System and method for filling level determination
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01F-023/284
G01S-007/40
G01S-013/08
G01S-013/00
G01F-023/28
G01F-023/00
출원번호
UP-0938995
(2007-11-13)
등록번호
US-7525476
(2009-07-01)
발명자
/ 주소
Delin, Håkan
Edvardsson, Olov
출원인 / 주소
Rosemount Tank Radar AB
대리인 / 주소
Westman, Champlin & Kelly, P.A.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
30인용 특허 :
16
초록▼
A method for determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank, by means of a radar level gauge system comprising a transceiver for generating, transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals; a probe connected to the transceiver and arranged to guide a transmitted electromagnetic sign
A method for determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank, by means of a radar level gauge system comprising a transceiver for generating, transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals; a probe connected to the transceiver and arranged to guide a transmitted electromagnetic signal from the transceiver towards and into the product inside the tank, and to return a reflected electromagnetic signal resulting from reflection of the transmitted electromagnetic signal by a surface of the product back towards the transceiver; and a plurality of reference reflectors each being arranged at a respective known position along the probe and being configured to reflect a portion of the transmitted electromagnetic signal back towards the transceiver. The method comprises the steps of identifying, based on received electromagnetic signals reflected by the reference reflectors, a set of reference reflectors located above the surface of the product; selecting first and second reference reflectors comprised in the set of reference reflectors; determining a propagation velocity compensation factor based on a known distance between the first and second reference reflectors and a distance therebetween determined using received electromagnetic signals reflected by the first and second reference reflector, respectively; and determining the filling level based on a received electromagnetic signal reflected by the surface of the product, and the propagation velocity compensation factor.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method for determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank, by means of a radar level gauge system comprising: a transceiver for generating, transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals; a probe connected to said transceiver and arranged to guide a transm
What is claimed is: 1. A method for determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank, by means of a radar level gauge system comprising: a transceiver for generating, transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals; a probe connected to said transceiver and arranged to guide a transmitted electromagnetic signal from said transceiver towards and into said product inside the tank, and to return a reflected electromagnetic signal resulting from reflection of said transmitted electromagnetic signal by a surface of said product back towards said transceiver; and a plurality of reference reflectors each being arranged at a respective known position along the probe and being configured to reflect a portion of said transmitted electromagnetic signal back towards said transceiver, said method comprising the steps of: identifying, based on received electromagnetic signals reflected by said reference reflectors, a set of reference reflectors located above said surface of the product; selecting first and second reference reflectors comprised in said set of reference reflectors; determining a propagation velocity compensation factor based on a known distance between said first and second reference reflectors and a distance therebetween determined using received electromagnetic signals reflected by said first and second reference reflector, respectively; and determining said filling level based on a received electromagnetic signal reflected by the surface of the product, and said propagation velocity compensation factor. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of identifying comprises the step of: for each reference reflector, evaluating a difference between said known position thereof and a position thereof determined using said received electromagnetic signals. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first reference reflector is selected as the reference reflector, in the set of reference reflectors, closest to the surface of the product. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second reference reflector is selected as the reference reflector, in the set of reference reflectors, closest to said first reference reflector. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second reference reflector is selected as the reference reflector, in the set of reference reflectors, most remote from said first reference reflector. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said propagation velocity compensation factor is determined as a ratio between said known distance between the first and second reference reflectors and the distance therebetween determined using said received electromagnetic signals. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of determining the filling level comprises the steps of: determining a compensated distance between said first reference reflector and said surface of the product based on a distance therebetween determined using received electromagnetic signals reflected by said first reference reflector and said surface, respectively, and said propagation velocity compensation factor; and adding said compensated distance to a known distance between a reference position and said first reference reflector. 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: determining an echo profile based on said received electromagnetic signals; and subtracting reference echoes resulting from reflection of said transmitted electromagnetic signal by said reference reflectors from said echo profile, thereby facilitating discrimination of a surface echo resulting from reflection of said transmitted electromagnetic signal by the surface of the product. 9. A radar level gauge system, for determination of a filling level of a product contained in a tank, said radar level gauge system comprising: a transceiver for generating, transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals; a probe connected to said transceiver and arranged to guide a transmitted electromagnetic signal from said transceiver towards and into said product inside the tank, and to return a reflected electromagnetic signal resulting from reflection of said transmitted electromagnetic signal by a surface of said product back towards said transceiver; a plurality of reference reflectors each being arranged at a respective known position along the probe and being configured to reflect a portion of said transmitted electromagnetic signal back towards said transceiver, wherein said plurality of reference reflectors comprises: a first reference reflector located above said surface and at a level in said tank within a range of levels, over which range said filling level fluctuates during normal use of said tank; and a second reference reflector located at a known distance above said first reference reflector; and processing circuitry connected to said transceiver for determining said filling level based on received electromagnetic signals reflected by the surface of the product and the first and second reference reflectors, respectively, and said known distance between the first and second reference reflectors. 