Product category:
Level Sensors and Leak Detectors
News Release from: Magnetrol International | Subject: Eclipse GWR
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 11 December 2002
Radar probe takes on hazardous
environments
Level measurement during the process used by a major Louisiana chemical company to make the very high quality fuel known as hydrazine provided a tricky problem, solved using guided wave radar.
When your final product is fuel for the space shuttle, everything has to be right The process used by a major Louisiana chemical company to make the very high quality fuel known as hydrazine (N2H4), runs only for short periods of time
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 22 Dec 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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The application involves operating temperatures of 400F, pressures up to 213lb/in2(g) and a dielectric of 53, which all contribute to a classification of Hazardous CL I, Div1.
Originally level measurement problems were encountered when through-air radar devices were introduced to measure hydrazine in a fuel chamber.
Engineers found the radar transmitter was difficult to calibrate and also when the chamber flooded, the radar signal was lost.
As a result, liquid eventually worked its way behind the process seal leading to failure.
The search for a solution included considering the Eclipse GWR (guided wave radar) level transmitter from Magnetrol International, which engineers initially saw as 'just another radar transmitter'.
However, once the performance of Eclipse was evaluated at first hand, attitudes quickly changed as the unit worked successfully in the hydrazine application.
As a result, the chemical company has now purchased additional Eclipse units for ammonia storage and hydrazine reboilers.
This is another example of the successful application of Eclipse guided wave radar level technology which, despite the most demanding process conditions, provides accurate level measurement regardless of process variables.
These include foam, vapour, turbulence, agitation, low or changing dielectrics or shifting densities, which affect the performance of alternative level measurement technologies.
Since its introduction in 1997 the Eclipse range of probe options, and therefore the benefits of GWR level measurement, has gradually been extended to cover a wide range of applications.
These include a HTHP high-temperature, high-pressure probe for operation to 135bar at 400C and high pressure applications to 345bar at 20C, a PFA Teflon insulated probe option for aggressive, viscous and coating media in high-temperature/high-pressure applications up to 200C and up to 50bar, and more recently the 7MS probe, the first GWR level device to have obtained approval for use in saturated steam applications. Request a free brochure from Magnetrol International ...
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