What is radar level meter?

A radar level meter is an ingenious device that uses radio signals to measure the level of materials in a container. They are user-friendly and safe, making them suitable for use in a variety of containers, be it metal or non-metal.

When it comes to measuring the level of liquids or grains in a tank or pipe, radar level meters are the go-to devices. They work efficiently under various conditions – whether it’s hot, cold, or even in the presence of gases.

RFQ
radar level meters

Featured Radar Level Meters

64-80GHz FMCW Level Radar

80 GHz radar sensor for continuous level measurement of liquids.

Sino-Inst also launched radar level sensor operating at 76-81 GHz.

Measuring range: 0.3~120 meters;

Accuracy: ±1mm

SIRD-901 Radar Corrosive Liquid Chemical Level Sensor

Application: various corrosive liquids
Measuring range: 10 meters
Process connection: thread, flange
Process temperature: -40～130℃
Process pressure: -0.1～0.3 MPa
Accuracy: ±5mm
Protection level: IP67

Application: solid mat

SIRD-902 Drop Antenna Radar Tank Level Sensor

Application: temperature-resistant, pressure-resistant, slightly corrosive liquid
Measuring range: 30 meters
Process connection: thread, flange
Process temperature: -40～130℃ (standard type) / -40～250℃ (high temperature type)
Process pressure: -0.1～4.0MPa
Accuracy: ±3mm
Protection level: IP67

SIRD-902T Microwave Radar Liquid Level Sensor

Application: corrosive liquid, steam, volatile liquid
Measuring range: 20 meters
Process connection: flange
Process temperature: -40～130℃ (standard type) / -40～250℃ (high temperature type)
Process pressure: -0.1～2.0MPa
Accuracy: ±3mm
Protection level: IP67
Frequency range: 26GHz

SIRD-908 Radar Water Level Sensor

Application: rivers, lakes, shallows
Measuring range: 30 meters
Process connection: thread G1½ʺ A / bracket / flange
Process temperature: -40～100℃
Process pressure: normal pressure
Accuracy: ±3mm
Frequency range: 26GHz

SIRD-903 26 GHz Radar level Sensor -Dust solid level measurement

Application: solid materials, strong dust, easy to crystallize, condensation occasions
Measuring range: 70 meters
Process connection: universal flange
Process temperature: -40～130℃ (standard type) / -40～250℃ (high temperature type)
Process pressure: -0.1～4.0 MPa (flat flange) -0.1～0.3 MPa (universal flange)
Accuracy: ±15mm
Protection level: IP67

SI-FMF11 FMCW Radar Level Transmitter 120GHz
SI-FMF11 FMCW Radar Level Transmitter 120GHz

Measuring medium: liquid;
Measuring range: 0.05m~30m;
Process connection: G1½A / 1½NPT thread / flange ≥DN50;
Process temperature: -40～80℃;
Process pressure: -0.1～0.3 MPa;
Antenna size: 32mm lens antenna;
Antenna material: PTFE

SI-FMF13 FMCW Radar Water Level Sensor

Measuring medium: liquid
Measuring range: 0.1m~100m
Process connection: flange ≥DN80
Process temperature: -40～110℃
Process pressure: -0.1～0.3MPa
Antenna size: 78mm lens antenna
Antenna material: PTFE

SI-FMF15 FMCW Radar High Temperature Level Sensor

Measuring medium: liquid and Solids
Measuring range: 0.1m~120m
Process connection: flange≥DN80
Process temperature: -40～200℃; -60~1200℃
Process pressure: -0.1～2.5MPa
Antenna size: 78mm lens antenna
Antenna material: PTFE/full filling

SI-FMF21 FMCW Radar Silo Level Sensor

Measuring medium: solid
Measuring range: 0.3m~150m
Process connection: flange≥DN80
Process temperature: -40～110℃
Process pressure: -0.1～0.3MPa
Antenna size: 78mm lens antenna + purging (or without purging)
Antenna material: PTFE

SIRD-805 Radar Slurry Tank Level Sensor

Applicable medium: liquid, especially low-dielectric constant, slightly viscous, agitated liquid
Application: 20% flour slurry tank measurement; liquid measurement with stirring
Explosion-proof certification: Exia IIC T6 Ga/Exd IIC T6 Gb
Measuring range: 20m
Antenna: Horn antenna
Frequency: 6 GHz
Process temperature: -40～130℃(standard type)/-40～250℃(high temperature type)

