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EP-4735842-A1 - FILL-LEVEL GAUGE HAVIG A FIRST AND A SECOND OPERATING MODE

EP4735842A1EP 4735842 A1EP4735842 A1EP 4735842A1EP-4735842-A1

Abstract

A fill-level gauge for process automation in an industrial or private setting, comprising a control circuit configured to carry out measurement operation of the fill-level gauge alternatively in a first operating mode or a second operating mode, a spurious echo suppression of the second operating mode being different from that of the first operating mode.

Inventors

  • MOSER, MARVIN

Assignees

  • VEGA Grieshaber KG

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240613

Claims (13)

  1. 1. A level measuring device (100) configured for process automation in an industrial or private environment, comprising: a control circuit (101) configured to carry out a level measuring operation of the level measuring device in either a first operating mode or a second operating mode; wherein the second operating mode has a different interference echo suppression than the first operating mode.
  2. 2. Level measuring device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the second operating mode has a lower measuring accuracy than the first operating mode.
  3. 3. Level measuring device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second operating mode has a higher measuring time per level measurement or a higher averaging of successive level measurements than the first operating mode.
  4. 4. Level measuring device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first operating mode comprises a false echo suppression of a false echo caused by a spray film from a spray ball.
  5. 5. Level measuring device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second operating mode comprises a false echo suppression of a false echo caused by splashing or dust formation during a rapid filling process.
  6. 6. Level measuring device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second operating mode is triggered by an activation command from an external controller (102) to a flushing device (103) or by a start command for a filling process.
  7. 7. Level measuring device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control circuit (101) is configured to detect adhesions on an antenna (104) of the level measuring device and then to trigger a cleaning process and to switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode.
  8. 8. Level measuring device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control circuit (101) is arranged to determine, after termination of the second operating mode and switching to the first operating mode, whether adhesions are still present on the antenna.
  9. 9. Level measuring device (100) according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit (101) is arranged to trigger the cleaning process again if it has determined that there are still adhesions on the antenna.
  10. 10. A method for carrying out a level measurement operation of a level measuring device in either a first operating mode or a second operating mode, comprising the steps: Carrying out the level measurement operation in the first operating mode; Receiving a control command from an external controller (102); Carrying out the level measurement operation in the second operating mode; wherein the second operating mode has a different interference echo suppression than the first operating mode.
  11. 11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the control command is an activation command to a flushing device (103) or a start command for a filling process.
  12. 12. Program element that, when executed on a control circuit (101) of a level measuring device (100), instructs the level measuring device to perform the following steps: Carrying out the level measurement operation in the first operating mode; Receiving a control command from an external controller (102); Performing the level measurement operation in the second operating mode; wherein the second operating mode has a different interference echo suppression than the first operating mode.
  13. 13. A computer-readable medium on which a program element according to claim 12 is stored.

Description

Level measuring device with a first and a second operating mode reference to related applications The present application claims priority from German patent application No. 10 2023 206 031.0, filed on June 27, 2023, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference into the present document. field of the invention The present invention relates to level measurement technology. In particular, the present invention relates to a level measuring device for process automation in an industrial or private environment, a method for carrying out a level measurement operation of a level measuring device, a program element and a computer-readable medium. Technical Background In level measurement technology, level measuring devices are used that have antennas that emit measurement signals in the direction of a product surface and receive the measurement signals reflected from the product surface in order to calculate the level. Examples of such measuring devices are level radar devices. Often the antennas of the level measuring devices extend into the container and are thus exposed to the container atmosphere. This can lead to contamination of the antenna, which can negatively affect the measurement quality. In order to free the level measuring device or the container from such buildup, Flushing systems can be used, for example so-called spray balls, which spray the antenna of the level measuring device with a spray agent and thus remove any buildup. The rinsing process can influence the measurement result and lead to measurement inaccuracies or even incorrect measurements. Summary Against this background, one object of the present disclosure is to keep the measurement quality at a minimum level even under significantly changing environmental conditions. This object is achieved by the features of the independent patent claims. Further developments of the present disclosure emerge from the subclaims and the following description of embodiments. A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a level measuring device that is designed for process automation in an industrial or private environment. It has a control circuit that is designed to carry out a level measuring operation of the level measuring device in either a first operating mode or a second operating mode. The second operating mode has, for example, a different interference echo suppression than the first operating mode. It can be provided in particular that the different operating modes can be configured by the user. In particular, more than two modes can also be provided. The term false echo suppression comes from the field of echo curve analysis. Container installations lead to reflections of the measurement signal, which can be seen in the measured echo curve. It is often difficult to distinguish such false echoes from the actual level echo, so that the echo curve can be misinterpreted and an incorrect level value calculated as a result. However, if you know the location in the echo curve where a false echo is expected, it can be hidden in the echo curve evaluation. In the second operating mode, the level measuring device has a different (or additional) interference echo suppression than in the first operating mode. For example, the first operating mode is the normal level measuring mode, whereas the second operating mode is used when the ambient conditions in the container atmosphere change significantly due to special circumstances. Examples of such special circumstances include filling the container or a flushing process with a flushing device, such as a spray ball. During a filling process, especially when filling with splashing, sticky medium, adhesions can occur on the antenna which, if not detected, can lead to incorrect measurements. This is also the case with a flushing process, where it can happen that the water film, water jet or spray mist generated by the spray ball or another spray device is identified as the fill level, which results in an incorrect measurement. However, if the device knows that a flushing process is being started, the control circuit can identify and suppress an interference echo generated by the spray film of the spray device. Likewise, during rapid filling with splashing, sticky medium, it can check whether the antenna is contaminated with deposits and also suppress the associated interference echoes. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second operating mode has a lower measurement accuracy than the first operating mode. Due to this lower measurement accuracy, it is already possible that "smaller" interference echoes are not recognized as echoes in the first place and thus cannot be falsely identified as a level echo. In order to still achieve good measurement quality, it can be provided that the second operating mode has a longer measurement time per level measurement than the first operating mode. A shorter measurement time per level measurement can also be provided, since it is expected tha