INSTALLATION & OPERATION
FLOW DETECT 1000
MODEL FDS1000
DESCRIPTION
The Flow Detect 1000 is an industrial instrument that senses flow or no-flow conditions of solids and powders in
pneumatic pipelines, gravity chutes and feeders. It uses microwave doppler technology to provide highly sensitive
motion detection. The sensor probe is completely non-intrusive, avoiding contact with the flow stream and associ-
ated wear problems. It is designed for high reliability and has no moving parts to wear out.
The Flow Detect 1000 is a two-part system consisting of the Model FDS1000 low power microwave sensor and the
model FDC1000 associated control unit. The FDS1000 sensor can be located up to 2500 feet away from the con-
trol unit. For convenience of setup and operation, all calibration and operating adjustments are located in the
FDC1000 control unit that has a NEMA 4X enclosure with hinged cover for easy access.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The FDS1000 sensor unit emits a low power microwave signal toward the material being monitored. Part of this
signal is reflected off the material back to the antenna of the FDS1000. This reflected signal combines with the
emitted signal to produce a beat frequency, which is the difference in frequency between the two signals. If the
material being monitored is not moving, the reflected signal will be the same frequency as the emitted signal and
there will be no beat frequency produced. However, if the material is moving, the reflected signal will be shifted in
frequency and a difference or beat frequency will be produced. This shift in frequency is called the Doppler effect.
The presence or absence of this beat frequency is sensed by the FDS1000 to detect a flow or no flow condition.
Most of us have experienced the Dopplereffect when listening to a train horn as the train approaches and passes.
As the train approaches, its horn has a higher pitch because the velocity of the train toward us causes the sound
waves to reach us at a faster rate. As soon as the train passes us, its velocity away from us causes the sound
waves to reach us at a slower rate and the pitch of its horn shifts down in frequency.
DETECTION THROUGH WALLS
Microwaves are extremely high frequency radio waves and as such pass through nonmetallic materials with negli-
gible attenuation. The FDS1000, therefore, can "see through" a plastic pipe, or glass process seal, or the wall of a
wooden chute to detect the motion of material inside. This also means that the FDS1000 can look all the way
through a plastic pipe or wooden chute and see a person walking on the other side. Therefore, in some installa-
tions where this situation may occur, a metallic material will need to be placed on the opposite side of the pipe or
chute to prevent the FDS1000 from seeing objects on the other side. In some cases, adjusting the sensitivity of the
FDS1000 to a lower setting can simply eliminate the sensing of moving objects on the other side of a nonmetallic
pipe or chute.
THE SENSING BEAM SHAPE
The microwave signal emitted from the FDS1000 Sensor is a focused beam produced by a horn antenna inside the
enclosure neck. You can imagine this beam by thinking of the enclosure as a flashlight with a beam of light shining
outward from the neck. This narrow beam must be directed at the moving material to be monitored.