1.

Level Transmitter

Endress Hauser Level

Transmitters: Types and
operation principle

03.07.2022

The need to measure the level of liquid and other occurrences in various containers arises not
only in production, but also in domestic conditions. For the purposes of the application, special
devices are consumed - Endress and Hauser level sensors.
CONTENTS:

1. What is Level Sensor?

2. E&H Level Sensor Benefits
3. Float level switch
4. Endress Hauser Capacitive Level Transmitter
5. Endress Hauser Radar Level Sensor
6. Endress Hauser Ultrasonic Level Sensor
 7. E&H Hydrostatic Level Transmitter
8. Other types of EH level sensors

What is Level Sensor?

Liquid level sensors are allotted to control the level of liquids in various tanks. Depending on the
type of application where the sensor is used, contact or non-contact measurement methods are
used.
A liquid is a substance that has the property of flowing and taking the shape of the vessel in
which it is located.
There different types of such sensors. Here you can find its description:
Fluid degree sensors are needed to control the level of liquids in tanks or pipelines. By
functionality, level sensors are divided into layer sensors and signaling arrangements.

Scale actuators are sensors designed for continuous measurement of the level of liquids. Their
work is based on certain physical principles, due to which the electronic unit of the level gauge
converts the value of the liquid level into a proportional analog signal or into a digital code.
Signaling sensors are designed to determine the predetermined position of the level (filling /
emptying) of a liquid in a container or pipe. Such sensors have a discrete (relay or transistor)
output signal. As a rule, the signaling device is triggered when the sensing element is blocked or
released by dip.
Fluid level detectors are separated into two kinds: contact (the entire sensor or part of it is in
hookup with the hasteless middle) and non-contact (measurement occurs without contact with
the liquid medium).

1. The contact type of sensors is usually used in

processes that have factors that impede the
operation of the equipment.
2. Non-contact dip layer transducers consumed
where it is necessary to avoid the harmful effects
 of the physical and chemical properties of the
measured liquid.

E&H Level Sensor Benefits

The main Benefits of Endress Hauser level switches are:

 high reliability;
 can be used to determine the water level fuels,
chemical compounds, other liquids;
 long service life of the sensor;
 easy way to install and mount;
 long warranty period;
 the ability to install multiple sensors connected
to one controller;

Areas of use
Liquid sensors have a large range of applications in industry and the national economy:

 in agriculture,
 food industry,
 the petrochemical industry,
 pharmaceutical
 in thermal power engineering, metallurgy,
mining industry,
 in systems of production, storage of water, in
systems of water supply, water disposal,
sewerage of various enterprises

Types of Endress+Hauser Level Sensors

Endress Hauser produces a lot level transmitters and sensors. Here you will find description of
most popular of them.

Float level switch

This is the simplest in design and very popular. Most often Liquifloat FTS20 is used in
conjunction with an electrical relay, which is a float attached to the contact petal. The contact

closes when the float changes its state.

Float level sensors are one of the most inexpensive and at the same time reliable devices for
monitoring the level of liquids. Float level switches can be used to control the level of a wide
variety of media such as wastewater, chemically aggressive liquids or foodstuffs.
The design of the sensors is very simple: the sensor has a float with a magnet inside. When the
level of the medium changes, the float moves, the magnet approaches the reed switch, which
leads to a contact closure.
Among the advantages of Endress Hauser Float Sensors:

 no need for own food;

 low price;
 various design options and mounting methods;
 ease of installation;
 insensitivity to foam;
 work with aggressive, bubbly and viscous
liquids.

Endress Hauser Capacitive Level Transmitter

Such EH level transmitter is made in the form of plates located on both sides of the tank. They
determine the volume of the liquid when the container changes due to the distribution of a certain
amount of material inside it.
Capacitive level sensors are used primarily as a means of monitoring the level of various liquids.
The control process is based on the fact that any liquid has a certain dielectric constant.
The main element of a capacitive level sensor is a special highly sensitive capacitor that can
change its capacitance depending on the environment in which it is placed. The sensitivity of the
capacitor allows the sensor to work equally effectively with both dielectric liquids and liquids
with a minimum dielectric constant.
The sensor is simply installed in a tank designed for liquid material, the level of which in this
tank (for example, in a pipe) needs to be controlled. Here, the current dielectric constant of the
air is taken as the basic permittivity. And as soon as the liquid comes into contact with the
sensitive element of the sensor, the capacitance of the sensitive capacitor will change. At this
moment, the sensor will work - the control liquid level will be recorded.

