AquaProfiler ® M-Pro

Mobile acoustic flow measurement on wading rod

User Manual
(from AquaProfiler® Software Release 2.3.1; 07/2015)

SEBA HYDROMETRIE GmbH & Co. KG

Gewerbestraße 61a
87600 Kaufbeuren
Germany
 SEBA HYDROMETRIE
GmbH & Co. KG

Gewerbestraße 61A
87600 Kaufbeuren
Germany

Tel.: +49 (0) 8341 / 9648-0

Fax.: +49 (0) 8341 / 964848
E-Mail: info@seba.de
Internet: www.seba.de

Copyright © 2015 Seba Hydrometrie GmbH & Co. KG

Text, illustrations and tables were compiled with largest care. Nevertheless Seba Hydrometrie can take
neither a legal responsibility nor any liability for possibly remaining incorrect data and their consequences.
All rights reserved. No part of this documentation may be reproduced in any form, stored or transferred,
neither electronically, mechanically, photo-technically, by recording on data media, still otherwise, as long
as no expressly written authorization of the publisher is present.
The use of the software or the associated material without license leads to claims for damages and fines.
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User Manual AquaProfiler M-Pro

Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 4

2 SAFETY AND DANGER INSTRUCTIONS ..................................................... 4

3 SCOPE OF DELIVERY – SYSTEM COMPONENTS...................................... 5

3.1 Sensor with cable ........................................................................................................ 5

3.2 Transmitter ................................................................................................................... 6

3.3 Battery .......................................................................................................................... 6

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3.4 Software AquaProfiler ............................................................................................... 8

3.5 Accessories .................................................................................................................. 8

3.5.1 Wading rod and handle with bubble indicator................................................................ 8
3.5.2 Spare rechargeable battery ........................................................................................... 8
3.5.3 Vehicle charger .............................................................................................................. 9
3.5.4 Backpack ....................................................................................................................... 9
3.5.5 HDA-Pro Tablet PC ....................................................................................................... 9

4 INSTALLATION OF SOFTWARE AQUAPROFILER ® .................................. 10

4.1 System requirements ................................................................................................ 10
4.1.1 Installation on a laptop ................................................................................................. 10
4.1.2 Installation WLAN USB stick ....................................................................................... 14
4.1.3 Installation on HDA-Pro ............................................................................................... 14
4.1.3.1 Operation HDA-Pro ..................................................................................................... 15

5 SETTING INTO OPERATION OF THE MEASURING SYSTEM ................... 17

5.1 Assembly of wading rod ........................................................................................... 17

5.2 Fixation of sensor to wading rod ............................................................................. 17

5.2.1 Sensor orientation........................................................................................................ 17

5.3 Connect power supply .............................................................................................. 18

5.4 Switch on transmitter ................................................................................................ 18

5.5 ®
Start AquaProfiler software .................................................................................... 19

6
PREPARING AND CARRYING OUT A DISCHARGE MEASUREMENT ...... 23
6.1
6.1.1 Preparing the measurement ..................................................................................... 23
6.1.2 Selection and preparation of cross-section ................................................................. 23
Define number of verticals ........................................................................................... 24
6.2
6.2.1 Carrying out discharge measurement ..................................................................... 25
6.2.1.1 Software settings ......................................................................................................... 26
6.2.1.2 Step 1: Establish communication to sensor ................................................................ 26
Step 2: Define data files and information for measuring site ....................................... 27

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6.2.1.3 Step 3: Determine measurement time and sensor settings and effect zero calibration
of pressure cell ............................................................................................................. 28
6.2.2 Carrying out measurement .......................................................................................... 31
6.2.2.1 Step 1: Set starting point ............................................................................................. 34
6.2.2.2 Step 2: Measurement of velocity profiles at specific verticals (V-Profile) .................... 37
6.2.2.3 Step 3: Set end point ................................................................................................... 42
6.2.2.4 Depth mark .................................................................................................................. 43
6.2.2.5 Vertical edges .............................................................................................................. 44
6.2.2.6 Insert and delete verticals during measurement ......................................................... 45

7 DATA EVALUATION .................................................................................... 46

7.1 Discharge calculation ............................................................................................... 46

7.2 Processing of data .................................................................................................... 50

