PILOTREK W–100 – Integrated Microwave Level Transmitter

Integrated Microwave Level Transmitter

PiloTREK radars 25 GHz (K-band) are considered the most advanced technology non-contact integrated microwave level transmitter (level meter) in the industrial process automation field. Their sensitivity is excellent, and their short and narrow antennas make level measurement simple and cost-effective. NIVELCO’s K-band radar with ± 3 mm (0.12 inch) sensitivity and short dead band stand out with its versatile body concept, which ranks plastic, aluminum and stainless steel versions. The antenna range includes a stainless steel horn or parabolic planar antenna and an assortment of enclosed plastic tubing. The attached antenna versions can be changed without removing the antenna housing. PiloTREK’s native programming is supported by an add-on display module. If in situ read is not desired, this module may not be necessary, thus reducing the cost of ownership. PiloTREK’s signal processing algorithm is the perfect choice for simple and demanding applications, based on NIVELCO’s 35 years of experience in non-contact level measurement.

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How to Use Microwave Level Sensor
The operation of the non-contact microwave level transmitter is based on measuring the flight time of the microwave burst. The propagation speed of microwave pulses is practically the same in air, gases and vacuum, regardless of process temperature and pressure, so the measured distance is not affected by the physical parameters of the medium to be measured. The microwave level transmitter excites microwave pulses with a length of several nanoseconds inside the antenna, and some of the energy of the emitted signals is reflected back from the measuring surface depending on the measured medium. The time of flight of the reflected signal is measured and processed by the electronics, which is then converted into distance, level or volume proportional data. The measurability of the level of a given medium depends on the signal strength of the reflected microwave pulses. The signal strength of the reflected pulses depends on the distance to be measured, the relative dielectric constant of the measured medium, and the turbulence of the surface. In case of parabolic design the relative dielectric constant (r) of the medium should be more than 1.4 or with horn antenna types it should be more than 1.9.

Microwave Level Sensor Application Areas and Level Measurement Methods

• Level measurement of liquids, emulsions and other chemicals
• Agriculture
• Construction Materials
• Chemical industry (refinery, petrochemical, coal, paint, phosphate, resin, etc.)
• pharmaceutical industry
• Food and beverage (carbonated drinks, milk, juice, chocolate, bakery products, etc.)
• Power plants (hydroelectric plants)
• Petroleum industry (diesel, solvent, lpg etc.)
• Water / wastewater industry (drinking water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plant, municipalities, institutions and organizations with pipelines)