{"id":19717,"date":"2026-10-12T14:22:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T19:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/us\/?p=19717"},"modified":"2026-10-12T14:22:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T19:22:10","slug":"wikas-radar-sensors-noncontact-level-sensing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/us\/products\/level-products\/wikas-radar-sensors-noncontact-level-sensing\/","title":{"rendered":"WIKA\u2019s Radar Level Sensors Provide Reliable Data in Challenging Environments"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article is a continuation of \u201cHow Non-Contact Radar Level Sensors Solve Tough Industrial Measurement Challenges<\/a>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

With its versatility, durability, high accuracy, and ultra-compact size, the ILT series of radar level sensors can be used in a wide array of industrial applications \u2013 even under demanding operating conditions. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The pluses and minuses of various level measurement technologies<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Float-based level gauges, indicators, and switches work without a power supply and are accurate regardless of foaming, vapors, dust or condensation. But they can be bulky \u2013 as tall as the tank\u2019s height \u2013 and are not compatible with highly viscous media or heavy-vibration applications.<\/p>\n

Optoelectronic level switches have no moving parts, fit in very small tanks, and are suitable for rough operating conditions. Vibrating level switches are similarly robust and compatible with a range of liquids. However, these types of level instruments simply detect a limit level (no level indication), require an opening in the tank wall, and do not transmit data.<\/p>\n

Neither float-based level instruments nor optoelectronic and vibrating level switches are equipped to measure powders, grains, etc. Ultrasonic level sensors, which do not come into contact with the media, can<\/em> determine the level of most liquids and solids. The downside, though, is that varying air characteristics \u2013 temperature, pressure, wind, humidity, mist, wind, dust\u00a0 <\/span>\u2013 interfere with the echo signal, resulting in inaccurate, inconsistent level data.<\/p>\n

The many benefits of contactless radar level sensing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

ILT-C01<\/p><\/div>\n \n

One type of level sensor (almost) does it all. Non-contact radar level transmitters, like WIKA\u2019s ILT-C01<\/a> and ILT-C05<\/a>, enable reliable level monitoring and switching in numerous industrial applications and under challenging operating conditions. They are free beam as opposed to guided wave, which means there are no probes that need to make contact with the media. Probes\u00a0 <\/span>also suffer from mechanical stress and material buildup, and require frequent cleaning and maintenance.<\/p>\n

Contactless radar level sensing also means that the instrument can be clamped to the outside of certain tanks, as opposed to requiring a hole or opening in the vessel wall for mounting. This is because high-frequency radar signals readily passes through non-conductive, dielectric materials like plastic and fiberglass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Contact level measurement<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Non-contact
\nlevel measurement<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Glass level indicator<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bypass level <\/strong>indicator<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Float-based level <\/strong>sensor<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Opto-electric level switch<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Vibrating
\nlevel switch<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Guided wave radar sensor<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ultrasonic sensor<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Free-beam radar sensor<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Does not
\nrequire power supply<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Compact size<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Unaffected by dust, mist, humidity, etc.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Withstands vibration<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Has switching ability<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Can handle slurries and high-viscosity media<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Can measure solids<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Does not
\nrequire a tank opening<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2705<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\ud83c\udd87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Table 1: Comparing the merits of various contact and non-contact level measurement technologies<\/em><\/p>\n

ILT free-beam radar level sensors for practically every industrial application<\/strong><\/h2>\n

WIKA specializes in designing and manufacturing industrial measurement instruments that meet our customers\u2019 demand for both top performance and competitive price. This is one reason the company had not offered a wave-based level instrument until the introduction of the ILT series.<\/p>\n

The major downside of non-contact radar level sensors had long been its high price tag. Now that the cost of radar sensing components have come down in recent years, these advanced instruments have become a much more affordable level monitoring solution for numerous industrial and general applications, including OEMs. In fact, compared to ultrasonic or traditional radar instruments for the process sector, both the ILT-C01 and ILT C05 are hundreds of dollars cheaper due to their very industrial design.<\/p>\n

Users trust the ILT\u2019s data. WIKA\u2019s radar level transmitters are accurate within \u00b10.2 inches (\u00b15 mm) and have a repeatability of \u22640.079 inches (2 mm), due in large part to 60 GHz frequency modulated continuous waves (FMCW) technology.<\/p>\n

Smaller is better<\/h3>\n

Another major advantage is the ILT\u2019s extremely small footprint. The ILT-C01 is only 1.95 inches (49.5 mm) long. The ILT-C05 is slightly larger, at 2.83″ (72 mm); the extra \u201cstandoff\u201d area allows this high-temperature level sensor to increase its tolerance from the standard 212\u00b0F (100\u00b0C) to 302\u00b0F (150\u00b0C). With an electrical connection, each radar level sensor is about the size of a pack of gum.<\/p>\n

These ultra-compact dimensions make them easy to integrate into almost any application. They are also easy to store, so users can have extras on hand without incurring additional storage costs.<\/p>\n

Which industrial applications are non-contact radar level sensors suited for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Because the ILT free-beam radar sensors are non-invasive, withstand harsh operating conditions, and can measure the level of almost any liquids and solids, they are ideally suited to numerous industries and diverse applications:<\/p>\n