Endress Hauser capacitive level probes are able to respond to liquid also without direct contact
of the sensing element with it. After all, fixing the change in the dielectric constant can also be
carried out through the dielectric material of the tank body, inside which the liquid level varies.
Control can be carried out, for example, through the lid, wall or bottom of the tank, as soon as
the liquid reaches the point where the sensitive element of the sensor is installed.
The main series of simple and economical endress hauser capacitive level
transmitters: Liquipoint, Liquicap, Minicap and Solicap

Endress Hauser Radar Level Sensor

Basically Radar sensors work as follows: the surface of the material receives the radiation from
the sensor and reflects it. When the receiver catches this radiation, it compares it with the
original signal and, using a frequency shift, detects the liquid level in the tank.
Micropilot level transmitters are widely used in various industries, such as petrochemical,
pharmaceutical, food industries. They can work with any process medium, including aggressive
and explosive ones, and pressure and temperature will not affect the readings. The radar level
gauge equally well measures the level of both bulk materials (cement, crushed stone, flour,
grain) and liquid products (gasoline, oil, aqueous solutions), ensures reliable operation in
conditions of fast processes - loading, unloading, mixing, etc.
The advantages of using E&H radar level transmitter include:

 No moving parts
 No contact with liquid medium
 Ability to work with almost any medium under
various conditions
 High accuracy

The principle of operation of all known radar level gauges is based on measuring the
propagation time of a radio wave from the level gauge antenna to the surface of the product, the
level of which is measured, and back. The device emits radio waves in a narrow range, the
receiver catches the reflected signal and determines the capacity of the tank by its delay time.

At present, two technologies are mainly used in radar level control systems:

1. with continuous frequency modulated radiation

(FMCW - frequency modulated continuous
wave);
2. with pulsed signal emission.

The principle of operation of technology with continuous frequency-modulated radiation is

based on the fact that the level transmitter emits a microwave signal, the frequency of which
changes continuously in a linear fashion between two values of the emitted and received signals.
The signal reflected from the surface of the controlled medium (liquid, bulk material) is received
by the same antenna and processed. Its frequency is compared with the frequency of the signal
emitted at a given time. The value of the frequency difference is directly proportional to the
distance to the surface.
Pulse-type radars use a distance determination method based on the direct measurement of the
time it takes for a high frequency (MW) signal to travel from the transmitter to the monitored
surface and back. However, the time it takes for a signal to travel a distance of several meters is
only a few nanoseconds. Therefore, to ensure the measurement of such small values with the
required accuracy, the use of special signal processing methods is still required. For this, the
conversion of the microwave signal into an intermediate frequency signal of the ultrasonic range
is usually used. After such a conversion, the methods and algorithms used in ultrasonic level
control devices can be easily applied to the signal processing of a radar level gauge.
There are following series of level radar endress hauser: Micropilot FMR, Micropilot FWR

Endress Hauser Ultrasonic Level Sensor

Prosonic sensors work in the same way as radar, but with one exception: the radiation comes
from ultrasound. In the same way, the difference between the signal that is emitted and reflected
is compared, which helps to determine the fluid grade.

Endress and Hauser ultrasonic level transmitter is designed for continuous non-contact level
measurement of liquids and bulk materials. The accuracy of the results is not affected by the
density of the medium being measured, nor by its dielectric constant, nor by contamination. The
principle of the ultrasonic measurement method, based on the determination of the signal transit
time, is comparable to the operation of an echo sounder.
Ultrasonic level meters are great for abrasive, corrosive, chemical environments. The instruments
are low maintenance and more economical than other non-contact level transmitters such as
radar.

Please note that ultrasonic level transmitters E&H are not suitable for measurements in vacuum,
as the signal cannot propagate in this medium. In addition, for the correct operation of this type
of meters, normal atmospheric pressure and the absence of stationary obstacles from which the
signal can be erroneously reflected (for example, the walls of narrow containers, due to the large
conicity of the signal) are necessary. The measurement results of ultrasonic sensors can be
affected by excessive product vapors, heavy dust and wind.
However, due to its undeniable advantages, such as the absence of physical contact with the
measured medium, independence from product properties, compact size, ultrasonic level
transmitters are widely used in various industrial areas: chemical and petrochemical industries,
pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food industry. Ultrasonic level sensors are used to control mobile
tanks, treatment plants and desalination plants.
The main series of endress hauser ultrasonic level sensors: Prosonic M FMU40, Prosonic FDU,
Prosonic FMU90 and others.

