VEGA FLEX55K User Manual

Operating Instructions

VEGAFLEX 55K

Level and Pressure

Safety information / Note Ex area

Safety information

Please read this manual carefully, and also take
note of country-specific installation standards
(e.g. the VDE regulations in Germany) as well
as all prevailing safety regulations and acci­dent prevention rules.
For safety and warranty reasons, any internal
work on the instruments, apart from that in­volved in normal installation and electrical con­nection, must be carried out only by qualified
VEGA personnel.

2 VEGAFLEX 55K

Note Ex area

Please note the attached safety instructions
containing important information on installation
and operation in Ex areas.
These safety instructions are part of the oper­ating instructions and come with the Ex ap­proved instruments.

Contents

Contents

Safety information ........................................................................ 2

Note Ex area ................................................................................ 2

1 Product description

1.1 Function ................................................................................. 4

1.2 Application features ............................................................. 4

1.3 Types and versions ............................................................. 5

1.4 Type code ............................................................................. 7

1.5 Technical data ....................................................................... 8

1.6 Dimensions ......................................................................... 11

2 Mounting

2.1 Installation instructions ...................................................... 14

3 Electrical connection

3.1 Connection and connection cable .................................... 15

3.2 Connection of the sensor .................................................. 17

3.3 Connection of the indicating instrument VEGADIS 50 .... 19

4Setup

4.1 Adjustment media .............................................................. 20

4.2 Adjustment with the adjustment module MINICOM ........ 20

4.3 Adjustment with the PC ...................................................... 26

4.4 Adjustment with HART® handheld ..................................... 29

5 Diagnosis

5.1 Simulation ............................................................................ 30

5.2 Failure rectification ............................................................. 30

VEGAFLEX 55K 3

1 Product description

Product description

1.1 Function

High frequency microwave impulses are
guided along a steel rod.
The microwave impulses are reflected when
they reach the product surface. The impulse
running time is processed by the integrated
electronics and outputted as level.

The sensors detect levels in all types of liq­uids. Density, conductivity and dielectric
value of the product do not influence the
measurement. Continuously changing prop­erties of the medium also do not influence the
measured value.

In many applications, VEGAFLEX microwave
sensors are the solution to difficult technical
problems. Even in products with varying or
fluctuating dielectric constant, the level is
reliably detected. In high, narrow vessels,
where non-contact measurement technolo­gies often deliver less than optimal results,
VEGAFLEX carries out problem-free meas­urements. The sensor part of VEGAFLEX 55
has a coaxial construction. A rod with 8 mm
diameter is positioned in a tube with 21.3 mm
diameter.

• Adjustment without filling or emptying the
vessel.

• 4 … 20 mA two-wire sensors, power sup­ply and measuring signal via one two-wire
cable (loop powered).

• Up to 15 sensors can be connected via
one two-wire cable.

• Measuring range up to 4 m, very small
minimum measuring distance.

• Unaffected by application conditions such
as:

- varying products

• Unaffected by the vessel material, e.g.
metal, concrete, plastic etc.

• As an option, the display with adjustment
functions can be mounted separate from
the sensor.

• Low wiring costs through the use of two­wire technology.

1.2 Application features

Applications

• Level measurement of liquids.

• Measurement also in vacuum.

• All slightly conductive substances and all
substances with a dielectric value ε
can be measured.

• Measuring range 0 ... 4 m.

Two-wire technology

• Power supply, signal transmission and
output signal on one two-wire cable.

• 4 … 20 mA output signal or digital output
signal.

Rugged

• Highly resistant materials: PCTFE, 1.4435,
Hastelloy C22.

Precise and reliable

• Resolution 1 mm.

• Unaffected by noise, steam, gas composi­tions and inert gas stratification.

• Unaffected by varying density.

• Measurements under pressure up to
40 bar and with product temperatures up
to 150°C.

Communicative

• Integrated measured value display.

• As an option, display can be mounted
separate from the sensor.

• Adjustment from the PLC level.

Approvals

• Ex Zone 0 EEx ia IIC T 6 acc. to
ATEX II 1/2 G

• Ex Zone 0 EEx d ia IIC T 6 acc. to ATEX II 1/2 G

> 1.5

r

4 VEGAFLEX 55K

Product description

Adjustment with PC

The setup and adjustment of VEGAFLEX
sensors is generally done on the PC with the
adjustment program VVO (VEGA Visual
Operating) under Windows®.
The program leads quickly through adjust­ment and parameter setting by means of
pictures, graphics and process
visualisations.

The PC can be connected at any individual
location in the system or directly to the signal
cable. This is done by connecting the two­wire PC interface converter VEGACONNECT 2
or 3 to the sensor or to the signal cable.

The adjustment and parameter data can be
saved with the adjustment software on the
PC and can be protected by passwords. On
request, the adjustments can be quickly
transferred to other sensors.

Adjustment with adjustment module
MINICOM

With the small (3.2 cm x 6.7 cm) 6-key ad­justment module MINICOM, the adjustment
can be carried out in clear text dialogue.
The adjustment module can be plugged into
VEGAFLEX or the external indicating instru­ment VEGADIS 50.
Thus, VEGAFLEX can also be adjusted from
the external indicating instrument VEGADIS

50.

Tank 1
m (d)

12.345

ESC

+

-

OK

Adjustment with HART® handheld

Series 50 sensors with 4 … 20 mA output
signal can also be adjusted with the HART
handheld or via a PC with HART® software
(e.g. Smart version). A special DDD (Data
Device Description) is not necessary. The
sensors can be adjusted with the HART
standard menus of the handheld.

