Portable flow meter Non-Contact Water Flow Measurement

Portable flow meter utilizes K-band radar technology for non-contact flow velocity measurement of rivers, wastewater, mud, and oceans. This device is designed for industries such as hydrological monitoring, environmental protection, agricultural irrigation, and municipal water supply and drainage.  It features a lightweight structure and low power consumption, making it suitable for open channel flow velocity measurement in the field.

Portable flow meter is a portable measuring instrument based on the K-band radar principle, used for non-contact measurement of water surface flow velocity. This instrument is suitable for flow velocity monitoring of various fluids, including rivers, wastewater, mud, and oceans. Its design is primarily aimed at meeting the on-site measurement needs of hydrological monitoring, river flow surveys, agricultural irrigation management, municipal water supply and drainage systems, industrial wastewater monitoring, and water resource surveys.

The instrument transmits microwave signals to the water surface via a K-band radar sensor and receives the signals reflected back from the small ripples on the water surface. Using the Doppler effect, the surface flow velocity can be accurately determined by calculating the frequency shift between the transmitted and received frequencies. The entire measurement process does not require contact with the water body, avoiding the problems of traditional mechanical flow meters such as entanglement with debris, sensor wear, and the need for underwater installation. This feature makes it particularly suitable for measuring wastewater, sandy mud, or corrosive liquids, and also for emergency monitoring of high-speed water flow during flood seasons.

Portable flow meter is designed for simplicity and practicality. The entire unit typically integrates the radar probe, signal processor, display screen, and power supply unit, resulting in a compact and lightweight design that is easy for a single person to carry and operate. The casing is waterproof and dustproof, able to withstand humid and dusty environments in the field. The device has low power consumption and can operate continuously for a long time on its built-in battery, meeting the requirements for operation in the field without mains power. The operating interface is intuitive, and measurement data is displayed and stored in real time. Some models are equipped with wireless communication functions, allowing data to be transmitted remotely to a monitoring center.

The main users of this instrument include hydrological stations, environmental monitoring stations, agricultural water management departments, municipal drainage agencies, and industrial enterprises. Hydrological station personnel can use it to quickly survey and estimate flow rates across river sections from bridges or riverbanks. Environmental monitoring personnel can safely monitor flow velocities at discharge points and in treated river channels using its non-contact capabilities. In agricultural irrigation, managers can use this device to measure channel flow and achieve rational allocation of irrigation water. Municipal departments frequently use it to inspect the flow velocity at the outlets of drainage networks or open channels. Furthermore, it is often used for temporary measurement tasks such as hydrogeological surveys and water flow assessment at emergency rescue sites.

In practical operation, the user simply needs to point the instrument at the water surface to be measured, maintaining an appropriate distance and angle, to obtain stable flow velocity readings within seconds. By measuring the flow velocity at multiple vertical lines or transects across the cross-section, and combining this with the cross-sectional area parameters, the total flow rate of the cross-section can be calculated. This method significantly improves the efficiency and safety of field measurements.

With advancements in radio frequency technology and digital signal processing capabilities, the measurement accuracy, response speed, and adaptability to complex water surfaces of this device have continuously improved. Its non-contact, portable, and rapid characteristics make it an important tool in modern hydrological and water resource management, environmental monitoring, and municipal and industrial flow measurement, providing reliable and timely on-site data support for planning, management, and decision-making in related industries.