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An FMCW radar level gauge may respond correctly to a reflector on a workshop bench yet fail to meet the intended tank duty. The bench check can reveal wiring, configuration or distance-response problems. It cannot recreate the nozzle, vapour, foam or moving surface that the instrument will face in service.
Define the FMCW radar level gauge check before powering it
FMCW instruments derive distance from the relationship between a swept transmitted signal and its delayed return. A workshop check need not reproduce or measure that internal waveform. It should establish which externally observable functions are being tested, using the manufacturer's permitted setup.
For a METRAVON liquid-radar enquiry, the MV-RD12 product data identify measuring range, antenna and electrical options. Obtain the exact electronics manual before applying an FMCW-specific procedure; an 80 GHz label alone does not specify sweep bandwidth, internal update timing or service-tool functions.
Keep the reference distance independent
Secure the instrument and target. Measure the target position from the reference plane specified for that assembly, not from an arbitrary housing edge. Keep the target within the documented operating interval and avoid nearby objects that can dominate the return. A hand waved close to the lens is a crude response observation, not a calibration reference.
| Check | Meaning of a pass |
|---|---|
| Power | The identified unit starts on the specified supply and connection arrangement. |
| Distance | The reported target position agrees with the reference within the agreed bench-test limit. |
| Output | The connected receiver interprets the assigned variable and scale correctly. |
| Status | The available fault or validity information reaches the test receiver as documented. |
Record target distances, units, reference method and uncertainty. A coarse tape or poorly positioned target cannot demonstrate millimetre-level instrument accuracy. Use more than one permitted distance if the purpose includes checking the output scale, and retain the original configuration before changing it for the test.
Reserve a separate test for the vessel
A metal plate is not evidence that a weakly reflecting liquid will remain detectable during agitation. Nor does a successful electrical simulation prove the radar has found a surface: output simulation can bypass the measurement itself. Label simulated-output and real-target results separately in the report.
After installation, review the actual nozzle, known liquid positions and relevant process stages. Remove temporary test settings through the approved procedure. Bench results can support receiving inspection, but the release of a control loop requires its installed checks and the site's authorisation.
Workshop test questions
Q1. Can a failed close-range hand test reject the instrument?
Not by itself. The target may be inside the usable near limit or unsuitable for a repeatable return. Repeat the check with the documented target arrangement and a measured distance before classifying the unit as faulty.
Q2. Should the tank's echo-suppression settings be created on the bench?
No. The workshop does not contain the tank's reflectors. Keep installation-specific configuration for the actual vessel, with its level known and the manufacturer's procedure available.
Summary
Use bench checks to establish identified functions, and leave process suitability to an installed trial. Send METRAVON the proposed test setup and required acceptance evidence so the quotation distinguishes workshop work from site commissioning.
