz,
now has an antenna system
integrated directly into the
flush process fitting.
The unrivalled focusing of the new
80 GHz VEGAPULS 64 allows for more
flexibility in the chemical industry
I
n recent years, non-contact
radar level measurement
technology has been used
in ever more application
areas in the chemical industry. The big
advantage of radar technology is its
immunity to process conditions such
as temperature, pressure, vacuum and
density. The main limitation in the past
has been the vessel size it can work
on. With the new VEGAPULS 64, using
a much higher frequency, it means the
level and volume can now be measured
in applications where the process and/
or structural conditions were previously
not suitable for radar.
Because of the current trend in
the chemical industry is towards
smaller, specialized more profitable
batches. The resulting equipment and
containers generally have smaller
dimensions and reduced volumes.
However, engineers and technicians,
especially those in research centres
and pilot plants, ran up against limits
again and again when they tried to use
radar level measurement technology
in these very small production setups.
Factors like available connections
versus size and design of the
antennas, large amounts of internal
structures and the sensor dead bands,
where the reliability and accuracy is
reduced at the tank top and bottom,
all caused issues. This often led to the
use of weighing systems or pressure
transmitters instead, which have their
own problems with changing density
and very small pressures ranges.
The new VEGAPULS 64, the world’s
first radar level sensor for liquids
with 80 GHz, now has an antenna
system integrated directly into
the flush process fitting. Since no
antenna protrudes into the vessel, it
is possible to measure right up to the
process fitting itself. This gives greater
flexibility, because practically all of the
container volume can be measured and
utilized.
Thanks to the more tightly focused
measuring beam – with an antenna
diameter of 80 mm the transmission
signal has an angle of just 3° – using
the instrument in tanks with a lot of
internals such as heating coils and
agitators has become much easier. It
also offers a significant advantage for
use in very small vessels, with antenna
process fittings from only ¾”. Another
advantage is its capability in longer,
narrower process connections, this new
radar can be mounted in longer nozzles
that have proved too challenging for
many non-contact devices in the past.
It is even working through process
isolation valves and it can be mounted
much closer to the vessel edge, an
important factor for larger vessels in
the chemical sector.
When process conditions are tough
inside the vessel, especially when
there is build up, condensation, foam
or a turbulent liquid surface in the
vessel, the very large dynamic range of
VEGAPULS 64 delivers a much higher
measurement certainty. Find out more
information on this amazing new
technology and its abilities by going to
www.vega.com/radar
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PECM Issue 21