Endress+hauserse+co. Kg

Endress + Hauser Gmbh + Co. Kg

Simon Weidenbruch

Hartmut Damm

Narcisse Michel Nzitchieu Gadeu

Robert Schäuble

Mingzheng Jiang

Max Jehle

Jochen Politt

Mingzehn Jiang

Lars Stolz

Romy Gabel

Arun Shankar Venkatesh Iyer

Jörn Lange

Dieter Benz

Sebastian Eumann

Jochen Rummel

A radiation protection container of a measuring system serves for radiometric density or fill level measurement. The radiation protection container is based on two base bodies connected to one another via a planar surface. The radiation waveguide extends for focused emission in a plane defined by the planar surface, wherein the radiation waveguide is formed by depressions in the base body surfaces. The radiation protection container comprises radiation absorption structures formed by depressions and complementary elevations in the base body surfaces lying on top of each other. An advantage is that refractory base bodies based on steel can be used and it is possible for the depressions and/or elevations to be realized using surface machining. The radiation absorption structures ensure that no radiation exits the radiation protection container laterally.

Radioprotective container for radiometric measuring devices

A method for calibrating a radiometric device for determining and/or monitoring the density of a medium located in a container includes: determining the count rate of the radioactive radiation after it has passed through the empty container on the basis of the activity of the transmitting unit; determining the measured count rate of the radioactive radiation after it has passed through the container when a calibration medium of known density is located in the container; determining the mass attenuation coefficient according to the formula μ=−(ln(N/N))/(ρD), where D is a beam path of the radioactive radiation or inner diameter of the container, and ρis density of the calibration medium; and calculating a calibration curve representing the dependence of the density of the medium on the count rate of the measured radiation intensity after the radiation has passed through the container.

Method for calibrating a radiometric density measuring device

The present disclosure relates to a method for determining a remaining operating period of a detector unit for a radiometric, density- or fill-level measuring device. The detector unit includes a photomultiplier. In such method, the control voltage of the photomultiplier is registered over at least one predetermined time period, a time rate of change function is ascertained based on control voltage registered during the predetermined time period, and the remaining operating period until reaching a maximum control voltage is calculated by means of the time rate of change function and a current control voltage, which is present at the current operating time. The method of the present disclosure permits approximation of the remaining operating period of the detector unit and, thus, timely learning of when required maintenance measures, especially aging related replacement of the photomultiplier, must be performed.

Method for determining a remaining operating period of a detector unit

Described is an explosion endangered region usable, switching power supply for supplying an output voltage controlled to a desired value, comprising a supply path, which includes a switching controller controlled via a driver, a galvanically isolated transformer connected after the switching controller, and, connected after the transformer, a rectifier-containing, output circuit, and a feedback path, via which the driver is fed a signal transmitted via a light source and a light receiver and reflecting the output voltage, based on which the driver controls the output voltage to the desired value via a corresponding operation of the switching controller. The feedback path includes a voltage regulator, which regulates a supply voltage falling across the light source to a fixed value, and an electrical current regulator, which regulates an electrical current flowing through the light source to an electrical current value corresponding to the output voltage.

Switching power supply

A method for limit level monitoring with a radiometric limit switch. A detector measures discrete radiation intensities. Statistical distributions of radiation intensities in a state, free of medium, and in a state, covered by medium, are given by two Poisson distributions. In an interval successive radiation intensities are measured, a distribution of the radiation intensities, two separated Poisson distributions are identified within the distribution, based on the positions of the Poisson distributions identified within the distribution, an upper threshold value is determined for the radiation intensity, the exceeding of which upper threshold value by a radiation intensity measured following the interval means a state change into the state, free of medium, has been detected, and/or a lower threshold value is determined for the radiation intensity, the subceeding of which lower threshold value by a radiation intensity measured following the interval means a state change into the state, covered by medium, has been detected.

Method for radiometric limit level monitoring

The invention relates to a radiometric measuring device for carrying out measurements in an explosion-prone area, which radiometric measuring device requires only little space at the measurement location and can be economically produced. The radiometric measuring device comprises a measuring unit () that can be used in the explosion-prone area. Said measuring unit comprises a scintillator (), which converts radioactive radiation incident on the scintillator into photons, and a semiconductor detector (), which is connected to the scintillator () and can be operated by means of an inherently safe energy supply and metrologically captures photons arising in the scintillator () and reaching the semiconductor detector (), and converts said photons into electrical measurement signals. Explosion protection measures to be associated exclusively with the ignition protection class of the inherent safety are provided in the measuring unit. The radiometric measuring device also comprises a superordinate unit () to be arranged outside of the explosion-prone area and to be connected to the measuring unit (). The superordinate unit effects an inherently safe supply of the measuring unit ()&#x2014;in particular, the semiconductor detector (), during measuring operation.

Radiometric measuring device for carrying out measurements in explosion-prone areas

A scintillation detector, especially one for a radiometric measuring device for measuring and/or monitoring a measured variable, especially a fill level of a fill substance located in a container, for covering a predeterminable measuring range as flexibly as possible in shape and length. To this end, the scintillation detector comprises two or more scintillators arranged in series relative to one another for converting thereon falling, radioactive radiation into light flashes, whose light propagates in the respective scintillator toward its ends. Arranged between the scintillators are optical coupling elements, which establish light transmitting connections between adjoining pairs of scintillators. Connected at an end of the series is a photoelectric transducer, which converts light occurring in the series into an electrical signal corresponding to a radiation intensity striking the scintillators. According to the invention, at least one of the coupling elements is a mechanically flexible element, which includes a bundle of light conducting fibers, via which transmission of the light between the two scintillators connected with one another via the fibers occurs.

Scintillation detector

A radiometric measuring device comprising: a radioactive radiator which sends radioactive radiation through a container; and a detector serving to receive a radiation intensity penetrating through the container, dependent on the physical, measured variable, and to convert such into an electrical output signal. The detector includes a carrier, on which at least one scintillation fiber is wound, which converts radiometric radiation impinging thereon into light flashes, whose light propagates in the respective scintillation fiber toward its ends. The detector further includes at least one array of avalanche photodiodes operated in a Geiger mode, which convert light impinging thereon into an electrical signal. The detector also has a measuring device electronics connected to the avalanche photodiodes for producing the electrical output signal, based on the electrical signals of the avalanche photodiodes.

Radiometric measuring device

A radiometric for measuring a physical, measured variable of a fill substance located in a container and for outputting a measurement signal, which corresponds to a measured value of the physical, measured variable. The measuring device has available a single line-pair, via which energy supply of the total measuring device occurs, and via which transmission of the measurement signal occurs. The measuring device includes: a radioactive radiator, which, during operation, sends radioactive radiation through the container; a detector having a scintillator and a photomultiplier and serving for detecting, and for converting into an electrical output signal, radiation intensity penetrating through the container dependent on the physical, measured variable to be measured; a measuring device electronics, which serves, on the basis of the electrical output signal of the detector, for producing the measurement signal and for making such available via the line-pair; an energy storer supplied via the line-pair; a controller, which, as a function of energy available via the line-pair and the energy storer, triggers measuring phases, during which the measuring device measures the physical, measured variable, and which places the photomultiplier in operation exclusively during the measuring phases, wherein high voltages required for operating the photomultiplier are produced during the measuring phases by means of a high voltage cascade.

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Lorrach, Germany

Simon Weidenbruch