DECISION PROCESS
Engineering selection logic
Higher-frequency radar is often considered where a narrower beam or compact antenna may help with small nozzles, tight vessels or nearby internals. That is a selection tendency, not an unconditional performance promise. Antenna dimensions, lens or horn construction, beam data and required process isolation remain model-specific. A long or narrow nozzle can still create reflections or attenuate the signal, so installation drawings and the proposed antenna must be reviewed together.
A 26 GHz family may offer antenna and process-connection arrangements that suit other vessel sizes or process conditions. Frequency alone does not describe usable range, dead zone, tolerance to condensation or target response. A turbulent liquid, low-dielectric medium, angled solid surface or weak echo can challenge either family. The review should use vessel drawings and material behaviour rather than treating one frequency as an automatic upgrade from another.
Signal quality also changes with mounting position and process atmosphere. Filling streams, ladders, coils, agitators and curved roofs can create competing echoes; foam, vapour, dust and buildup can reduce or distort the desired return. Provide a dimensioned vessel sketch and identify every obstruction in the likely beam path. Final measuring range, antenna, connection, pressure-temperature limits and any approval must be confirmed from the selected SKU documents.
Selection factors
- Vessel and nozzle geometry
- Provide height, diameter, nozzle size and length, roof shape, mounting point and all internals or filling streams.
- Target behaviour
- Describe liquid or solid, dielectric behaviour, surface movement, repose angle, foam, dust, vapour and condensation.
- Radar and antenna configuration
- Compare published antenna construction, beam information, process isolation and connection options for the actual model.
- Operating envelope
- State minimum and maximum level, pressure, temperature, vacuum, cleaning and environmental conditions.
- Evidence and commissioning
- Request the applicable drawing, range conditions, installation guidance, certificate scope and an echo check during commissioning.
Suitable scenarios for evaluation
- Narrow tanks or restricted mounting zones where the proposed antenna and documented beam path can avoid nearby internals.
- General storage or process vessels where the frequency, antenna, nozzle and target response are evaluated as one system.
- Bulk-solid silos where dust, angle of repose, filling pattern, abrasion and mechanical protection are included in the review.
Limitations and confirmation points
- Neither 26 GHz nor 80 GHz is universally superior; frequency labels cannot replace an echo-path, antenna and process-condition review.
- Measuring range, accuracy, blind distance, pressure-temperature limits and approval status must not be transferred between models or antennas.
RFQ INPUTS
Information to send for configuration review
- Liquid or solid and dielectric information
- Vessel height and diameter
- Nozzle size, length and orientation
- Minimum and maximum level
- Internal obstructions and filling path
- Foam, vapour, condensation, dust or buildup
- Process pressure and temperature
- Mounting and antenna constraints
- Output and power
- Required approvals, drawings and quantity
Request configuration-specific selection support View Radar Level Transmitters
ENGINEERING FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is 80 GHz radar always a better choice than 26 GHz radar?
No. A higher-frequency family may provide a narrower beam or smaller antenna in some documented configurations, which can help in certain geometries. Suitability still depends on nozzle dimensions, antenna construction, target dielectric behaviour, surface conditions, vapour, foam, condensation, dust, buildup and mounting position. Compare the current technical data for the actual candidates and review a vessel drawing. Do not substitute a frequency label for configuration-specific range and environmental limits.
What drawing should be supplied for a radar level review?
Use a dimensioned vessel sketch showing total height, diameter, expected low and high levels, nozzle size and length, roof shape and intended mounting point. Mark agitators, coils, ladders, braces, filling streams and any sloping or curved surfaces. For solids, add filling and discharge locations plus the expected angle of repose. This drawing helps evaluate the possible beam path; the final antenna and mounting instructions still come from the selected model documentation.
How should foam, condensation or dust be handled during selection?
Describe when the condition occurs, its severity, process temperature, pressure and cleaning method rather than marking a simple yes-or-no box. Foam can weaken or alter a liquid-surface echo; condensation or buildup can affect the antenna area; dust and filling clouds can complicate solids measurement. These effects vary by target and configuration. Selection should identify the risk, review the proposed antenna and installation, and include an echo-quality check during commissioning.