AMNYTT AMNYTT.no 1/2023 | Page 109

2001
2002
“ Guided wave radar technology opens possibilities to measure interface between two liquids and has the advantage of improved signal strength .”
— David Trinh , Senior Product Manager
which carry the microwaves . They have a plastic coating such as PTFE or PFA plastic . “ Those are more for pharmaceutical industries or measuring food ,” he says .
Specialization of the probes
Emerson has invested in creating a wide portfolio of guided wave radar products . Its main technology offering is the Rosemount 5300 guided wave radar .
Guided wave radar is not made of one type of probe . Emerson has flexible probes for measuring solids . It also has rigid probes . In addition , it has special , highperformance products such as its large coaxial probe .
“ It ’ s a probe inside a probe . It ’ s two probes in one ,” Trinh explains . “ We use the difference between those to be able to really measure thin interfaces , when a liquid is on top of another liquid . That ’ s a challenge , and that was overcome with the creation of guided wave radar .”
“ But when the top-level liquid gets to be a small thickness in the range of less than an inch , then the signals tend to get lost ,” he continues . “ With the kind of large coaxial probe , we get the good signal to noise ratios and can really define these very thin interfaces .”
If that isn ’ t specialized enough , Emerson also has a Dynamic Vapor Compensation probe , which is made for boilers . “ Boilers are particularly challenging for any type of measurement , any type of radar measurement because the liquid ’ s bubbling away . So , if you visualize a boiling saucepan of water , measuring the level on that is actually very difficult because the level ’ s not
always constant ,” Trinh explains . Above the liquid is typically gas , the steam that ’ s coming off the boiling liquid . It also disturbs a radar measurement . “ But we have special probes , like the Rosemount 5300 , with specially mounted metal reflectors and custom designed software algorithms to compensate for the disturbances ,” Trinh says .
Enhanced with wireless capabilities
The Rosemount 3308A Transmitter is a sibling product to the Rosemount 5300 incorporating wireless technology with GWR probes . “ We are the only provider with a native built-in wireless guided wave radar ,” Trinh says .
Wireless capabilities open new applications for Emerson , particularly in regions where there might be a very isolated tank . “ If you think an oil well in the middle of the desert and just pumping out oil from that well , and you have to put it into a tank , how do you measure that level ?” Trinh asks . “ You need to have a gauge , but you don ’ t want to have a gauge which is maintenance intensive because it ’ s in the middle of the desert . Our Rosemount 3308A Wireless Level Transmitter let ’ s you put the gauge onto the storage tank , and it ’ s got a battery . It sends the signal to a wireless gateway .”
That means the oil and gas producer doesn ’ t need to run power wires or signal wires from a control station up the tank . “ You just have the unit itself , and it ’ s selfcontained ,” Trinh says . “ It sends the signal wirelessly to a gateway .”
2001
Emerson acquires Saab Marine Electronics and later changes its name to Rosemount Tank Radar
2002
The marine TankRadar Star Tank Gauging System is launched . In the same year , the Rosemount 3300 Guided Wave Radar Transmitter is launched for the process industry .
9 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT • January 2023