New Radar Sensor for Liquids — with 80 GHz in the Spotlight

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Interview with Jürgen Skowaisa, Product Manager Radar/Ultrasonics at Vega

Vegapuls 69, the 80-GHz radar level transmitter for bulk solids, is a true success story. Jürgen Skowaisa explains how the user benefits by using the new Vegapuls 64.

Jürgen Skowaisa, Vega

PROCESS: Mr. Skowaisa, how much technology from Vegapuls 69 is inside Vegapuls 64?

Skowaisa: It is indeed true that some important elements of the Vegapuls 69 electronics were incorporated in Vegapuls 64. This has a number of advantages for the user, e.g., the reliability of the electronic components has already been tested in over 10,000 practical applications. Nevertheless there are differences in the antennas and the bandwidth. Vegapuls 64 operates with a bandwidth of 4 GHz, which allows even better separation of the reflected signals. Because liquids require higher accuracy, this bandwidth is critical. Also, the parameters stored in the instrument were configured for typical applications in liquids.

PROCESS: The bulk solids radar was put through many test runs before the market launch, how was this handled with Vega­puls 64?

Skowaisa: We proceeded similarly with radar for liquids and looked specifically for applications that were considered problematic or difficult to measure in. Some examples are tanks with numerous stirring blades in the chemical industry, small dosing vessels in the pharmaceutical industry and applications in the oil/gas industry with very high mounting sockets. Since December 2015, about 200 sensors of the zero series have been installed worldwide in a variety of industries and applications.

PROCESS: And what were the results?

Skowaisa: The feedback has been extremely encouraging. Many users don’t want to part with their trial instrument. Vegapuls 64 delivered accurate measuring results even under extreme process conditions or when there was heavy foam or buildup in the vessel. All future users will benefit from these test applications because the echo curves were recorded and used to fine-tune the signal processing algorithms. The serially produced instruments already include the optimized signal processing system — they’ve received, so to speak, the finishing touch.

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