A New Water Level Measurement Method Combining Infrared Sensors and Floats for Applications on Laboratory Scale Channel under Unsteady Flow Regime

Abstract

In this paper, we studied water transport under an unsteady flow regime in an experimental channel (4 m in length; 3 cm in width). Our experiments implicated some measuring requirements, specifically, a water level (WL) detection technique that is able to measure WL in a range of 2 cm with a precision of 1 mm. The existing WL detection techniques could not meet our measurement requirements. Therefore, we propose a new measurement method that combines two approaches: An “old” water contact technique (float) with a “new” remote non-contact technique (infrared sensor). We used an extruded polystyrene (XPS Foam) that needed some adequate treatment before using it as float in experimental measurements. The combination of IR-sensors with treated float foam lead to a sensitive measurement method that is able to detect flat and sharp flow signals, as well as highly dynamic variations of water surface level. Based on the experimental measurements of WL and outflow at the channel output, we deduced a loop rating curve that is suitable with a power law adjustment. The new measurement method could be extended to larger scale applications like rivers and more complicated cross section geometry of irregular shape.

A novel platform to evaluate the dampening of water and solute transport in an experimental channel under unsteady flow conditions

“…Therefore, a precision of 1 mm (at least) was needed for an instrument of water height measurement. As explained in Majdalani et al (), the existing instruments of water height measurement could not meet our measurement requirements. This is why we developed in Majdalani et al () a new method of water height measurement that is based on coupling infrared (IR) sensor and float foam.…”

“…As explained in Majdalani et al (), the existing instruments of water height measurement could not meet our measurement requirements. This is why we developed in Majdalani et al () a new method of water height measurement that is based on coupling infrared (IR) sensor and float foam. Thus, we equipped our experimental platform with IR sensor and float in order to assess the rating curve at the channel output.…”

“…The platform presented in this study consists of an experimental channel equipped with the following: Three peristaltic pumps that can impose unsteady flow events of any mathematical form and where flow can be varied at the time step of 1 s. The three pumps are used to study solute transport under lateral gain (lateral solute injection) and lateral loss (lateral effluent withdraw) conditions where lateral flow can be uniformly distributed at different channel positions/abscissa or discrete (at a single position). Scales and conductimeters that allow the dynamic assessment of flow and concentration measurements (at the time step of 1 s), which allows to measure the time evolution of flow and solute mass in the outflow (at the channel output) and in the lateral loss flow (at different channel positions). Infrared sensor that measures water height in the channel with a precision of 1 mm (Majdalani, Chazarin, & Moussa, ). The assessment of water height and flow measurements (at the time step of 1 s) at the channel output allows to obtain a dynamic rating curve, which is essential in hydraulic studies dealing with free surface transport in channels. …”

“…The method of water height measurement was developed in Majdalani et al (). We give in this section a short description of this method.…”

Study on Hydraulic Characteristic of Unsteady Flow at Huangchigou Water Distribution Hub by Observing Instantaneous Water Level Based on Single-Camera and Fixed-Scale Compensation Method

“…At present, the main methods for measuring the water lever include the tracking water level meter method, ultrasonic method, optical method, and so on. Majdalani et al [1] proposed a method combining a near-infrared sensor and float for the water level measurement of unsteady flow in the laboratory. The measuring range is 2 cm, and the accuracy is up to 1 mm.…”