© 2010 apm automation solutions ltd. all rights reserved. apm automation solutions ltd. 11 apm...

© 2010 APM Automation Solutions Ltd. All rights reserved.

APM Automation Solutions Ltd.

1 1

APM Customer SupportTechnical Training

Part 1Technology

© 2010 APM Automation Solutions Ltd. All rights reserved.2

Company Introduction 3DLevelScanner video Acoustic mapping technology

Inherent tradeoffs in Acoustics Level measurement – Narrow beam solutions Surface mapping with a wide angle beam

Advance Radar Signal Processing Multi Beams, Multi Frequency, Challenges Self Cleaning Volume Accuracy Product Line Summary

Agenda


Company Profile

• Privately held company• Specializing in developing

technologically innovative, effective and economical non-contact 3D level measurement instruments for a range of industrial applications.

• APM's headquarters and state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing facilities are located in Israel

• Sales and support are provided by a network of distributors in the US and over 30 countries worldwide


What is the 3DLevelScanner?

· The only device presently available that delivers accurate measurement of bulk solids and powders to achieve an unrivalled degree of process measurement and inventory control

· Patented algorithm· Considering the type of material,

product characteristics, type and size of storage (silo, open bin and stock pile)

· Suitable for harshness installation environment

· Incorporates unique dust-penetrating technology

· Self-cleaning

Click on image for3DLevelScanner II video


Beam angle Vs. Frequency θ - Beam opening angle λ - Wavelength D - Antenna size

Inherent tradeoffs in Acoustics

D

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Low frequency => Wide Beam


Beam angle Vs. Frequency

F = 2.5KHzλ = 13cm θ = 108⁰

D = 7.5cm



F = 4.5KHzλ = 7.5cm θ = 60⁰

D = 7.5cm



F = 10KHzλ = 3.4cm θ = 27⁰

D = 7.5cm



F = 20KHzλ = 1.7cm θ = 13⁰

D = 7.5cm

Narrow beam requires Ultrasonic Frequency


Sound is a pressure wave Dust particles and humidity in the air

attenuate the wave energy Attenuation grow sharply over 5KHz

Inherent tradeoffs in Acoustics

Animation courtesy of Dr. Dan Russell, Kettering University

Low freq. => Effective dust penetration


Signal Attenuation due to Dust/Moisture concentration in air

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Acoustic wave attenuation

Very high attenuation at ultrasonic frequencies


Signal Attenuation due to Dust/Moisture concentration in air

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Effective penetration at lower frequencies


Goal: Measure the distance to a single, well defined point on the material surface Point measurement requires narrow beam Narrow Ultrasonic poor dust penetration

Distance measurement Traveling twice the distance C~340 Meter per Second Measuring the time of flight

Level measurement with narrow beam


Goal: Multipoint (X, Y, Z) measurement of the surface Large coverage Transmit a Wide angle pulse Wide beam Low freq. Effective dust penetration

Multiple reflected echoes coming from Large surfaces and Extremum points Material and Silo’s wall interface Silo Walls – False echo to be filtered

Separated by Time of Arrival

Surface mapping - wide angle beam


· Example: one dimensional Array processing

· Wave propagation at angle – θ· Speed of sound – C· Spacing between antenna’s

elements – d· Time of Arrival (TOA) is different

· Wave Path difference between antennas

ΔP=d*Cos θ· Therefore, time of arrival difference:

ΔT =ΔP/C= d*Cosθ/C

Direction of Arrival (DOA) - Array processing

Path difference => TOA difference => θ


Multiple Antennas Enable Mapping

R3,θ3

R1,θ1

R2,θ2

R2R1 R3

Single antenna device

Multiple antennas device

Distance and direction

Distance measurement


3 Dimensional Surface Reconstruction 2 Dimensional Array of 3 Antennas

Distance (R) Azimuth (Ф) and elevation (Θ) angles Convert R, Ф, Θ to Silo X, Y, Z coordinates

Optimal 3D surface reconstruction Extremum and boundary points Assume maximal material slope

Surface integral is Volume


Advance Radar Signal Processing

Range resolution – Key figure – the minimal distance between two echo sources that are still separable

Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR): Required for the detection of small echo

Long pulse higher energy better SNR It is a challenge to create pulses that excel in both

range resolution and SNR A very active research topic for military radars


Advance Radar Signal Processing (2)

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Long pulse (7M ) - modulated sine wave, rectangular envelope

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After match filter – Very poor range resolution – limited to 7 Meter !



