Given the criticality of level in steam systems, Endress+Hauser has published a white paper on the power of guided wave radar on feedwater tanks, high pressure pre-heaters, hot wells and drums.
'Proper Employment of Guided Wave Radar in Steam Loops' examines the benefits of radar as against conventional level alternatives.
It makes the point that, if the amount of water isn't precise, efficiency suffers, while in extreme circumstances, damage from carryover or low water conditions shortens a boiler's lifespan.
There can even be dry fire accidents – although conventional level systems would have to be seriously poorly maintained to fail so catastrophically.
That said, its point is that generally level indication in steam loops is critical, yet the methods employed to measure it have been slow to take advantage of improving technology.
Some of that has been due to code requirements (PG-60 of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code); the rest, simple lack of confidence.
However, level instrumentation specialist Endress + Hauser argues that the most recent, and in many cases the best, addition to level measurement technologies for steam loop applications is guided wave radar.
"A guided wave radar supplied with dynamic gas phase compensation will provide a highly accurate steam level measurement," says a spokesperson.
"Properly designed, the unit will operate in saturated steam conditions up to 2,900 psig at 690°F, with no fear of damage to the electronics," he continues. "It will also eliminate the concern of having a measured error of up to 20%, as with some other types of instruments."
The white paper discusses how guided wave radar technology functions, how it differs from traditional level indication in steam applications, and why it can often be the best solution.
