Level measuring device comprising a radar transmitter and visual level gauge for radar transmitter calibration, and method of use
View Patent ↗A level measuring device for radar transmitter calibration, and method of use is herein disclosed. The level measuring device can comprise a radar transmitter, a fluid column, process flanges, and a visible level gauge. The radar transmitter can mount above the fluid column. The fluid column can comprise a chamber capable of holding a fluid. The process flanges can be in fluid connection with the fluid column at a first side of the fluid column. The process flanges can be connectable to a vessel. The visible level gauge can attach to a second side of the fluid column. The visible level gauge can comprise one or more sight glasses that can allow visible light between the chamber and outside the chamber.
1. A method for calibrating a radar transmitter comprising the steps of reading a radar level measurement using a radar transmitter;
reading a visible level measurement using a visible level gauge of a level measuring device, said visible level measurement taken substantially contemporaneous with said radar level measurement;
providing said visible level measurement to said radar level measurement; and
directing said radar transmitter to rescale a level calculation of said radar transmitter so that said radar level measurement matches said visible level measurement.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said visible level gauge comprises a first sight glass mounted to a first side of a fluid column, further wherein reading said visible level measurement comprises looking through said first sight glass to see a fluid level within said fluid column.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said visible level gauge comprises a second sight glass mounted to a second side of said fluid column.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said fluid is illuminated at least in part by visible light passing though said second sight glass into said fluid column.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein an illuminator is affixed to said level measuring device in a first position in front of said second sight glass, said visible light from said illuminator.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said illuminator is affixed to said level measuring devices such that said illuminator is rotatable, further comprising the step of rotating said illuminator from said first position to a second position in front of said first sight glass.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein said second side is opposite said first side.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein directing said radar transmitter to rescale said level calculation of said radar transmitter is performed using a user command.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein directing said radar transmitter to rescale said level calculation of said radar transmitter is performed using preprogramming.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of draining fluid from said level measuring device using a drain mounted to said level measuring device.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said drain is a drain plug.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein said drain is a drain valve.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said radar transmitter is a non-contact radar transmitter.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein said radar transmitter is a contact radar transmitter.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein said radar transmitter is a guided wave radar transmitter.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein reading a visible level measurement comprising using a measuring scale to measure a fluid level within a fluid column.