• Streams and Rivers -
  Obtain high accuracy velocity data for use in computing discharge. The unit includes an accurate acoustic level sensor and pressure sensor to determine stage as well.
• Open Channels -
  Obtain accurate velocity data for pacing water quality samplers.
• Estuaries -
  Measure the complex currents for environmental monitoring or circulation model calibrations.
• Ports and Harbors -
  Monitor currents to provide accurate information for mariners.

Have an application you'd like to share?
We'd love to hear from you! (And, as a token of our appreciation, we'll send you a special gift!)
Please fill in this brief online form; and e-mail any accompanying photos or data sets to MNewcombe@teledyne.com. Short on time? Contact Margo to schedule a quick telephone interview.

-top-

---

ChannelMaster H-ADCP Data Samples

LIVE: ChannelMaster data: >>View live data from Aqua Vision


LIVE: ChannelMaster data: >>View live USGS Channelmaster data

click to enlarge

ChannelMaster data screen: This data was collected from the Redlands Canal near Grand Junction Colorado. This canal has natural rock on one bank and the bottom, and sprayed gunnite on the other irregular bank causing a turbulent flow. The data shown is a two minute averaging interval which illustrates the ChannelMaster's ability to obtain very low noise data even in turbulent conditions. Because this system is part of a canal control loop, it is important to obtain accurate flow data in a short time frame. The data was taken during the rating measurements during which a flow change was made deliberately to obtain rating data over a range of velocity and depth conditions. The discharge time series in the upper left graphic panel shows how well the CM tracked the changing flow. The lower left graphic panel shows in detail how the flow structure evolved during the changing conditions - and it illustrates the usefulness of being able to obtain and visualize many cells of data across the channel being measured.

-top-

---

ChannelMaster H-ADCP Software

Software screens will be posted in the near future.

-top-

---

ChannelMaster H-ADCP FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):

1. What is the power consumption of a ChannelMaster?
2. What is the best number of cells to use when measuring across the channel?
3. How accurate is the ChannelMaster acoustic stage sensor?
4. What data can I get from the ChannelMaster using SDI-12?
5. What sensors are standard equipment with the ChannelMaster?

1. Question: What is the power consumption of a ChannelMaster?

Answer: This depends on the frequency of the ChannelMaster and the duty cycle – what percentage of the time that it is actually active and not asleep. For 100% duty cycle when the ChannelMaster is pinging continuously except to send or record data, the power consumption in 1.7 Watts for the 600 kHz and 1200 kHz ChannelMasters, and 2.2 watts for the 300 kHz ChannelMaster. This is the maximum power consumption. For more typical setups, where the ChannelMaster is running at 50% duty cycle, the energy consumption will be one half of the numbers above.

-top of FAQ-

2. Question: What is the best number of cells to use when measuring across the channel?

Answer: In general, when you measure the largest possible part of the cross-section, you will get a tighter and more reliable rating. Since using smaller cells obtains data closer to the ChannelMaster and closer to the far boundary, then using smaller cells and more cells is the best technique. But you may need to trade off the amount of data to be output versus the amount of data storage available in the ChannelMaster or in your datalogger. Teledyne RD Instruments recently added the ability to output the mean velocity of a range of cells that you select, rather than needing to output all of the individual cell velocities. So, now you can use as many cells as required but only output the average velocity of the good cells. By selecting the smallest recommended cell size (25 cm for the CM1200, 50 cm for the CM600, and 100 cm for the CM300) you can obtain the average velocity of more of the cross-section.

-top of FAQ-

3. Question: How accurate is the ChannelMaster acoustic stage sensor?

Answer: The specification is ± 0.1% of the range to surface or ± 3 mm, whichever is greater. We tested the acoustic stage sensor at the USGS HIF facility in 2004. In a volumetric tank equipped with a hook gauge, the acoustic stage sensor was +0.3 ± 0.6 mm, compared to the hook gauge, over a range from 15 cm to 2.0 meters above the ChannelMaster. So, over the depth range tested, the ChannelMaster was well with the specification.

-top of FAQ-

4. Question: What data can I get from the ChannelMaster using SDI-12?

Answer: The ChannelMaster can output water temperature, instrument depth from the pressure sensor, instrument depth from the acoustic stage sensor, pitch, roll, supply voltage, rated mean velocity of a user specified list or range of cells, total stage using the acoustic stage sensor added to a user specified mounting depth, cross-section area, rated flow, accumulated volume, and up to 27 cells of downstream and cross-stream velocity (60 cells using concurrent SDI-12).

-top of FAQ-

5.Question: What sensors are standard equipment with the ChannelMaster?

Answer: The standard sensors are temperature, pressure, pitch, roll, and acoustic range to surface. Since all of these sensors are required to do accurate, verifiable index-velocity/discharge measurements with a horizontal ADCP, Teledyne RD Instruments includes them all as standard equipment. Pitch and roll are important not only for installing the instrument but also for continuously monitoring the instruments attitude. If the ChannelMaster mount was disturbed by debris in the water causing the ChannelMaster to point in a different direction, then it is likely that your rating would be shifted since you are no longer measuring at the same elevation. If you could not monitor pitch and roll along with the water velocity, you would have no means of knowing that the mount had been shifted. The acoustic stage sensor is standard because it allow the user to install the ChannelMaster at a measurement site without he need to install a secondary stage sensor, reducing the time and cost required to install a new station.

-top of FAQ-

Looking for more information?
Contact the Water Resources Product Line for immediate assistance. >>contact info

-top-