The side-mounted radar level gauge, also known as the bypass pipe type or external radar level gauge, refers to the instrument installed on the side wall of the container or on the bypass pipe (guide pipe) connected to the container, for horizontal or inclined direction measurement of the radar level gauge.

1. The tank top cannot be drilled or installed

   Scenario: Old tank renovation, complex top structure of dome tanks, heavy equipment on the tank top, or insufficient strength to drill.

   Advantage: Side wall drilling or connecting bypass pipes is usually easier to achieve.

2. Extremely harsh gas phase space conditions
   • High temperature: Gas phase temperature far exceeds the temperature limit of the instrument's electronic components or antennas (e.g., >200℃).
   • High pressure/vacuum: Exceeds the pressure rating of top-mounted instruments.
   • Severe crystallization/polymerization: Volatile media rapidly condense and crystallize on the tank top and antennas, seriously affecting the radar signal of top-mounted radars.
   • Strong turbulence/steam: Boiling conditions cause drastic changes in gas phase density, interfering with microwave propagation.

   Advantage: By isolating the measurement environment from the main container through a bypass pipe, a relatively stable and clean measurement environment is created for the radar probe.

3. Need to measure extremely small ranges or high-precision interfaces

   Scenario: Small metering tanks, oil-water interface measurement.

   Advantage: Side installation on the bypass pipe can shorten the measurement distance, improve resolution, and make the liquid surface more stable, making it easier to detect clear echoes.

4. Special cases of solid silos

   Scenario: Extremely high dust on the silo top, making installation and maintenance extremely difficult.

   Advantage: Side installation on the silo wall avoids the area with the highest dust concentration and makes maintenance easier.

The side-mounted radar level gauge is an important "problem solver" and "alternative solution" in radar level measurement technology. Its core value does not lie in replacing the top-mounted type, but in addressing those extreme or special working conditions that the top-mounted type cannot handle.