Product Principle
Unlike pulse radar, continuous wave radar receivers process the difference frequency signal resulting from the mixing of the target echo and the radar's transmitted signal. This makes it easier for continuous wave radar to achieve high range resolution. Furthermore, the bandwidth of the transmitted signal in a continuous wave radar system determines its range resolution; a wider bandwidth results in higher range resolution.
The greater the energy of the radar's transmitted signal, the stronger its target detection capability. The transmitted signal energy is determined by the product of the transmitted signal power and the transmitted signal bandwidth. Based on the derivation of the pulse radar signal energy formula, the equivalent pulse power of a linear frequency modulated (LFM) continuous wave radar is higher than the transmitted power by a multiple of its time-band product. Therefore, the transmitted signal energy of an LFM continuous wave radar is significantly higher than that of a pulse radar with the same parameters, resulting in a higher target detection capability compared to other types of radar.
Compared to traditional low-frequency pulse radar, millimeter-wave frequency modulated radar has advantages such as a small beam angle and high signal-to-noise ratio. It can be installed and measured in confined spaces over a large range, reducing installation requirements and integrator costs. Meanwhile, frequency-modulated continuous wave radar can effectively detect interference from the field environment by varying the accumulation time, and its anti-interference performance is much better than that of pulse radar.
Product Applications
I. Petrochemical Industry: Precision Differences Between Conventional Storage Tanks and Complex Operating Conditions
1. Conventional Crude Oil Storage Tanks
Typical Scenario: Crude oil storage tanks in the petrochemical industry, containing crude oil or refined oil products, operating in a normal temperature and pressure environment with a simple internal structure.
Precision Performance: Nominal Precision: ±3mm.
Actual Performance: Optimized using the Chirp-Z transform algorithm, maintaining ±3mm precision within a 30-meter range even in an environment with a dust concentration of 500mg/m³.
Technical Support: 6GHz bandwidth combined with FFT spectrum analysis dynamically generates a noise floor model to suppress interference; a temperature sensor (accuracy ±0.1℃) corrects electromagnetic wave velocity in real time.
2. High-Temperature and High-Pressure Reactors
Typical Scenario: Refining reactors, containing high-temperature (200℃), high-pressure (5MPa), highly corrosive liquids, accompanied by steam and stirring.
Precision Performance: Nominal Precision: ±1mm.
Actual performance: Through the design of quartz isolation flange and heat dissipation pipe, combined with a temperature gradient compensation algorithm, the accuracy fluctuation within a 30-meter range at 200℃ is less than ±1mm.
Technical support: Aerospace-grade ceramic antenna enhances signal stability; phase difference algorithm identifies the true liquid surface; CFAR (constant false alarm rate) detection suppresses foam interference.
II. Pharmaceutical Industry: Precision Adaptation to Hygiene Requirements and Complex Operating Conditions
1. Aseptic Tanks and Reactors
Typical Scenario: Aseptic tanks and reactors in pharmaceutical workshops, containing high-purity pharmaceutical solutions, requiring FDA certification, and operating in environments with steam, condensation, and strong agitation.
Precision Performance: Nominal precision: ±1mm.
Actual Performance: Perfluoroplastic (PFA) antenna and 316L stainless steel casing provide corrosion resistance; hemispherical lens antenna reduces condensation adhesion; signal attenuation is less than 5% in steamy environments, maintaining precision at ±1mm.
Technical Support: 4° beam angle avoids agitators and heating coils; echo learning function dynamically generates a noise floor model.
2. Small Containers and Complex Structures
Typical Scenario: High-value pharmaceutical solution storage tanks in laboratories or small production lines, with small containers (<5 meters) and complex internal structures (e.g., agitators, baffles).
Precision Performance: Nominal precision: ±3mm.
Actual Performance: By narrowing the beam angle to 3° using a focusing lens, obstacles are avoided within a 5-meter range. Combined with software parameter adjustments (such as increasing the averaging frequency), accuracy can be improved to ±2mm.
Technical Support: A dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor processes 3D echo images in real time, dynamically shielding interference areas.
III. Military and Aerospace: Accuracy Limits in Extreme Environments
1. Aviation Fuel Storage Tanks
Typical Scenario: Fuel storage tanks in the aerospace field, containing cryogenic liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen, in environments with strong electromagnetic interference and extreme temperatures (-60℃).
Accuracy Performance: Nominal accuracy: ±0.3mm.
Actual Performance: Within a 50-meter range, using a 10GHz bandwidth and aerospace-grade FPGA chip, combined with a phase difference algorithm, accuracy is stabilized at ±0.3mm.
Technical Support: Radiation-resistant chips and ceramic antennas ensure signal stability; encrypted interfaces activate secure algorithms.
2. Ships and Vessels
Typical Scenario: Fuel tanks and ballast water tanks of ships, containing diesel or seawater, in environments with severe vibration, salt spray corrosion, and electromagnetic interference.
Accuracy Performance: Nominal accuracy: ±1mm.
