First Guided Wave Radar Level Transmitters to be Certified for IEC 61508 SIL2/3 Applications

K-Tek (USA), a member of the ABB Group, have announced that the company’s MT5000 Series of Guided Wave Radar Transmitters has been certified for use in SIL2/3 (Safety Integrity Levels 2 and 3) applications. The MT5000 Series is the only guided wave radar transmitter in the industry to be certified to the demanding, performance-based IEC 61508 safety standard. To obtain SIL certification, the products must be analysed based on quantitative data and tests indicating the length of time between failures and expected performance in the field. This certification emphasizes quantitative measures for reducing risk at the process measurement level when implementing Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) in process plant environments.

"When it has to be safe and reliable, you want a device that has been thoroughly inspected and certified by a third party," said Charles Richard, Global Product Manager for Radar products at K-Tek. "K-Tek is the only guided wave radar transmitter manufacturer to provide a certified SIL2/3 product offering. The MT5000 Series provides reliable measurements even in the most complex situations. This makes it ideal for a variety of level applications, such as light hydrocarbons, low dielectric fluids, or fluids with foamy surfaces. Additionally, the MT5000 is self-monitoring, continually looking for any faults that could cause device failures or false indications."

The MT5000 devices feature an integrated graphic display for quick and easy viewing of waveform screens. The user-friendly setup menu supports a wide range of languages for fast setup in virtually any region of the world. A concentric waveguide directs the radar beam, alleviating divergence problems and echoes from tank walls and surrounding structures. In addition, the devices are unaffected by variations in specific gravity, and accurate level measurements are provided even with widely varying temperatures and pressures: up to 5000 psi (344 bar) or 800šF (427šC). The two-wire, loop powered design reduces wiring costs and provides a strong signal over distances.