User's Manual Part 4
T
ECHNICAL
D
OCUMENTATION
P
ROTECTING
P
EOPLE AND
A
SSETS
®
D
ATE
:
27
M
ARCH
2017
|
V
ERSION
:
1.8
85
R
ANGER
®
-
X5
R
ADAR
S
YSTEM
(M
OBILE
)
F
UNCTIONAL
O
VERVIEW AND
T
HEORY OF
O
PERATION
EEC
®
|
C
OMPANY
P
ROPRIETARY
Figure 68.Ranger-X5 Communication
4.6.1. Radiation Safety
RF Hazard regulations are in place to protect personnel from harmful RF exposure. The primary
effect of RF exposure is thermal. Exposure to RF energy will cause an increase in the thermal
energy of the body’s molecules. The heating effect is very similar to how our microwave ovens cook
our food. Because of this, Enterprise Electronics Corporation (EEC) weather radar systems are
designed with safety at the top of the list.
The Ranger-X5 is a low powered radar system with only 500 watts of power per channel (horizontal
and vertical). Even with the longer pulse widths (100 microseconds) the power density is relatively
small.
The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and International Commission on
Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) have established the same MPE limits based on
person’s awareness of the RF hazard. Two exposure limits exist, Occupational/Controlled and
General Population/Uncontrolled. Below is an excerpt from FCC OET 65 explaining the differences1.
“Occupational/Controlled exposure limits apply to situations in which persons are exposed as a
consequence of their employment and in which those persons who are exposed have been made
fully aware of the potential for exposure and can exercise control over their exposure.”
“General Population/Uncontrolled exposure limits apply to situations in which the general public may
be exposed or in which persons who are exposed as a consequence of their employment may not
be made fully aware of the potential for exposure or cannot exercise control over their exposure.
Therefore, members of the general public would always be considered under this category when
exposure is not employment-related.”
In order to protect personnel, the minimum safety distances for the General Population has been
computed and is diagrammed in Figure 69.