US Patent 7775106 Non-contact radar based level measurement device

A system and method for using a probe-based guided-wave radar sensor to measure fluid level in a container in a non-contact mode are provided. The system and method of the current invention replaces a wall section of the fluid container, such as a steel slurry tub with a panel of radar-transparent material, such as plastic. The level probe is mounted external to the container, adjacent to the radar-transparent panel. By avoiding contact between the sensor probe and the fluid, whether the fluid be cement slurry or another fluid prone to probe degradation, it is possible to eliminate the possibility of contamination, build-up, caking and/or damage to the probe along with the associated degradation in sensor performance.