Radar Level Measurement

Radar Level Measurement

Endress+Hauser’s radar level portfolio (Micropilot) covers free‑space, non‑contact sensors for continuous measurement in liquids and bulk solids. Using time‑of‑flight FMCW radar, they deliver stable echoes despite vapors, agitation, or changing media. The range spans compact utility devices, process‑grade 80 GHz instruments for harsh conditions, hygienic variants for sanitary design, solids specialists for tall silos, and high‑accuracy tank‑gauging devices, mapped to FLEX tiers (Fundamental/Lean/Extended/Xpert) to match risk and lifecycle cost. The 80 GHz generation brings narrow beam angles for tight nozzles and vessels with internals, while modern connectivity (4–20 mA/HART, PROFIBUS/FF, and PROFINET over Ethernet‑APL on selected models) streamlines integration.

For process liquids, the “B‑generation” FMR6x family is the backbone. Micropilot FMR60B addresses standard liquid duties with setup wizards and Heartbeat verification, simplifying commissioning and periodic proof tests. Micropilot FMR62B is the workhorse for challenging conditions: up to 80 m measuring range, ±1 mm accuracy, −196…+450 °C temperatures and vacuum to 160 bar, with tightly focused 80 GHz beams for vessels laden with internals. Safety and productivity are enhanced by guided SIL locking/proof‑test concepts, in‑process monitoring/verification, Bluetooth® access (SmartBlue), and options for PROFINET over Ethernet‑APL. For hygienic plants, FMR63B combines 80 GHz focusing with sanitary design and compliance (e.g., EHEDG/3‑A).

For bulk solids, Endress+Hauser offers compact and extreme‑duty options. Micropilot FMR66B brings 80 GHz performance to “simple solids” with PVDF/PTFE antennas, 2‑wire HART or Ethernet‑APL, wizards for fast commissioning, and ranges to 50 m, ideal for small and mid‑size silos. When heights, dust, or build‑up demand more, Micropilot FMR67 extends reach to ~125 m with a very small beam angle and a PTFE drip‑off antenna that sheds deposits. Multi‑Echo Tracking, alignment accessories, and air‑purge options bolster reliability in tall, obstacle‑rich silos and during pneumatic filling.

At the value end, the compact 80 GHz FMR10B/FMR20B/FMR30B simplifies utility and infrastructure measurement with short installation time and smartphone commissioning. They cover liquids and solids in open basins, river and sewer systems, lift/pump stations, IBCs, and basic silos/stockpiles. Typical ranges are ~10 m (FMR10B) and ~30 m (FMR20B/FMR30B). Fully potted electronics and IP‑rated housings suit outdoor use, while Bluetooth® enables safe setup from the deck or gallery. These devices are a practical modernization path for ultrasonics in water & wastewater, where turbulence and vapors challenge acoustics.

Where small nozzles, compact vessels, and rapid dynamics dominate, Micropilot FMR43 targets hygienic service in the Compact Line. It offers ±1 mm accuracy, up to 15 m measuring distance, and −40…+150 °C operation with wetted parts in PEEK/PTFE/316L. In addition to proven 80 GHz technology, FMR43 uniquely adds a 180 GHz option that sharpens focusing in particularly small tanks, useful in mixing/filling applications and tanks with changing media density or vigorous surface motion.

Where legal metrology and inventory accuracy matter, the Micropilot NMR8x tank‑gauging family addresses custody transfer. NMR81 uses an 80 GHz drip‑off lens antenna with an ≈3° beam for precise free‑space measurement up to ~70 m, meeting OIML R85 and API 3.1B with NMi/PTB approvals. NMR84 is optimized for stilling wells with a drip‑off planar antenna that mitigates condensation. In these services, the 80 GHz platform supports very high accuracy (to about ±0.5 mm on suitable systems) and device‑level diagnostics aligned to custody‑transfer practices.

Why radar, and why this portfolio? Free‑space radar is non‑contact (no wetted diaphragms to clog or drift), inherently resistant to density and dielectric changes, and, with 80 GHz beams, works through narrow nozzles and around internals that confound older sensors. Endress+Hauser’s Heartbeat Technology adds in‑process verification, condition monitoring (including foam detection on selected models), and proof‑test support aligned to IEC 61508 SIL practices; modern comms up to PROFINET over Ethernet‑APL are available on selected FMR6x devices alongside HART and fieldbuses. As with any radar, strongly absorbing gas phases (e.g., ammonia or certain ketone vapors) can attenuate signals; Endress+Hauser’s guidance covers when to change frequency or switch to guided radar. Multi‑Echo Tracking further hardens measurements in solids and obstructed vessels.

Typical applications span storage and process vessels in chemicals, oil & gas, power, water/wastewater, mining, and life sciences: feed, buffer, and day tanks; neutralization basins and lift stations; reactors and separators with vapor blankets; hygienic mixing/filling skids; tall silos containing cement, fly ash, pellets, or grain; and terminal tanks requiring metrologically approved gauging. Selection is straightforward: compact FMR1x/2x/3x radars for utilities and infrastructure; FMR60B/62B/63B for process liquids (including extreme P/T and hygienic duties); FMR66B/FMR67 for solids from simple to very tall/dusty silos; and NMR81/NMR84 where custody transfer accuracy and approvals are mandatory.

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