

Tank Filling Level Meter
Introduction
Filling level sensors are crucial for reliably monitoring the contents of tanks and containers, whether liquids, powders, or bulk solids. They play a key role in ensuring process efficiency, preventing overfilling or shortages, and enabling automated control in industries such as manufacturing, food and beverage, water treatment, and logistics.
Among the various technologies available - such as ultrasonic, capacitive, and optical - radar sensors offer the highest precision, reliability, and versatility. Immune to dust, vapors, and temperature fluctuations, radar is the optimal choice for demanding industrial environments and ensures accurate measurements even under challenging conditions.
Beam Pattern Requirements
FCC 15.255 and ETSI EN 302.372
The tank filling level meter needs to fulfill the regulations which are defined mainly in FCC 15.255 and ETSI EN 302.372:
- 8 degree half power beam width
- using potting around RF components required in ATEX environments
Besides offering complete custom developments in those areas according to customer specifications, Wellenzahl has developed their own solution with many new upcoming technologies involved.
Custom Solutions
The investigations during development where mainly driven by:
- Selection of radar frontend
- Selection of primary radiator (AoP, PCB, etc.)
- Housing requirements
- Mounting mechanism
- Beam focusing by e.g. lens or horn
A custom development generally required:
- Selection of materials for e.g. housing, lens and horn
- Mechanic and electromagnetic co-design
- Prototype manufacturing
- Prototype beam pattern measurements (in-house)
- Adjusting algorithms to specific application
A graph with several technology options is listed here.
RAPIDv3 and RIot Platform Combinations
Select your readiness level

RAPIDv3.21i_wr10_EBG
Radar Module
Included Hardware:
- Based on BGT60TR13C or IWRL6832AOP (upcoming)
- AoP antenna architecture
- RAPIDv3 connector as hardware interface
- 34 x 34 mm²
Included Firmware
- Algorithms incl. Wellenzahl's static and dynamic background estimator, ideal for level meters
- Target list incl. magnitude values via UART MODBUS protocol
- Raw ADC data or spectrum via UART MODBUS protocol
Additional requirements for FCC 15.255 and ETSI EN 302.372
- dielectric lens
- housing which meets mechanical and electromagnetic requirements
- technologies like CNC machining, injection molding, metallized plastics
Wellenzahl offers:
- Designing of lens and housing according to customer specification
- In-house beam pattern measurements
- supporting FCC and ETSI test procedure

RAPIDv3.21i_wr10_EBG + Dielectric Lens
Radar Module + Beam Focussing
Included Hardware:
- Based on BGT60TR13C or IWRL6832AOP (upcoming)
- AoP antenna architecture
- RAPIDv3 connector as hardware interface
- 37 x 37 x 75 mm³
Included Firmware
- Algorithms incl. Wellenzahl's static and dynamic background estimator, ideal for level meters
- Target list incl. magnitude values via UART MODBUS protocol
- Raw ADC data or spectrum via UART MODBUS protocol
Additional requirements for FCC 15.255 and ETSI EN 302.372
- housing which meets mechanical and electromagnetic requirements
- technologies like CNC machining, injection molding, metallized plastics
Wellenzahl offers:
- Designing housing according to customer specification
- In-house beam pattern measurements
- supporting FCC and ETSI test procedure