SIRD-806 Radar High Temperature Level Sensor

Applicable medium: solid, especially medium measurement in high temperature environment
Application: Blast furnace level measurement
Explosion-proof certification: Exia IIC T6 Ga/Exd IIC T6 Gb
Measuring range: 15m
Antenna: Horn antenna
Frequency: 6 GHz
Process temperature: (-40～400)℃

Radar level meters work a bit like a game of catch. Imagine you’re throwing a ball against a wall and then catching it when it bounces back. You can tell how far the wall is by how long the ball takes to return to you. The radar level meter works in a similar way, but instead of a ball, it uses radio waves.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

working principle of radar level meters
  1. The radar level meter has a device called an antenna. It’s like your hand in the game of catch—it both throws and catches.
  2. The antenna sends out a radio wave. This is like throwing the ball against the wall.
  3. The radio wave travels down towards the material in the tank, be it a liquid or solid.
  4. When the wave hits the surface of the material, it bounces back, just like the ball bouncing back from the wall.
  5. The antenna catches this bounced-back signal, just like you catch the ball.
  6. The meter then calculates how long the wave took to travel down and bounce back. The longer it takes, the further the surface of the material is. This is like determining how far the wall is by how long the ball takes to come back to you.
  7. Based on this time, the radar level meter can figure out the level of the material in the tank.

And that’s it! That’s how a radar level meter works. It’s a clever game of catch that gives us valuable information about the level of materials in tanks and pipes.

Why do we advocate radar level meters so much when measuring industrial levels?

Advantages of Radar Level Meters:

  • Non-Contact: Since they use radio waves, radar level meters don’t need to touch the material they’re measuring. This is great for materials that might be harmful, hot, or corrosive.
  • Accuracy: These meters are known for their high accuracy. They can measure the level of a material down to the millimeter.
  • Versatility: They work with both liquids and solids, and they aren’t affected by things like temperature, pressure, or dust. This makes them suitable for a wide range of conditions.
  • Reliability: Because they don’t have any moving parts, radar level meters are very reliable and require little maintenance.

Common Applications of Radar Level Meters:

  • Oil and Gas Industry: Radar level meters are often used to measure the level of oil in tanks or the level of gas in liquefied natural gas (LNG) containers.
  • Chemical Industry: These meters are great for measuring levels of corrosive chemicals, as they don’t need to come into contact with the material.
  • Food and Beverage Industry: In this industry, radar level meters help with tasks like monitoring the level of liquids in tanks or measuring the amount of grain in a silo.
  • Water Treatment: Here, they are used to measure the level of water in tanks or the amount of sludge in a clarifier.
  • Power Generation: In power plants, these meters can monitor the level of coal in a bunker or the level of fly ash in a hopper.

In short, radar level meters are versatile tools that offer accurate, non-contact measurement, making them a popular choice in many industries.

Radar Antennas

Types of Radar Antennas

Radar level meters are tools that we use to measure the level of liquids, slurries, or granules without touching them. They’re pretty versatile and work well in places where temperatures and pressures change a lot, or where there are gases that don’t react to chemicals or things that can evaporate easily. They work using pulses of microwave radiation and can function in the range of usual industrial frequencies. Plus, they’re safe to use as they don’t emit a lot of energy and can be placed in all sorts of containers or pipes, whether they’re metal or not, without causing harm to people or the environment.

Now, there are a few types of antennas that these radar level meters can use:

