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Open Channel flow
Why measure wastewater flow?
It is crucial to measure the amount of wastewater that flows through a channel as it is always related to cost, environment protection or both. Water purification plants get paid on the basis of the amount of water that the plant purifies. On the other hand, manufacturing plants pay for the amount of effluent that the plant pours to the waste system or rivers. Even if payment is not related, municipalities want to measure the amount of waste water running through their sewer systems in order to prevent waste waster leakage and verify that the system is not overstressed.
Naturally, it is also crucial to measure water as farmers are entitled to a specific quota that they are charged for.
What is open channel flow?
The definition of Open Channel Flow (OCF) is flow of liquids driven by gravity and exposed to the atmosphere.
The main types of liquids that are guided via this method are waste water and water. Waste water is driven in open channels across municipal sewer systems, towards purification plants and from manufacturing plants to the local waste system or river. Water is usually led for agricultural distribution networks from large reservoirs to the fields.
Flow in open channels can not be measured via traditional flow meters that require the fluid to fill the entire cross section of the pipe in order to produce a proper measurement. A common method of measuring flow in open channels is by converting liquid level into flow where the liquid is directed through a mechanical structure called flume or weir. Each structure converts level into flow via a specific formula.
Open channel flow can be measured not only in channels that open to the atmosphere but also in closed sewer systems in the manhole locations.
Why non-contact technology and why Ultrasonic level sensors?
Waste water can not be measured efficiently over time by traditional contact sensors (float, capacitance etc.). With contact sensors, the waste sticks to the devices and tampers with their performance. Non-contact measurement is the only possible method.
Ultrasonic level measurement is non-contact, cost effective, safe and is therefore better from the significantly more expensive Radar technology. Radar technology is an overkill for this application. In addition, radar can sometimes also relate to radiation problems.
SolidAT's solution
The MonoScan and SmartScan 50 measure flow in open channels.
The distance that the Ultrasonic level sensors are measuring is converted to flow in open channels.
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