SENSseries LB 480 detector for level and density measurement

Technical Highlights

Easy and intuitive operation

Compact and rugged field unit with integrated electronics for easy installation and minimal wiring
Quick start menu for fast, intuitive and error-free commissioning
Continuous self-monitoring for maximum process reliability
Extremely high detector sensitivity, ideal for applications requiring low source activities

State-of-the-art technology

The SENSseries LB 480 combines advanced technology and certified safety in a robust, industry-proven system:

HART communication for seamless integration into existing control systems
Comprehensive Ex approvals for safe operation in hazardous areas
SIL-certified safety: SIL 2 or SIL 3 in redundant configurations
High immunity to interference in accordance with SIL requirements
Intelligent compensation and diagnostic functions, including X-ray interference protection (XIP)

Functional safety at the highest level

The SENSseries LB 480 delivers maximum functional safety and meets SIL 2 requirements, and even SIL 3 when used in redundant configurations. Continuous monitoring of detector performance, including comparison with natural cosmic background radiation, ensures reliable, accurate and stable measurements at all times. The integrated source decay compensation significantly reduces the required source activity, enabling safe, economical and resource-efficient plant operation. Thanks to this unique technology, the LB 480 can be used not only for density measurement, but also for continuous level measurement and point level detection within SIL 2/3 safety loops. This combination of intelligent diagnostics, certified functional safety and outstanding flexibility makes the SENSseries LB 480 one of the most reliable radiometric measurement solutions for safety-critical industrial processes.

X-ray Interference Protection (XIP)

With this function, weld tests no longer cause sudden fluctuations in the measured value. When weld tests are detected, the measured value is frozen until the external radiation event ends. A digital output signals the detection of interfering radiation. All of our level measurement detectors are equipped with XIP.

More about XIP

Product Radiation Compensation (PRC)

Does your product contain natural radioactive radiation? The PRC feature ensures reliable and accurate level measurement through independent activity measurement and integrated compensation. Two separate detector systems are used to simultaneously measure the level and the radiation emitted by the product. This enables automatic compensation for the influence of naturally occurring radioactivity, ensuring stable and precise measurement results at all times.

More about PRC

Gas Property Compensation (GPC)

In the case of radiometric measurement, gas density variations can falsify the measured value, unless you have gas density compensation from Berthold. With the feature GPC, a second measurement determines the current gas density in the tank and has a compensating effect on the connected level measurement.

More about GPC

LB 480 SpeedStar – Maximum Speed for Dynamic Processes

The LB 480 SpeedStar is designed for applications requiring extremely short response times in the millisecond range. While standard measurements typically provide a new value every 500 ms, the SpeedStar version operates with a measuring cycle of only 50 ms, making it ten times faster.
This exceptional performance enables precise and ultra-fast object detection, for example detecting the leading edge of a steel plate moving at high speed on a roller conveyor. It also allows the level of gas cylinders to be measured reliably during transport, without interrupting the material flow.
With its outstanding speed and stability, the LB 480 SpeedStar is the ideal solution for highly dynamic industrial processes where every millisecond counts.

SIL certified option available

The SENSseries LB 480 detectors are certified for use in SIL 2 applications. SIL 3 is achieved by adding an identical redundant SIL 2 detector for homogenous redundancy. The certificate covers all measurement applications, from high level or low level alarms to continuous level and density measurements. Thus the safe measurement of critical processes is guaranteed.

More about SIL

Detector types

CrystalSENS Detector

Point detector with high-sensitive, high-quality Sodium Iodide crystal for best long-term stability.

UniSENS Detector

Rod detector with a sensitive detector length of 0.5 up to 2.0 m for level and interface measurements.

SuperSENS Detector

Best sensitivity on the market, is able to work with smallest source activities.

TowerSENS Detector

TowerSENS detector with a maximum length of 8 m (cascaded to cover up to 32 m), this rod detector is designed to monitor long measuring ranges

Reference

Strahler & Abschirmungen

Sources & Shields

Sources and shields used in our radiometric systems are the safest and highest quality on the market. The shielding containers create an optimum shielding.

Details

Further information on radiometric measurement solutions

Continuous Level Measurement

Optimize your processes with non-contacting and maintenance-free technology for measuring level in vessels, silos, reactors, and bunkers containing liquids or bulk solids.

Level Switch Measurement

Monitoring one or more minimum and maximum levels of liquids or bulk solids

Density Measurement

Solutions for density or concentration measurement of acids, suspensions, slurries etc.

Specifications

Applications	Density, Level, Level Switch
Measuring range point detector	25 x 25 NaI - 150 x 150 NaI
Measuring range rod detector	500 to 8000 mm; cascading of up to 17 detectors possible
Power supply	100 to 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz, max. 12 VA 24 V DC (18 to 32 V DC), max. 12 W
Housing material	Stainless steel ISO 1.4301 / AISI 304 or ISO 1.4404/AISI 316
Ambient temperature	−40 to +60 °C −40 to +100 °C due to additional water cooling Observe possible temperature restrictions for explosion protection!
Temperature stability	≤ 0,002 %/°C (−40 to +60 °C) für CrystalSENS ≤ 0,01 %/°C (−40 to +60 °C) für SuperSENS und UniSENS ≤ 0,02 %/°C (−40 to +60 °C) für TowerSENS
Water cooling for higher temperature	optional
Collimator for background suppression	optional
Outputs analog	4 to 20 mA potential-free, HART, max. impedance 500 Ω, active or passive
Outputs digital	Open collector potential-free, max. 100 mA at 5 … 35 V DC for alarms, warning and error messages
Inputs anlog signal	PT100 for temperature compensation (only density)
Interfaces	RS 485 for software update, cascading and compensation
IP protection	IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68, IP69K
Explosion protection	ATEX, IECEx, NEC/CEC, INMETRO, EAC
Funtional safety	SIL 2, SIL 3
Features	■ X-ray Interference Protection (XIP) ■ Gas Property Compensation (GPC) ■ Product Radiation Compensation (PRC) ■ Fast measurement sample rate (Speedstar) ■ Source Life Management ■ Continuously monitored current output ■ Quick start wizard