Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B 80 GHz Radar Level Sensor

Overview of the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B

The Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B is a compact free-space radar for continuous, non-contact level measurement of liquids and bulk solids in basic applications. It is the current generation of the entry-level Micropilot line and works at about 80 GHz with a 40 mm (1.5 in) antenna, a maximum measuring range of 10 m (33 ft) and an accuracy of ±5 mm for liquids. Commissioning is done wirelessly through Bluetooth and the SmartBlue app, so the sensor can be mounted above a sump, a channel or a small tank without a local display or a laptop connection.

Seven Star LLC supplies the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B to water utilities, contractors and plant operators across the Sultanate of Oman and the GCC, with engineering support in Muscat. Because the sensor combines level, volume and open-channel flow functions in one small housing, it is a practical choice for pumping stations, treatment works and storage tanks where a simple two-wire radar replaces older ultrasonic or float devices.

Measuring Principle of the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B

The Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B is a downward-looking system based on the frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) method. The antenna emits an electromagnetic wave whose frequency rises in a sawtooth between two limit frequencies. The wave is reflected by the product surface and received again, and at any moment the difference frequency between the transmitted and the received signal is proportional to the run time. The distance from the reference point to the surface follows from D = (c · Δt) / 2, and the level is then calculated from the empty distance entered during setup.

Operating at roughly 80 GHz gives a narrow beam angle of 8° for the 40 mm antenna, so the beam diameter is only about 0.7 m at 5 m distance and 1.4 m at 10 m. Peak transmission power is below 1.5 mW and average power below 70 µW, and up to eight devices can work in the same tank without influencing each other. Because nothing touches the medium, there are no moving parts to wear, no fouling of a float and no drift caused by changes in temperature, vapour or density of the medium.

Engineering Design of the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B

The sensor housing and design ring are made of PBT/PC, the antenna-end process connection is PVDF, and EPDM seals are used on the G 1½ thread. A second threaded connection at the cable entry lets the device be mounted from above with a counter nut, on an adjustable wall bracket, on a cantilever with pivot or on a rope. The device with antenna and the standard 10 m PVC cable weighs about 0.7 kg, and the cable can be extended so that the total length reaches up to 300 m.

Electrically, the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B is a two-wire 4–20 mA device powered from 12 to 30 V DC, with protection against reverse polarity, HF influence and overvoltage peaks. Alarm signalling follows NAMUR NE 43 and status signalling NAMUR NE 107. A status LED shows the operating condition at a glance, while the encrypted Bluetooth link, tested by the Fraunhofer Institute, supports point-to-point operation from SmartBlue or Field Xpert, and the interface can be disabled when not needed.

Key Features of the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B

The features below, taken from Technical Information TI01805F, explain where the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B adds value:

• Non-contact 80 GHz FMCW radar with a maximum measuring range of 10 m for liquids and bulk solids.
• Accuracy of ±5 mm for liquids above 0.25 m distance and ±10 mm for solids above 0.8 m, with 1 mm digital resolution.
• Narrow 8° beam angle that reduces interference echoes from walls, pipes and fittings.
• Process temperature from –40 to +60 °C and process pressure from –1 to +3 bar gauge.
• IP66 / NEMA Type 4X and IP68 / NEMA Type 6P protection, tested for 24 h at 1.83 m under water.
• Pre-programmed linearization for vessel shapes plus flumes and weirs, including Parshall, Venturi, Palmer-Bowlus and V-notch weirs.
• Non-resettable totalizer for open-channel flow, and manual linearization tables of up to 32 value pairs.
• Measuring rate of 250 ms or faster, step response time below 1 s and warm-up time of 15 s or less.

Industrial Applications of the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B

Typical duties for the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B are wet wells and lift stations, storage and buffer tanks for water and chemicals, open channels at the inlet and outlet of treatment plants, and small silos with granular solids. The TI rates the 40 mm antenna for the full 10 m in calm storage tanks for every media group, and for up to 10 m in buffer vessels for most liquids. In Oman this suits sewage pumping stations in Muscat, treated effluent channels, irrigation reservoirs, desalination pre-treatment tanks and process water sumps at industrial estates in Sohar and Salalah.

Seven Star LLC supplies the Micropilot range together with mounting brackets and weather protection covers, which the TI recommends for outdoor installations in strong sunlight. For tasks beyond the basic range, buyers can compare the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR20 with its optional display, the Micropilot FMR60 for demanding process tanks, or the Levelflex FMP51 guided radar for interfaces and foaming media.

Technical Specifications of the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B

The table below summarises key data of the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B from Technical Information TI01805F.

How to Order

To order the Endress+Hauser Micropilot FMR10B, send Seven Star LLC your tank or channel dimensions, medium, mounting arrangement and required cable length, and our instrumentation division will return a formal quotation with lead time. The Technical Information TI01805F can be downloaded from this page for design review. Seven Star LLC is a trusted supplier of Endress+Hauser level instruments in Oman and the GCC, with engineering support in Muscat before and after delivery.