Ultrasonic Level Sensor VS Radar Level Sensor

From Time to time, level management is needed for water and wastewater plants. The limit-level needs to be effectively detected to ensure safety, process engineering and water management. Controlling and monitoring the water level helps optimize operations such as control, cost calculation, treatment processes and fluid flow.

There are different types of technology which are needed for performing certain tasks depending on the environmental and material conditions. Installation options are to be taken into account when selecting which technology to use. Where cost is not a major issue, multiple technologies can be used. However, selecting the best technology for each application is important.

Ultrasonic Level Sensors & Radar Level Sensors

Ultrasonic level sensors are used for wastewater plants and they are more effective as compared to radar level sensors. The radar level sensors have most been used for level measurements and it is due to this reason that they have become popular. Although, the radar level technology has been used for its performance and accuracy for a long time, it isn’t as viable when it comes to wastewater management. The ultrasonic level meter has many applicable specific benefits and it more cost effective. This post will provide readers with a detailed comparison between ultrasonic level sensors and radar level sensors so as to enable them to know which sensor would be more effective in certain situations.

Ultrasonic Level Sensors

Ultrasonic level sensors are used for situations where there is a continuous level of measurement that is needed. They employ piezo crystals which produce mechanical pulses created from the sensor membrane. The sound wave would reflect from the surface due to the change in the medium and air density. The sensor membrane will receive reflected pulses within time which is similar to the distance in medium surface and the sensor membrane. The instrument can provide the level by simply subtracting the distance from the calibration distance that is empty as the empty calibration distance has been programmed when the sensor is commissioned.

A pulse would then be submitted to the surface of the solid or liquid to help determine the level of the tank. The flight time would also be measured which is reflected for the signal. As a medium of transmission, the ultrasonic pulse needs air. It operates with relation to the speed of the sound in the air. Hence, it cannot be used on a vacuum for level measurement. Large measurement errors in a different sound would be the result if there are gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen in the surface or the air.

Radar Level Sensor

The radar works according to a similar principle as ultrasonic level of time flight. The difference is that the radar produces high-frequency microwaves from the antenna. The microwaves operate according to changes in the dielectric constant of the process medium as compared to sound waves that reflect according to density. The microwaves don’t require air as a transmitter as they are electromagnetic. Hence, the radar level sensor can be used in the presence of other gasses or in a vacuum.