VEGA VEGAPULS 11 80 GHz Radar Level Sensor 4-20 mA

Entry-level 80 GHz radar for simple liquid level jobs

The VEGAPULS 11 is the entry point of VEGA’s compact 80 GHz radar line: a two-wire 4…20 mA sensor for non-contact level measurement of liquids and small bulk-solid containers. VEGA describes it as the ideal radar sensor for easy applications in industrial plants, and names water treatment, storage tanks with acids and lyes, additive tanks and measurement through the wall of a plastic tank or IBC container as typical tasks. It carries a PVDF-encapsulated antenna in a PBT plastic housing, so there is no metal in contact with an aggressive medium and nothing to clean or recalibrate once the loop is running.

Technical specifications

Where the VEGAPULS 11 fits and where it does not

Because the 80 GHz beam is narrow (8°) and the sensor measures through air, the reading does not depend on density, conductivity, dielectric constant or temperature of the liquid. VEGA lists a 10 m maximum range and a deviation of 5 mm, which suits chemical day tanks, neutralisation sumps, water storage and dosing vessels well. In the manufacturer’s product-information comparison the VEGAPULS 21 and 31 offer 20 m range, 2 mm deviation and HART, so the 11 is the right choice only when those extras are not needed. It has no Ex approval column in the comparison table, which means it is not the model to select for hazardous-area tanks; use a type with ATEX/IEC marking there.

Also note the temperature ceiling of +60 °C is lower than the +80 °C of the 21 and 31 versions, and that the sensor is supplied without a display: setup is done from a phone or tablet over Bluetooth, or from a PC with PACTware and the interface adapter.

Mounting and commissioning notes

VEGA’s product information advises mounting the sensor at least 200 mm from the vessel wall, noting that installation in the centre of a dished or round tank top can create multiple echoes that are suppressed during adjustment. In vessels with a conical bottom, a central position allows measurement right down to the cone tip. The G1½, 1½ NPT or R1½ thread screws into a boss or a mounting strap; a ceiling or wall strap with adjustable holder is available as an accessory according to the specification sheet.

Electrically the sensor is a plain two-wire device: brown (+) and blue (−) on a 12…35 V DC loop that must be an energy-limited circuit. No filling or emptying is needed for setup because the empty and full distances are entered in the app.

Key features at a glance

• 80 GHz W-band radar with an 8° beam angle, so the signal passes beside internal fittings, ladders and tank walls that would disturb a wider beam.
• Non-contact measurement: the reading is unaffected by density, conductivity or dielectric changes of the liquid, and nothing touches the medium.
• PVDF-encapsulated antenna and PBT housing for acids, alkalis and other aggressive chemicals.
• Plain two-wire 4…20 mA loop on 12…35 V DC, which connects to any standard analogue input card.
• Setup by smartphone, tablet or PC over Bluetooth, with no need to fill or empty the tank for calibration.

Selection guidance: VEGAPULS 11, 21 or 31

Using the VEGAPULS 11 in Oman and GCC conditions

Water utilities, desalination plants and industrial wastewater sites in Oman use many small chemical storage and dosing tanks for sodium hypochlorite, ferric chloride, caustic soda and acids. These are the typical tasks for the VEGAPULS 11: the plastic wetted parts resist the chemicals, and the non-contact principle avoids the fouling and crystallisation that affect floats and pressure transmitters in such service.

Outdoor tanks in the Gulf need particular care with temperature. The ambient and process limit is +60 °C, and a sensor on a dark tank roof in direct summer sun can approach that figure. Fit a sun shade over the sensor, or mount it under a canopy, and check the limits against the real site conditions. The IP66/IP67 housing protects against dust storms and wash-down, but cable glands should be correctly sized and sealed.

Installation and maintenance tips

• Keep the antenna clear of the fill stream, agitator blades and heating coils.
• When measuring through the roof of a plastic tank or IBC, choose a spot with no ribs, labels or deposits in the beam path.
• Record the empty and full distances entered in the app as part of the commissioning file, so a replacement can be configured identically.
• Inspect the antenna during routine rounds for heavy condensation or crystal build-up and clean it if necessary.

What to include in your RFQ

Specify the process thread (G1½, 1½ NPT or R1½), the medium and its maximum temperature, the tank height, the mounting location (roof boss or bracket), any accessories such as a mounting strap, and whether a hazardous-area approval is required, which would change the model.

Documents and quotation

The official VEGA VEGAPULS 11 specification sheet (58362-EN, version 241118) is attached to this page for download and covers the technical data, dimensions and wiring summarised above. The wider product information 58365 for the VEGAPULS C 11, C 21, C 22, C 23, 11, 21 and 31 can be requested from the VEGA download centre.

Send Seven Star LLC your tag list, process medium, vessel geometry, required approvals and quantity and we will prepare a quotation from our Muscat office. We are an independent supplier; more level instrumentation is listed on our site. Confirm the final order code and approval marking with the manufacturer before ordering.