VEGAPULS 64 Radar Level Transmitter

Overview

The VEGA VEGAPULS 64 uses 80 GHz FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) radar to measure liquid level without contacting the process fluid. Operating at 80 GHz rather than the older 6 GHz or 26 GHz radar technologies, the VEGAPULS 64 achieves a narrower 3° beam angle — allowing installation in vessels with obstructions such as agitators, heating coils, and inlet pipes without signal interference. The shorter wavelength (3.75 mm at 80 GHz) also provides better reflection from low-dielectric-constant liquids like hydrocarbons and solvents.

Unlike guided wave radar (GWR) or ultrasonic transmitters, the VEGAPULS 64 makes no contact with the process — the sensor is mounted above the liquid surface on a nozzle or flange. This eliminates wear from abrasive media, corrosion in aggressive chemicals, and fouling from viscous or crystallising products. No moving parts and no media contact means near-zero maintenance after installation.

The VEGAPULS 64 is largely immune to process conditions that defeat ultrasonic level transmitters: steam and vapour (which absorb ultrasonic signals), foam (which scatters ultrasonic but reflects 80 GHz radar), temperature variation (which changes the speed of sound in air), and dust. These characteristics make it the preferred technology for tall chemical reactor vessels, foam-generating fermentation tanks, and high-temperature/high-pressure storage vessels.

Key Features

• 80 GHz — smallest antenna, narrowest beam

  80 GHz radar achieves a 3° beam angle with a 50 mm antenna (comparable to a DN50 nozzle flange) — four times narrower than 26 GHz radar with the same antenna size. This enables installation in vessels with internal structures and through small process connections, reducing installation cost and process penetration size.
• ±2 mm accuracy — suitable for custody transfer

  The ±2 mm accuracy specification qualifies the VEGAPULS 64 for tank gauging and custody transfer applications in petroleum storage (API 3.1B compliant), replacing mechanical float gauges and servo-gauge systems with a solid-state non-contact transmitter at a fraction of the maintenance cost.
• Foam-tolerant and vapour-resistant

  80 GHz signals penetrate foam layers (which absorb ultrasonic energy) and are unaffected by steam, vapour, or temperature gradients in the gas phase above the liquid — making the VEGAPULS 64 the preferred choice for brewing fermentation vessels, paper pulp tanks, and pharmaceutical bioreactors where foam formation is inherent to the process.
• Bluetooth commissioning via VEGA Tools app

  The VEGAPULS 64 includes a built-in Bluetooth interface for configuration and diagnostics via the free VEGA Tools smartphone app — eliminating the need for a HART handheld during commissioning. Signal envelope curves, echo profile, and parameter changes are visible on-screen without entering potentially hazardous vessel-top areas.

Technical Specifications

Typical Applications

• Chemical reactors: Continuous level monitoring with agitators and internal coils; foam-tolerant operation
• Petroleum storage tanks: API-compliant custody transfer gauging replacing mechanical servo gauges
• Wastewater sumps: Non-contact measurement avoiding fouling from solids and grease in pumping wells
• Brewery fermentation: CO₂ foam layer penetration for accurate wort/beer level during active fermentation
• High-pressure vessels: Up to 64 bar process pressure without special construction — rated transmitter replaces guided wave probes