Detailed Explanation of the Features, Advantages, and Installation Methods of Contactless Radar Level Gauges

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In recent years, contactless radar level gauges have demonstrated irreplaceable advantages in areas such as the level measurement of dusty materials, volatile liquids, and liquids in pressurized containers. Advantages of contactless radar level gauges during use: Continuous and accurate measurement. Since contactless radar level gauges do not come into contact with the medium being measured, and are minimally affected by factors such as temperature, pressure, and gases, their measurement results are accurate. It is easy to maintain and simple to operate. The contactless radar level gauge features fault alarm and self-diagnosis functions, making it easy to maintain and simple to use. It features a wide range of applications, non-contact measurement, good directionality, low transmission loss, and the ability to measure various types of media. It is easy to install, and in various industries, radar level gauges can be directly mounted on the top of storage tanks. Their simplicity of installation makes them the preferred choice for many users. Next, we will discuss the common problems that arise during use. Specifications for the installation of radar level gauges: The radar level gauge should be installed at a point that is 1/4 or 1/6 of the diameter of the tank, with a minimum distance of 200 mm from the tank wall. Note: ① Reference plane; ② Center of the container or symmetry axis. When measuring a conical tank, it should be installed in the middle of the tank’s flat surface to ensure that the top of the cone can be measured. For tanks with accumulated material, when selecting a radar level gauge, an installation type with a universal flange (allowing adjustment of direction) should be chosen. The inclined fixed surface can cause echo attenuation and even signal loss. So when installing, we adjust the radar antenna to be vertically aligned with the material surface. Summary of typical incorrect installation methods for radar level gauges. Although radar level gauges are simple to install and calibrate, some incorrect installation methods can still occur. Below is a summary of some common and frequent mistakes in installation, to help users work more efficiently when setting up and calibrating radar level gauges. 1. Near the feed inlet, it is common to encounter users who have just started using the radar; during installation, they place the radar too close to the feed inlet, which results in inaccurate liquid level measurements during operation. Due to its proximity to the feed inlet, the feed stream can significantly interfere with the propagation and reflection of radar waves in the medium; therefore, when installing it, it is necessary to keep as far away from the feed inlet as possible (Installation 1 is correct, while Installation 2 is incorrect). 2. For circular tanks, radar level gauges are non-contact type level gauges. Because of the beam angle, they should be installed as far away as possible from the tank walls. However, when installation is required in a circular or arch-shaped tank (as shown in the figure below), it is not possible to place the gauge at the exact center of the top of the tank. During normal measurements, this not only results in indirect echoes but also affects the readings due to multiple echoes. Multiple echoes may have a signal threshold that is even higher than that of true echoes, as multiple echoes can converge at the top. So it cannot be installed in the center position. 3. Insufficient penetration of the radar probe. This is the third situation that I believe many people encounter. During installation, it is necessary to weld connections in place, but we often don’t pay attention to the length of these connections, thinking that they serve only a fixing purpose and that a casual weld will be sufficient. As a result, the radar level gauge probe remains inside those connections, which leads to inaccurate level measurements – the displayed level is much higher than the actual value, and it doesn’t change as the liquid level changes. Therefore, at this time we must pay attention to the fact that after the radar level gauge is installed, its probe must extend inside the tank by at least 10 mm in order to ensure its proper operation.