High Precision Self-Adaptive Radar Gauging under Clutter Environments

In this paper, a robust self-adaptive radar signal processing method for high precision level measurement is presented. The algorithms include dynamic tracking of multiple reflections and self-adaptive interferometric phase processing. The method has been tested under practical field scenarios, which contain multi-path effects, clutter object interferences and near-field reflections. The radar used in the tests is a Enraf X-band level gauge with frequency range from 9.5 to 10.5 GHz. The result shows that the accuracy of plusmn0.3 mm is obtained from the radar gauge. Under heavy clutter influences of 8-dB signal-to-clutter ratio, the accuracy of plusmn1 mm has been attained in whole measuring range. Furthermore, the gauge has been tested against the worst-case scenario that is the combination of unforeseen interruptions of continuous measurement with multi-path and clutter effects. The test results show that under severe interruptions the method can still maintain its high radar performance in robustness, repeatability and precision