Whether at sea or on land: VEGAPULS 6X level sensor ensures safety in applications with liquefied gas

Many in the transport industry consider LNG to be the fuel of the future – the fact that it produces hardly any particulate matter and significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, is a valuable ecological argument. The economic advantages of LNG (short for Liquefied Natural Gas) and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), when compared to conventional fuels, are generating increased interest in liquefied gases.

LNG is already especially popular in the shipping industry. More and more container and cruise ships are using natural gas as their propulsion fuel. However, when liquefied gas is involved, safety is the top priority – because it is extremely cold, flammable and explosive. The measured values from the VEGAPULS 6X level sensor help to reduce risks and optimise processes. But there are a whole range of other challenges:

1. Robust materials required

VEGAPULS 6X is measuring contactlessly and operates irrespective of

✅ Temperature
✅ Density
✅ Pressure

The radar sensor is extremely robust – which is a must when handling LNG. Its metallic structure is composed of durable stainless steel, which thermally decouples the sensitive electronics inside. Thanks to the secure shielding from the process, the sensor can deliver precise measured values down to a temperature of -196 °C. The housing and the front-flush antenna cover of PTFE are suitable for cryogenic applications as well as aggressive media such as acids and alkalis.

2. Small dielectric constants

As is usual with petrochemical products, liquefied gases have low dielectric constants that cause the transmitted microwave signals to be reflected very poorly. However, VEGAPULS 6X, which utilises a microwave frequency of 80 GHz, reliably detects even the tiniest of reflected signals. Operating at a very high 120 decibels of sensitivity, the sensor does this particularly well.

3. Separability required

In applications with liquified gas, it is often required that the sensors be isolatable from the process via a valve assembly, without the process having to be interrupted. The measuring instruments are capable of being mounted on ball valves. The narrow focussing of VEGAPULS 6X microwave signal ensures that the ball valve has no influence on the level measurement..

Safety at all levels

Safety is the be-all and end-all when it comes to conveying, processing, storing and delivering LNG and LPG. VEGAPULS 6X offers a comprehensive safety concept that fulfils these requirements.

Functional safety: The level sensor features exceptional SIL characteristics and ensures the necessary operational safety.
Cybersecurity: VEGAPULS 6X meets the strictest requirements for secure communication and access control with the IEC 62443-4-2 standard.
Self-diagnosis: The radar sensor has its own system for self-diagnosis. It detects whether the functionality of the sensor is impaired in any way, which supports higher availability and performance of the measuring instrument.

LNG and LPG are becoming more and more important in the transport industry

No matter what stage in the production process these liquids are in – be it storage, purification or final delivery: The high quality of the sensor data helps minimise potential risks.

Whether for continuous measurement of levels, or monitoring of the various stages in the liquefaction process, a reliable and precise level instrument is a basic requirement that can be fully met with VEGAPULS 6X.

Whether at sea or on land: VEGAPULS 6X level sensor ensures safety in applications with liquefied gas

1. Robust materials required

2. Small dielectric constants

3. Separability required

LNG and LPG are becoming more and more important in the transport industry

Applications

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