HART Communicator

HART® handheld

®

®

1.3 Types and versions

VEGAFLEX series 50 K

In general, all VEGAFLEX series 50 sensors
can be adjusted with the pluggable adjust­ment module MINICOM or with any standard
HART® handheld. With the software VEGA
Visual Operating (VVO), it is also possible to
adjust the sensor with a PC.

4 … 20 mA sensors

Two-wire sensors for connection to a power
supply unit or a PLC.

Detachable adjustment module MINICOM

VEGAFLEX 55K 5

Configuration

A measuring system with a VEGAFLEX can
be realised in different ways (see following
illustration).
The external indicating instrument VEGADIS
50 can be mounted up to 25 m away from the
sensor.

Two-wire technology

1

4 ... 20 mA sensor, power supply and
measuring signal via one two-wire cable
(loop-powered), indicating instrument
VEGADIS 11 only possible with four-wire
technology.

2

Connection to a PLC (active).

3

Connection to indicating instrument
VEGADIS 371 with up to four relay outputs.

VEGADIS 50

1

Product description

1)

2 2

4 … 20 mA

4

1)

only with HART

VEGAFLEX

2

2

3

®

1)

2

4 … 20 mA
passive

4 … 20 mA
passive

VEGADIS 11

2

SPS

+

-

VEGADIS 371 Ex

Relay (4 x)

0/4 … 20 mA

6 VEGAFLEX 55K

Product description

1.4 Type code

The second figure of the type name, e.g.
VEGAFLEX 5[5]… distinguishes the instru­ments according to the version of the sensor
component.

The letter, e.g. VEGAFLEX 55[K] character­ises the output signal:
K stands for an analogue 4 … 20 mA output
signal (compact instrument)
P stands for a digital signal transmission for
connection to Profibus PA

VEGAFLEX 55 K .CX D

D - Two-wire loop-powered / 4 … 20 mA output, HART

®

G - Profibus PA

CX - Ex Zone 0 EEx ia IIC T 6 acc. to ATEX II 1/2 G
DX - Ex Zone 0 EEx d ia IIC T 6 acc. to ATEX II 1/2 G

P - Profibus PA
K - Analogue 0 … 20 mA output signal (two-wire technology)

Instrument series with 8 mm rod and 21.3 mm tube

Measuring principle (FLEX for guided microwave)

VEGAFLEX 55K 7

1.5 Technical data

Power supply

Supply voltage

- two-wire sensor 24 V DC (15 … 36 V DC)
Current consumption

- two-wire sensor max. 22.5 mA
Power consumption

- two-wire sensor max. 810 mW

Ω

1000

680

500

250

HART® load

Voltage limit
Ex sensor

Product description

Voltage limit
Non-Ex sensor

0

20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 3615 16 18

The min. supply voltage depends on the sensor current.

V

36

15
14

04 22

Measuring range

VEGAFLEX 55 0.1 ... 4 m

Output signal

4 … 20 mA current signal, load max. 500 Ω

Adjustment

- PC and adjustment software VEGA Visual Operating

- adjustment module MINICOM

- HART® handheld

V

Supply voltage

Range of the required
terminal voltage on the
sensor

Sensor current

mA

8 VEGAFLEX 55K

Product description

Accuracy (under reference conditions acc. to IEC 770 - relating to the max. meas. range)

Linearity error < 0.1 %
Temperature drift 0.015 %/10 K
Resolution of the 4 … 20 mA signal 0.025 % of range (DA converter)
Resolution 1 mm

Characteristics

Min. span between
full and empty adjustment

- analogue output signal 10 mm

Ambient conditions

Vessel pressure -1 … 40 bar
Ambient temperature on the housing -40°C … +60°C
Process temperature -40°C … +150°C
Storage and transport temperature -40°C … +80°C
Protection IP 66/IP 67 (meets both protection standards)
Protection class

- two-wire sensor II

- four-wire sensor I
Overvoltage category III
Min. dielectric constant ε

> 1.5

r

Process fittings

VEGAFLEX 55 G 3/4A, 3/4" NPT, G 1A, 1" NPT, G 11/2 A, 11/2" NPT

1.4435 (stst) or Hastelloy C22 plated
flanges

Ex technical data

Ex-Zone 0 acc. to ATEX II 1/2 G
Ex Zone 0 EEx ia IIC T 6 acc. to ATEX II 1/2 G
Ex Zone 0 EEx d ia IIC T 6 acc. to ATEX II 1/2 G
The permissible operating data of the VEGAFLEX sensors for Ex areas are listed in the
certificate.

Materials

Housing PBT (Valox) or

Aluminium (powder-coated)

Coax rod 1.4435 (stst: 316L) or Hastelloy C22

VEGAFLEX 55K 9

Product description

Connection cables

Two-wire sensor

- power supply and signal via one two-wire cable.
The cable resistance depends on the supply voltage (see diagram).

Conductor cross-section generally 2.5 mm
Ground connection max. 4 mm

2

2

Cable entry 2 x M20 x 1.5 (cable diameter 5 … 9 mm)

2 x 1/2" NPT with ExD housing

CE conformity

VEGAFLEX sensors meet the protective regulations of EMC (89/336/EWG) and NSR
(73/23/EWG). Conformity has been judged acc. to the following standards:
EMC Emission EN 50 081 - 1: 1992

Susceptibility EN 50 082 - 2: 1995

NSR EN 61 010 - 1: 1993

Display

Display scalable, analogue and digital display of

measured values (option).

An external measured value display, powered by the sensor, can be mounted at a distance
of up to 25 m from the sensor.

Signal output

Signal output

- two-wire technology 4 … 20 mA (see diagram)

Resolution of the 20 mA signal 0.025 % of range
Load 0 … 500 Ω

Two-wire technology:
The analogue 4 … 20 mA output signal (measuring signal) is transmitted together with the
power supply via one two-wire cable.

10 VEGAFLEX 55K