Microwave radar sensor as solid flow counter

Microwave radar sensors (MRS) studies are usually based on the analysis of the frequency response of the reflected signal. A MRS system operating at 10.6 GHz, with computer integration, has been built to study the signal characteristic of solid flows. Beans of /spl lambda//4 in size have been used in this study. The amplitude of the reflected signal has been found to be useful in describing the flow characteristics. The amplitude response can be converted into a digital counter with the application of advance signal processing to eliminate noise and unwanted signals. In fact, the system not only counts the number of solids flowing but was also able to identify the size of the solids. Experimental results are presented in this paper.