E&H Hydrostatic Level Transmitter

Hydrostatical probes measure an indirect value, namely the pressure of the liquid column, which
is proportional to the volume of liquid in the tank.
A hydrostatic level sensor is a submersible pressure sensor with a membrane whose inner surface
communicates with the atmosphere through a tube located in the connecting cable, and the outer
side is in contact with the measured medium. The sensor measures the static pressure of the
liquid column above the transducer. This static pressure is the result of a mass of fluid on top of
the transducer and is used to calculate the fluid level.

The ease of use of Waterpilot and Deltapilot pressure transmitters for hydrostatic level
measurement provides a wide range of applications whenever level measurement is required - in
an vented tank, tank, lake or river. In most cases, the hydrostatic level sensor is suspended by a
cable at the required measurement level or simply immersed in the bottom of the tank. For a
hydrostatic level sensor, it does not matter what configuration the reservoir, pool or natural
landscape has, whether there are obstacles, thresholds or a complex profile.
Since this type is generally a gauge pressure sensor, it automatically compensates for changes in
atmospheric pressure; thus the measured value corresponds only to the pressure of the liquid,
proportional to the specific gravity of the liquid and the immersion depth. Therefore, a
hydrostatic level sensor accurately measures the liquid level by calculating the distance from the
measuring point to the surface in terms of the measured pressure.
The hydrostatic level sensor can be calibrated in meters of water against standard gravity or local
gravity. For high-precision level measurements, the temperature of the measured medium must
be taken into account in the calculation, since it affects the specific gravity.
The main areas of application for hydrostatic sensors are those associated with water treatment,
wastewater treatment, as well as in the production and transportation of oils and fuels.
Families of E&H hydrostatic level sensors: FMX21 level transmitter, Deltapilot FMB,
Waterpilot FMX and other.

There are other types of level sensors from Endress+Hauser such as:

 Micropulse Level Gauge. Designed to measure

the level of liquid products. suitable for level
measurement even under extreme operating
conditions such as high temperature and high
pressure. The sensor provides maximum reading
stability even in the case of turbulent surfaces,
foaming and the presence of additional
equipment in the tank. The Levelflex FMP is
used for continuous level measurement of
liquids, pastes and slurries and as an interfacial
level measuring instrument. The measurement
process is not affected by changes in the
medium, temperature, the presence of layers of
gas or steam.
 Vibronic level sensor. The vibrating point level
detection principle provides reliable protection
against overfilling of liquids and overfilling of
bulk solids for every industry. Additional
protection guarantees a high degree of safety and
availability of the sensors. Liquiphant ensures
reliable sensor response regardless of fluid
changes, turbulence, foam, vibrations or
deposits.
 Servo level sensor. The principle of measuring
the level of this type of senso
 r is based
on tracking the position of the load on the
surface of the liquid, as a result of which the
length of the cable on which the load is located
changes. The measurement of the length of the
unwound cable serves as a measure of the
distance of the liquid from the location of the
level gauge. Proservo and Silopilot are designed
for level measurement in tanks and are used for
high-precision measurements of level, interface
and density of liquids.
 Conductive level transmitter Liquipoint.
Suitable for a wide range of applications. No
instrument calibration required and no moving
parts in the tank - long life, reliable operation
without mechanical wear or blockages.
 Radioisotope Level transmitter. its principle of
operation is unchanged and is based on
measuring the difference in the intensity of
gamma rays, emitted and absorbed, when they
pass through substances with different densities
that fill the tank. Gammapilot FMG and Gamma
Source FSG are widely used in metallurgy to
measure the level of liquid metal. They are also
used to determine the level of bulk solids and
liquid media.
 Electromechanical level sensor. The Silopilot
FMM is designed for industrial level
measurement and uses the basic principle of
 sensing. Inexpensive sensors provide safe
measurements in dusty environments.
 Paddle sensor Soliswitch. This type signals the
filling, emptying and insufficient level of storage
of bulk materials.
 Soliwave Microwave Barrier. Provides non-
contact solid point detection using microwave
barriers. These sensors provide point level
detection and avoid jamming, as well as perform
positioning and counting tasks. They provide
non-contact measurement and therefore do not
wear out. Typical measured products of this type
of sensor include: lime, gravel, sawdust, paper
and cardboard waste, sand.

All types of E&H level sensor and switches are of high quality and increased reliability.