New radar sensor for the water management sector

Primarily ultrasonic sensors and hydrostatic pressure transmitters are used in water/sewage applications today. Radar, however, offers considerable advantages over ultrasonics. For one thing, measurement with radar is independent of temperature influences, wind movements, fog or rain. And due to their high sensitivity, radar sensors can even detect the water level under a thin layer of foam.

But that’s not all. In flow-rate measurement in open channels, a radar sensor is much more accurate than an ultrasonic device because temperature has an especially strong influence due to the small measuring ranges. With ultrasonic sensors, a measurement error of more than 20 % can arise very quickly due to solar radiation to the transducer.

The new radar sensor VEGAPULS WL 61 was conceived especially for use in water supply and distribution systems and is a real alternative to ultrasonic, also with regard to price. The tightly encapsulated cable and robust housing make the high protection rating of IP 66/68 (1 bar) possible. Thanks to the different mounting options, the sensor can be easily integrated into existing infrastructure.

The measurement data can be transmitted either directly to an existing control system or to a signal conditioning instrument that provides suitable relays for pump control. Linearization curves can be stored directly in the sensor, which allows, for example, direct indication of the flow rate in open channels.

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