EFP Series Guided Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Radar Sensors

EFP Series guided UWB radar sensors provide the industry's most accurate real-time multiphase flow measurements, in almost any environment. Replaces legacy narrowband guided radar / TDR, differential pressure (Delta P), and gamma densitometry systems for dramatically improved system performance and reliability.

Meet the Industry's Most Versatile Multiphase Flow Sensors

• True collapsed liquid level for total coolant inventory even in frothing / boiling environments
• Void fraction / steam quality for total coolant enthalpy estimation
• Froth / foam height and density estimation
• Film thickness, froth-liquid and liquid-liquid interfaces
• Entrained droplet velocity and slip differential estimation
• Relative mixture constituents in many mixtures, slurries, and emulsions
• Volumetric moisture measurement in bulk solids
• Relative humidity

EFP Series UWB Technology

Using specialized metallic probes as waveguides, EFP (Electric Field Perturbation) Series signal processors produce extremely short (< 100 ps) risetime pulses that propagate in a process similar to radar. Unlike other guided radar level sensors, which use simple narrowband radar signals, the EFP Series uses ultra-wideband (DC to ~10 GHz) radar signals with complex propagation characteristics. This allows for the determination of many useful properties not measurable with narrowband radars, most with acquisition times on the order of 1 ms. EFP Series signal processors are interchangeable, hot-swappable, and can use multiple sensor modalities with the proper specialized probe and network-upgradeable signal processing software.

Key EFP System Features

• Accurate, real-time measurements in any environment
• Confidently measure liquid level in boiling / frothing and other complex environments that can cause leading narrowband radar / TDR systems to fail
• Replaces Delta P sensors for dramatically improved performance and reliability
• Outperforms gamma densitometry at a fraction of the cost, without radiation concerns

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EFP Series Liquid Level and Film Thickness Sensors

• Robust liquid level measurements including froth / foam height, froth-liquid and liquid-liquid interface in almost any medium. Accurately characterizes complex environments (e.g. boiling / frothing) that differential pressure (Delta P) sensors and narrowband guided radar liquid level systems cannot.
• Compared with Delta P sensors, dramatically improves accuracy and temporal resolution of liquid level measurements, provides total coolant inventory including frothing / boiling fraction, and can accurately estimate total coolant enthalpy. In the case of a loss of coolant accident, EFP Series sensors can dramatically improve response times compared with legacy Delta P hardware. During normal operation, EFP Series sensors can be used to significantly improve heat exchanger efficiency, performance, and safety, even during rapidly changing thermal conditions.
• Compared with Delta P hardware, EFP Series sensors decrease system cost, simplify maintenance, and improve reliability. Get rid of problems with pressure tube maintenance, air-locked sensors, and drifting calibration.
• Liquid level measurements > 200 ft (60 m).
• Precision film thickness measurements to 2 µm.
• Long-life durability in extreme environments (see Environmental below).
• Applications: Nuclear, Chemical, Petroleum, Steel, Waste Water, Food and Beverage industries, etc.

EFP Series Multiphase Void Fraction / Steam Quality Sensors

• Specialized probe and firmware module provides accurate local void fraction / steam quality measurement on any sensor channel. Accurately estimate total coolant enthalpy, and rapidly identify conditions influencing heat transfer (e.g., nucleate boiling) to significantly improve heat-exchanger efficiency, performance, and safety.
• Compared with gamma densitometry systems, EFP Series sensors provide accurate rapid transient and steady-state local volumetric void fraction measurements that gamma densitometers cannot, in locations gamma densitometers cannot reach, without bulky shielding, radiation safety issues, and onerous calibration requirements.
• Differentiate bubble, slug, churn, and annular flow regimes in real time, almost anywhere in your process.
• Sensitivity to better than ±0.5% void in steam-water environments with as low as 1 ms acquisition for rapid transient conditions.
• Autocorrelation methods allow void, entrained droplet, and differential slip velocities to be estimated.
• Use in conjunction with EFP Series liquid level data to accurately determine the true collapsed liquid level of boiling liquids with high swell ratios -- see Applications page for our solution to a complex measurement problem in a nuclear plant heat exchanger.
• Applications: Nuclear, Chemical, Petroleum, Steel, Waste Water, Food and Beverage industries, etc.
• Read an experimental description of void fraction measurement using the EFP Series at Knolls Atomic Power Lab (KAPL), US Dept. of Energy.

EFP Series Mixture Sensor

• Liquid level probes may be used for simultaneous level and mixture constituent measurement. A specialized firmware module is required.
• Sensitivity to better than ± 1% mixture constituent in many process line materials.
• Many applications:
  • Fat content in milk and other products
  • Alcohol content in brewery applications
  • Oil / oil and oil / water mixtures and emulsions
  • Many other mixtures

EFP Series Volumetric Moisture Sensor

• Specialized large-volume probes and firmware module allow non-contact measurement of bulk moisture on process lines.
• Sensitivity to better than ± 1% bulk moisture in many materials, with true volumetric measurement. Depending on the application, even relative humidity of air can be measured.
• Extremely robust, long-life probes.
• Applications:
  • Food processing (e.g., cut potatoes before and after drying)
  • Pulp and paper processing
  • Many other applications

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Common EFP Series Features

Probes

• Probes and cables are customized for your particular application requirements.
• Using advanced materials and unique fabrication techniques, we are able to ensure long probe life in even the most demanding environments.
• Please see Probes and Cables page for more details.

Software and System Integration

• All signal processor channels have their own integrated web and telnet server, so setup and trouble-shooting is easy.
• System status and real-time measurements from any channel are available on Microsoft® Internet Explorer®.
• Drivers are available for LabVIEW®, Matlab®, and other systems.
• Microsoft® Windows® desktop software is available for data review, post-processing, and for exporting data to other programs.

Electronics

• Rack-mountable multichannel signal processor enclosures hold up to 10 signal processor channels per box.
• Embedded 686-class CPU for each sensor channel handles low-level processing and ensures system scalability.
• Signal processor enclosures are fully electrically isolated and hot-swappable.
• Communication is provided through 10/100/1000 Mb Ethernet, USB 1.1/2.0, RS-232, 4-20 mA, and/or optional IEEE 802.11 b/g wireless.

Environmental

• Pressures > 3000 PSI (21 MPa)
• Temperatures > 1000 °F (> 537 °C)
• pH from 2 - 11+
• Works in high-conductivity solutions
• System is unaffected by static and transient probe voltages of > 200V, and probe current fields of > 1000 A

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How to purchase

Every application is different, and our goal is to find the solution that fits your measurement and budgetary needs perfectly. An experienced application engineer is standing by to answer any questions and plan a customized measurement solution for you. Please contact us!