Actual Performance: With a 316L stainless steel + aluminum alloy composite shell and IP67 protection rating, no accuracy drift was observed during vibration testing (100,000 cycles) within a 50-meter range. Accuracy remained ±1mm under salt spray conditions.
Technical Support: Frequency hopping technology resists radio frequency interference, and remote firmware upgrades ensure long-term stability.
IV. Environmental Protection and Municipal Engineering: Economical Choices for Harsh Environments
1. Wastewater Treatment Aeration Tanks
Typical Scenario: Aeration tanks in wastewater treatment plants, containing wastewater, accompanied by foam, sludge, and high humidity.
Accuracy Performance: Nominal accuracy: ±3mm.
Actual Performance: By adjusting the average number of data points within the fluctuation range (e.g., increasing to 10), accuracy can be improved to ±2mm.
Technical Support: Dynamic gain control improves the signal-to-noise ratio, and anti-radio frequency interference technology reduces the impact of mobile phone signals. 2. Cement Plant Silos
Typical Scenario: Limestone or clinker silos in cement plants, with dust as the medium (concentration 500mg/m³), and ambient temperature ranging from -25℃ to 65℃.
Accuracy Performance: Nominal accuracy: ±3mm.
Actual Performance: 6GHz bandwidth combined with the Chirp-Z transform algorithm effectively filters noise within a 20-meter range, maintaining accuracy at ±3mm.
Technical Support: PTFE antenna material resists dust adhesion; temperature compensation algorithm corrects for environmental influences.
Technical Advantages
I. High-Frequency Radar Technology Design and Environmental Adaptation
1. Ultra-High Frequency and Narrow Beam Design
The 120GHz Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar utilizes 122GHz millimeter-wave technology with a wavelength of only 2.5mm and a beam angle as low as 3°~4°. This physical characteristic results in less attenuation when penetrating interfering media such as dust and steam. For example, it can maintain an accuracy of ±5mm even in a cement plant environment with 500g/m³ dust. The narrow beam design also effectively avoids obstacles such as tank walls and supports, enabling accurate measurements in narrow tanks with a diameter of 1 meter.
2. High-Sensitivity Receiver Module
The receiver module has a dynamic signal range of 120dB and can detect weak echoes as low as -110dBm. In low dielectric constant media such as liquefied natural gas (ε=1.8), differential signal processing technology controls the error to within ±3mm. Military-grade customized models, combined with a 10GHz bandwidth and FPGA chip, achieve an accuracy of ±0.3mm in extreme scenarios such as liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen.
3. Corrosion Resistance and Adaptability to Extreme Environments
The 316L stainless steel casing and IP67 protection rating resist conventional corrosion, while the PFA perfluoroplastic antenna withstands temperatures from -20℃ to 250℃ in concentrated sulfuric acid storage tanks, extending its lifespan three times compared to stainless steel while maintaining an accuracy of ±3mm. High-temperature, high-pressure models remain stable in environments ranging from -40℃ to 110℃ and 100MPa.
II. Advanced Algorithms and Intelligent Diagnostics
1. Signal Processing and Error Optimization
Chirp-Z Transform: Replacing the traditional FFT algorithm, the ranging error is reduced from ±3.75cm to ±0.3mm. In a 150-meter storage tank in a coal-to-oil project, the actual error has been optimized to ±4.8mm.
Echo Learning and Noise Floor Model: Automatically generates a noise floor curve, compressing the fluctuation range from ±8mm to ±3mm under strong stirring or foam-covered liquid conditions.
Stability Parameter Setting: By averaging five data points, the error caused by vibration interference can be reduced from ±4mm to ±1.5mm.
2. Real-time Compensation and Dynamic Adjustment: The temperature sensor, combined with a dynamic compensation algorithm, maintains an accuracy of ±1mm even at 85℃, with the error increasing by only ±0.5mm for every 10℃ temperature change.
3. Intelligent Diagnosis and Remote Maintenance: The device supports on-site calibration using a magnetic pen or touchscreen and outputs diagnostic data via HART/Profibus protocol, enabling real-time monitoring of parameters such as signal strength and antenna status. The explosion-proof model (Ex ia IIC T6 Ga) supports remote firmware upgrades, reducing downtime for maintenance.
III. Full-Scenario Adaptability and Customization Capabilities
1. Ultra-Wide Measurement Range and Modular Design: The 120GHz radar covers an ultra-wide measurement range of 0.1 meters to 150 meters, increasing the effective distance by 40% compared to traditional radars. The modular design offers three sub-models: 7.5 meters, 15 meters, and 30 meters, adaptable to different container sizes.
2. Complex Operating Conditions and Industry Certifications
Explosion-proof Safety: Ex ia IIC T6 Ga certification allows use in Zone 0/Zone 1 environments, such as in natural gas extraction sites with an accuracy of ±3mm within a 30-meter range.
Hygienic Design: The perfluoroplastic antenna and 316L stainless steel housing meet FDA certification requirements for the pharmaceutical industry. In aseptic tanks, a 4° beam angle avoids agitator interference, achieving an accuracy of ±1mm.
