Can a single non-contact radar level measurement device be used (with a high degree of confidence) to measure the inventory of a powder in a silo? Why or why not?
I would say not - the amount of consolidation in the upper levels of the powder would vary the penetration of the radar and thus report with different levels of confidence (in other words - take a single reading now, just after loading and another reading after the power has settled for an hour and find the reading vary by many inches.
I assume you mean a radar mounted above the powder surface, say at the top of the silo, with line of sight to the top of the powder. Having used radar in the military for years, I would say the surface of a powder would be somewhat like desert sand, and could provide a reasonably accurate measure, assuming there was no pronounced concavity or other surface distortion as a result of moving powder in and out. Probably much better would be a simple laser distance measuring device. Sounds like a good idea, if you have remote displays, etc.