10. The radar level gauge system according to claim 9, wherein said second reference reflector is arranged at a level within said range of levels, over which range said filling level fluctuates during normal use of the tank. 11. The radar level gauge system according to claim 9, wherein said first reference reflector is located closest to said surface among reference reflectors located above said surface. 12. The radar level gauge system according to claim 9, wherein said second reference reflector is located closest to said first reference reflector among reference reflectors located above said surface. 13. The radar level gauge system according to claim 9, wherein said second reference reflector is most remote from said first reference reflector among reference reflectors located above said surface. 14. The radar level gauge system according to claim 9, wherein each of said reference reflectors comprises: an upper portion providing a first impedance transition to a higher impedance for said transmitted electromagnetic signal; and a lower portion providing a second impedance transition to a lower impedance for said transmitted electromagnetic signal, said upper and lower portions being separated along the probe by a distance selected such that an electromagnetic signal reflected by said first impedance transition and an electromagnetic signal reflected by said second impedance transition together form a composite reflected electromagnetic signal having a positive portion and a negative portion, thereby facilitating discrimination of received electromagnetic signals reflected by said reference reflectors. 15. The radar level gauge system according to claim 9, wherein said reference reflectors are distributed along substantially an entire extension of said probe. 16. The radar level gauge system according to claim 9, wherein said reference reflectors are irregularly spaced along said probe. 17. The radar level gauge system according to claim 9, wherein said probe is a single line probe, and each of said reference reflectors is provided as an essentially cylindrical structure arranged coaxially on said probe. 18. The radar level gauge system according to claim 17, wherein said essentially cylindrical structure comprises an upper essentially frustoconically shaped portion at an upper end thereof, and a lower essentially frustoconically shaped portion at a lower end thereof. 19. The radar level gauge system according to claim 9, wherein said probe is a single line probe, and each of said reference reflectors is provided as a reflector plate attached to the probe. 20. A radar level gauge system, for determination of a filling level of a product contained in a tank, said radar level gauge system comprising: a transceiver for generating, transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals; a probe connected to said transceiver and arranged to guide a transmitted electromagnetic signal from said transceiver towards and into said product inside the tank, and to return a reflected electromagnetic signal following reflection at a surface of said product back towards said transceiver; a plurality of reference reflectors each being arranged at a respective known position along the probe and being configured to reflect a portion of said transmitted electromagnetic signal back towards said transceiver, wherein each of said reference reflectors has: an upper portion providing a first impedance transition to a higher impedance for said transmitted electromagnetic signal; and a lower portion providing a second impedance transition to a lower impedance for said transmitted electromagnetic signal, said upper and lower portions being separated along the probe by a distance selected such that an electromagnetic signal reflected by said first impedance transition and an electromagnetic signal reflected by said second impedance transition together form a composite reflected electromagnetic signal having a positive portion and a negative portion; and processing circuitry connected to said transceiver for determining said filling level based on received electromagnetic signals reflected by said surface, and by least a first reference reflector comprised in said plurality of reference reflectors. 21. The radar level gauge system according to claim 20, wherein said first reference reflector is located above said surface of the product. 22. The radar level gauge system according to claim 21, wherein said first reference reflector is located at a level in said tank within a range of levels, over which range said filling level fluctuates during normal use of said tank. 23. The radar level gauge system according to claim 21, wherein said first reference reflector is located closest to said surface among reference reflectors positioned above said surface. 24. The radar level gauge system according to claim 20, wherein said filling level determination is additionally based on a received electromagnetic signal reflected by a second reference reflector located above said first reference reflector. 25. The radar level gauge system according to claim 24, wherein said second reference reflector is located closest to said first reference reflector among reference reflectors positioned above said surface. 26. The radar level gauge system according to claim 20, wherein said reference reflectors are distributed along substantially an entire extension of said probe. 27. The radar level gauge system according to claim 20, wherein said reference reflectors are irregularly spaced along said probe. 28. The radar level gauge system according to claim 20, wherein said probe is a single line probe, and each of said reference reflectors is provided as an essentially cylindrical structure arranged coaxially on said probe. 29. The radar level gauge system according to claim 28, wherein said essentially cylindrical structure comprises an upper essentially frustoconically shaped portion at an upper end thereof, and a lower essentially frustoconically shaped portion at a lower end thereof. 30. The radar level gauge system according to claim 20, wherein said probe is a single line probe, and each of said reference reflectors is provided as a reflector plate attached to the probe.
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