State of the art – Chen and Cantrell 2002

After match filter – 50cm resolution, 1/13 side lobes

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APM Propriety – Patent pending

After detection: Significantly improved resolution, virtually no side lobes!

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3 targets: The importance of resolution and low side lobs

More points Better mapping

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State of the art APM



APM propriety algorithm combines The resolution in detection of a short pulse The energy of a long pulse Using relatively small bandwidth, optimized for the

application Virtually no side lobes Applicable for the entire scanning range

Maintain constant resolution across the scanning range The longer the distance – the higher the pulse energy

Very efficient numerical implementation


Beam steering technology

Beam direction can be tilted by modifying the signal phase in the antennas

Significantly improve false echo separation and the investigation of complex surfaces by: Looking at the same point through several beam tilts to

solve symmetry problems (i.e. dual echo at ±10 degrees) Pointing null to suspicious point to verify null reception Allowing high SNR at much larger sphere


Gather information from different perspectives Beam angle - Interaction with silos wall Interaction with material, specular vs. scattering

reflections

Multi frequency technology

Different multipath trajectories Different dust penetration capabilities Improved robustness to acoustic noise sources


· Automatic mapping of false echo from silo structure· Multipath between the walls and ceiling of the silo

and the topography of the material· Filtering analysis based on

· Distance and Direction measurement· Information from other frequencies · Information from other beams· Silo geometry

Directional False echo filtering


Self Cleaning

Self Cleaning due to acoustic energy vibration


· Accuracy is less than 3%· Accuracy estimation considerations

· Surface topography scenarios – typically, a complex surface yields more points!

· Direction of arrival accuracy · Distance measurement accuracy· Silo geometry· Beams coverage – MVL for very large silos

Volume Accuracy


3DLevelScanner Model S

· 30º opening beam angle – covers more area than other traditional level measurement devices

· Low frequency – dust penetrating· Fast response – suitable for small silos

or fast-changing process silos requiring fast tracking· Provides average Distance/Level· Provides % Volume (4-20 mA)· Linear mode enabled (for non standard and

segmented silos)· Suitable for small and narrow silos


3DLevelScanner model M

· 70º opening beam angle – covers wide surface area· Low frequency – dust penetrating· Suitable for large silos that require high accuracy and

inventory control· Provides minimum/maximum and average

measurements of distance / level· Provides % volume (4-20 mA)· Visualization disabled


3DLevelScanner Model MV

· 70º opening beam angle - covers wide surface area· Low frequency – dust penetrating· Suitable for large silos that require high accuracy and

inventory control· Provides minimum/maximum and average

measurements of distance / level· Provides % volume (4-20 mA) · 3D Visualization of material shape is enabled


3DLevelScanner MVL System

· Combines the capabilities of model MV in a connection of more then one scanner

· Using the 3DVision software to synchronize between the scanners and to make a combined calculations

· Suitable for large silos that require high accuracy and inventory control

· Provides % volume (4-20 mA), PLC/DCS can be connected to any of the scanners

· 3D Visualization of material shape is enabled including the scanners location


3DLevelManager

· PC software that allows the configuration of any of the 3DLevelScanner models

· Provides easy to use monitoring for process and inventory control

· Allow advance configuration and fine tuning for installers and customer support

· Generate log files and graphs that can be viewed any time from any date the scanner was connected to the computer

· Compatible with Windows XP and 7


3DVision / 3DMultiVision

· Advanced Server-Client application, based on MS .NET Framework 3.5

· Using an easy-to-use graphical interface· Provides an immediate view over all vessels connected· Hierarchy organized: Sites – Vessels – Scanners· Synchronize MVL scanners· 3DVision limited to a single vessel (no limitation on the

amount of scanners)· 3DMultiVision has not limitations· Unlimited number of clients connected to a single server· Report generation· Compatible with Windows XP and 7


3DLinkPro – Remote Communication

· The 3DLinkPro is used for remote connection and allows immediate support and assistance

· Requires SIM card with SMS (Text) and GPRS enabled (preferred with static IP)

· Auto power reset when losing cellular signal

· Enable remote FW upgrade and continuous monitoring

· Modem Wizard application for advanced configuration


Accessories

· Neck Extension· Head-Body separation· USB-RS-485 converter· TCP/IP-RS-485 converter· DN250 and DN200 Flanges


Summery

· Technology· Radar· Mapping· Echoes· Volume

· Advantages· Accuracy· Self cleaning

· Products

· Questions?

© 2010 apm automation solutions ltd. all rights reserved. apm automation solutions ltd. 11 apm...

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