RADAR basics

Classification:
INTERNAL

2009
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 1

Physical Basics

Classification:
INTERNAL

03/27/2008
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 2

RADAR Basics

Measuring Principle I

Classification:
INTERNAL

2009
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 3

Emission of a wave (mechanical or electromagnetic)

Wave spreads with the propagation speed c

Wave gets reflected by the surface

Receiving the reflected wave

Measurement of the running time t

Calculation of the distance d between the

transceiver and the reflective surface:

t c
d=
2

transceiver

distance

Principle of Time of Flight (ToF):

time

reflective surface

RADAR Basics

Measuring Principle II

Measuring the distance D between

transceiver and medium surface.
Propagation speed c is in case of
microwaves the speed of light
(300.000.000m/s):

t c
D=
2
Classification:
INTERNAL

2009
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 4

Medium level L can be calculated by

subtracting the measured distance from the
empty distance:

L=ED

Distance D

Empty distance E is well known. During

the commissioning E has to be
parameterized in the evaluation software

Level L

Empty Distance E

Calculation of the actual medium level:

RADAR Basics

Electromagnetic Waves vs. Mechanical Waves

Difference between electromagnetic and mechanical waves
Ultrasonic waves are mechanical
waves

Air:
=0.001
DK=1
Change
of
impedance

Classification:
INTERNAL

Medium:
=1.0
DK=2

2009
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 5

Reflection of ultrasonic waves

depends on a change of the
wave impedance
Change of density

Microwaves are electromechanical

waves
Reflection of microwaves depends
on a change of the wave impedance
Change of dielectric constant (DC, r)

RADAR Basics

Examples for the Usage of RADAR

weather forecast (rain)

air surveillance

adaptive cruise control

Classification:
INTERNAL

overspeed monitoring

2009
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 6

military

RADAR Basics

Reasons for RADAR Technology

RAdio Detecting And Ranging

Non contact with the process
Measurement unaffected by:
vacuum
temperature
process pressure
changing density
air turbulence
Classification:
INTERNAL

2009
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 7

Easy calibration and commissioning

RADAR Basics

Electromagnetic Waves
Usage of electromagnetic waves for level measurement
Wave consists of a electrical and a magnetic field
Wave travels in vacuum with the speed of light:

1
c =
( )
0

propagation velocity of electromagnetic wave

in vacuum (meter/second)

permeability of free space (4 x x 10-7H/m)

permittivity of free space (8.854 x 10-12F/m)

Characterization of electromagnetic waves:

Classification:
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2009
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 8

c
=
f

propagation velocity of electromagnetic wave

(meter/second)

wavelenght (meter)

frequency (Hertz)

RADAR Basics

Electromagnetic Waves
Propagation speed in medium is slower than in vacuum
Speed depends on the material properties:

c' =c'
( )

propagation velocity of electromagnetic wave

in medium (meter/second)

relative permeability

relative permittivity / dielectric constant

Medium

Classification:
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2009
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Slide 9

Air
CO2
O2
N2
SO2

1.000594
1.000985
1.000486
1.000528
1.009900

1.000000
1.000000
1.000002
1.000000
0.999991

299792458
299644919
299719335
299713344
298320756

r 1
for non - magnetic media the
influence of r is negligible
r is the most important factor
for RADAR measurement

RADAR Basics

Influence on the Dielectric Constant

r
bar

Temperature
Measured error in %
as a function of temperature
(air at 1 barabs)

Classification:
INTERNAL

2009
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 10

le
b
i
g
i
l
g
ne

Pressure
Measured error in %
as a function of static pressure
(air at 20C)

le
b
i
g
i
l
g
ne

RADAR Basics

DC examples for Solids and Fluids

Reference value is air with r 1
r > 1 for all fluids and liquids
Summary of r values in the DC Handbook
Media
group

Solid
DC (r )

Examples [DC]

DC (r )

Examples [DC]

1,4 1,9

plastic granulate [1.8],

sugar [1.8], white cement
[1.43]

1,4 1,9

non conductive liquids

(e.g. liquefied gas like
butane [1.2], chlorine [1.8])

1,9 2,5

portland cement [3.8],

plaster [1.9]

1,9 4

non conductive liquids

(e.g. oil [3], toluene [2.5])

2,5 4

quartz sand [2.6], rice

[3.5]

4 10

e.g. hydrochloric acid [4.6],

chloroform [5.5]

47

copper ore [6],

phosphorus salt [4],
coffee [4.6]

> 10

conductive liquids e.g.

petroleum [17.8], water [81]

>7

ferrite [9.3], active coal

pellets [14]

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2009
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Slide 11

Fluid

RADAR Basics

Electromagnetic Spectrum
Frequency of RADAR technology is in the range of microwaves
(500MHz to approx. 30GHz)
E+H uses 6GHz and 26GHz for RADAR level measurement

Classification:
INTERNAL

2009
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 12

RADAR Basics

Microwaves Effects on Humans

Device

microwave oven

mobile

RADAR level
measurement device
Classification:
INTERNAL

2009
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Slide 13

Measuring Conditions

Intensity

inside:

approx. 1W/cm2

leakage at closed door:

approx. 0.005W/cm2

at transmitting power
of 2W:

approx. 0.0001W/cm2

pulse:

approx. 0.00015W/cm2

average:

approx. 0.000000021W/cm2

RADAR Basics

Reflections of microwaves
depends on a change of the
wave impedance
Change in wave impedance
occurs at the interface between
two different media
Characteristic for the reflection is
the degree of reflection r
r is the ratio between
transmitted and reflected wave
Classification:
INTERNAL

2009
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 14

The difference between emitted

and reflected wave is called
transmission

Z1 1 1

Z2 2 > 1

1: DC of the air
2: DC of the medium

ECHO

Reflection I

RADAR Basics

Reflection II
Wave impedance of air:

Z =
0

Wave impedance of media:

377

Z =

Degree of reflection r:

Interpretation of r:

1
Z Z
r=

Z +Z
+1
0

r=0
no reflection

r=1
full reflection

Example:
Air: 1

r=

Classification:
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2009
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Slide 15

Oil: 1 =

20% reflected

2 1
0.2
2 +1

80% transmitted

RADAR Basics

Reflection III

Degree of reflection for different dielectric constants

0,9
0,8
0,7
0,6
0,5
0,4
0,3
0,2
0,1
Classification:
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0
0

10

20

30

40

50

dielectric constant (DC)

2009
Endress+Hauser, PCM
Slide 16

60

70

80

90

RADAR Basics

Reflection IV Influence of different media

amplitude

2009
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Slide 17

r = 81

r = 2

water

oil

distance

distance

Classification:
INTERNAL

amplitude

Shift caused by
slower microwave
propagation speed in
oil