  1. Rod Antennas: These are good for measuring things that can corrode over time. They can handle pressures up to 1.6MPa and temperatures up to 20°C. They have a wide angle of emission, around 30 degrees, which means their signal isn’t that strong and they’re not as accurate. But they’re easy to clean and often used in good conditions, for larger measures, and small ranges, like tanks and corrosive substances.
  2. Horn Antennas: These antennas have a large opening, which means they can receive and send signals well. They’re suitable for most measurements and can work under pressures up to 6.4MPa and high temperatures up to 350°C. They focus signals better and have a smaller angle of emission than rod antennas. So, if it’s a high-frequency radar level meter, the emission angle is even smaller, and the accuracy is higher. Many buffer tanks, storage tanks, and reaction tanks use this type of antenna. But they’re not good for corrosive substances.
  3. Parabolic Antennas: These are newer antennas often used in high-frequency radar. They have a very small emission angle, only 3.5 degrees, which makes them great for precise measurements and working around obstacles.
  4. Guided Wave Radar: This uses metal or cable to send and receive electromagnetic waves. It’s a contact measurement method, which means it touches what it’s measuring. It’s not much affected by dust, steam, or sticking to the waveguide rod, so it’s used a lot in solid level and small dielectric constant measurements.
  5. Waveguide Antennas: These should be chosen when the dielectric constant is small (1.6~3) or when there are continuous whirlpools on the liquid surface or false reflections caused by devices inside the container. They focus the radar waves and are installed in the waveguide or bypass pipe. The size of the waveguide’s inner diameter affects the time it takes for the radar waves to travel, so it should be set in the parameters to compensate for the travel time. This type of antenna requires the substance being measured to flow well and not to stick to the material.
  • drop antenna- radar level meter
  • Rod Antennas- Radar level meter

How to Choose the Right Radar Antenna

Choosing the right radar antenna for a radar level meter might seem a bit tricky, but it can be a breeze if you know what to look for. Let’s go through the factors you need to think about:

  • Size of the Tank: Bigger tanks need antennas that can handle longer distances. For example, horn antennas are great for bigger tanks because they have a large opening, so they can send and receive signals well.
  • Substance Being Measured: Different substances need different types of antennas. If you’re measuring something corrosive, a rod antenna might be your best bet because it can handle corrosive substances. But, if you’re measuring something solid, you might want to go for a guided wave radar, as it’s not much affected by dust or sticking to the waveguide rod.
  • Process Conditions: If the conditions in which you’re working have high pressures or temperatures, or if there are gases that don’t react to chemicals, you might need a more durable antenna, like a horn antenna. These can work under pressures up to 6.4MPa and high temperatures up to 350°C.

Now, here’s some advice on matching antenna types to specific needs:

  • Rod Antennas: Choose these when you’re measuring corrosive substances, and your operating conditions are pretty stable. They’re also good for larger measures and small ranges.
  • Horn Antennas: These are versatile and suitable for most measurements. They’re great for larger tanks and can handle high pressures and temperatures. However, avoid using them with corrosive substances.
  • Parabolic Antennas: Go for these when you need precise measurements, especially in high-frequency radar. They’re also good at working around obstacles.
  • Guided Wave Radar: This is your choice for solid level measurements or when the substance you’re measuring has a small dielectric constant.
  • Waveguide Antennas: Opt for these when the substance you’re measuring flows well and won’t stick to the material. They’re good when the dielectric constant is small or when there are continuous whirlpools on the liquid surface.

Remember, the key is to understand your specific needs and conditions before making a decision. That way, you’ll pick the perfect radar antenna for your radar level meter.

FAQ

Radar level measurement is usually very accurate. The exact accuracy can depend on the type of antenna used and the conditions of the measurement. In general, though, you can trust a radar level meter to give you a pretty good reading.

Radar type level measurement is a way of measuring the level of a substance using radar waves. The radar waves bounce off the surface of the substance and return to the meter. The meter then uses the time it took for the waves to return to calculate the level of the substance.

Radar level sensors work by sending out radar waves from an antenna. These waves hit the surface of the substance being measured and then bounce back to the sensor. The sensor measures the time it took for the waves to return and uses that information to calculate the level of the substance.

There are several types of antennas used in radar, including rod antennas, horn antennas, parabolic antennas, guided wave radars, and waveguide antennas. Each type of antenna is suited to different types of measurements and conditions.

Extended Reading: Case: High Temperature Radar Level Transmitter for Melted Salt-Solar Photovoltaic Power Station

More Level Measurement Solutions

So, there you have it! All you need to know about radar level meters and radar antennas. It’s important to choose the right antenna for your radar level meter, and we hope this guide has made that process a bit easier for you.

Remember, here at Sino-Inst, we’re not just experts, we’re also manufacturers and suppliers. We know our stuff, and we make quality products. And the best part? We offer customization to suit your specific needs. So why wait? Contact us today and get the perfect radar level meter for your needs.

Request a Quote