Posts Tagged false echo suppression
Why doesn’t my LR560 radar’s analog output match the displayed level value?
Posted by danstips in Configuration, Installation, Level, Level Technology, Level Transmitters, Measurement, Radar, Siemens, Transmitters, Troubleshooting, Uncategorized on September 20, 2012
A customer who had had lots of experience with Milltronics and Siemens ultrasonics was installing his first SITRANS LR560 radar level transmitter. They had worked with it in the shop beforehand, going through most of the settings. They even tested it by setting it up to shoot against a file cabinet and used a tape measure the check the indicated distance value.
Everything checked out OK in the shop.
When they installed the transmitter on the top of the bin, they changed the transmitter’s sensor mode parameter from the distance mode they used in the shop for testing to level mode. After aiming, the level value shown in the local display was dead nuts on, but the 4-20mA signal going back to the control room was way off.
The bin was a third full. The 4-20mA showed it about double that. Not only that, the 4-20 was going in the wrong direction. The bin was emptying and the HMI reported an increasing level value. Someone realized that an inverse-acting output was typical of a distance value, so they reconfigured the sensor mode to distance. That got the 4-20mA much closer to a distance value, but it was still not exactly what it should be, and besides, the goal was to read level, not distance, in the control room. What was going on?
The Impact of Background Echoes on Ultrasonic Level Measurement
Posted by danstips in Configuration, Echomax transducers, Installation, Level, Level Technology, Measurement, Siemens, Ultrasonic, Uncategorized on June 21, 2012
Photography is a pretty good way to illustrate the importance of background.
Look at the two photographs here. In one, the background is minimal, and focuses your eye on the subject matter. In the other, the background seriously detracts from the subject. Where should you be focusing? What’s most important?
But unlike photography, where a good background helps you focus on the subject, in the world of non-contact ultrasonic level measurement, even a “good” background has a negative influence. Background never contributes to a level reading, it only detracts. But Siemens has a built-in function to “cure” for the influence of backgrounds in their level devices. Read the rest of this entry »
February 2: A day to look back
Posted by danstips in Air Bubbler, Communications, Configuration, HART, Honeywell, Installation, Level, Level Technology, Paperless Recorders, Pressure, Pressure Switches, pressure switches, Pressure Transmitters, Siemens, Software, Switches, Transmitters, Trendview X-Series Paperless Recorders, Troubleshooting, United Electric on February 2, 2012
Yesterday and today, people all over Chicago and the Midwest were looking at pictures from last year. We had 22″ of snowfall in one day. The roads were closed. The airports were closed. Even the Lesman offices were closed. And today’s weather forecast? 45°… in Chicago… in February.
This morning in Pennsylvania, a groundhog named Phil came out, looked back, and saw… his shadow.
All this looking back made me a little reflective myself. I’ve been writing this blog for about 6 months now. So I thought I’d take a minute and recap the articles people keep coming back to read:
What is false echo suppression?
Posted by danstips in Level, Level Technology, Measurement, Siemens, Troubleshooting on January 20, 2012
A few weeks ago, I wrote about problems a customer encountered trying to move a functioning radar level device from one tank to another. With a little light reading of the user manual, and one change on the radar, the situation was resolved.
People are usually familiar with the concept of false echo suppression: looking at a tank and mapping out the obstructions that can cause false readings, like baffles, ladders, tank braces. But the Siemens products we work with do it a little differently. It’s a built-in feature on Siemens ultrasonic and radar level devices, and only takes five minutes to run.
Lesman Tech Tips 