7.2.1 Data file structure ........................................................................................................ 50
7.2.2 Data export .................................................................................................................. 51
7.2.2.1 Data Export Text file / CSV format .............................................................................. 51
7.2.2.2 Data Export XML format to SoftwareQ or BIBER ........................................................ 52
7.2.3 Report .......................................................................................................................... 57
7.2.4 Delete data .................................................................................................................. 57
7.2.5 Open existing data files ............................................................................................... 58

8 MAINTENANCE AND CARE ........................................................................ 58

9 APPENDIX ................................................................................................... 59

9.1 Operating Principle ................................................................................................... 59

9.2 Calculation of Q ......................................................................................................... 59

9.2.1 Fitted velocity profiles by using power law ................................................................... 59
9.2.2 Mean-section method .................................................................................................. 61
9.2.3 Mid-section method ..................................................................................................... 62
9.2.4 Edge Discharge of cross-section ................................................................................. 62

9.3 Sensor error messages ............................................................................................. 63

9.4 Technical data............................................................................................................ 64

9.5 Disposal ...................................................................................................................... 65

9.6 Bibliography ............................................................................................................... 66

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List of Figures
Fig. 1: Components of the sensor ............................................................................................... 6
Fig. 2: Transmitter with battery pack .......................................................................................... 6
Fig. 3: LED indicators for battery status ...................................................................................... 7
Fig. 4: Battery pack with charger ................................................................................................. 7
Fig. 5: LED indicators for charge condition.................................................................................. 7
Fig. 6: Handle for wading rod with integrated bubble indicator ................................................... 8
Fig. 7: Vehicle charger ................................................................................................................. 9
Fig. 8: Measuring system stored in backpack ............................................................................. 9
Fig. 9: HDA-Pro Tablet PC and pole mount bracket ................................................................... 9
Fig. 10: Vertical sensor orientation .............................................................................................. 18
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Fig. 11: User interface AquaProfiler software ............................................................................ 19
Fig. 12: Oblique bridge profile ..................................................................................................... 24
Fig. 13: Position of sensor during measurements ....................................................................... 31
Fig. 14: Principle procedure of discharge measurement along a cross-section.......................... 32
Fig. 15: Insert additional depth mark for a more detailed description of riverbed........................ 33
Fig. 16: Arrangement of verticals in case of vertical edges ......................................................... 44
Fig. 17: Fitted velocity curve ........................................................................................................ 59
Fig. 18: Mean-section method ..................................................................................................... 61
Fig. 19: Mid-section method ........................................................................................................ 62

List of Tables

Tab. 1: Number of verticals in relation to channel width ............................................................ 24

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1 Introduction

Product description
The mobile acoustic AquaProfiler ® M-Pro measuring system is based on the Doppler
principle using the Doppler frequency shift of acoustic pulses reflected from particles in
the water in order to measure the velocity distribution and water depth at a vertical in
one single measurement. Therefore the sensor is mounted on a common Ø 20mm
wading rod and placed either on the riverbed (up-looking orientation) or below water
surface (down-looking orientation) at the specific verticals. The including software Aq-
uaProfiler ® starts the measurement, records and evaluates measurement data and fur-
ther calculates the discharge according to DIN EN ISO 748.

Fields of application
The measuring system was developed specifically for applications in small streams,
rivers and channels. Typical applications range from a water depth of about 0.15 m to
1.0 m, if measurements are made standing in the water. For measurements from
bridges, the system can be used for water depths of up to 3.0 m.

2 Safety and danger instructions

Please read this manual carefully before operation. To ensure proper use only use the
measuring system as described in the manual.

By handling products, which are supplied by electrical voltage, the valid

VDE-instructions, especially VDE 0100, VDE 0550/0551, VDE 0700, VDE
0711 and VDE 0860 have to be observed.
Before opening an instrument, pull off the mains plug and make sure, that
the instrument is without power supply. Parts, construction groups or instruments must
only be set into operation, in case they are built into a housing and protected against
touching. During installation they have to be without power. It’s only allowed to use
tools at the instruments, parts or construction groups, in case it is secured, that the in-
struments are dropped out and the electric loads which are stored in the construction
groups inside the instrument, are unloaded.
Conducting cables or conductors, which are connected to the instrument, part or con-
struction group, have to be checked continuously to isolation faults or sites of frac-
tures. By verification of a fault in the supply cable, the instrument has to be switched-
off immediately, till the defect cable has been exchanged.
By using construction elements or groups, please make sure, that the features for
electrical sizes are observed, according to the respective description.
In case it is not possible to clarify clearly for a non-commercial end-user, which electri-
cal variables are valid for a part or a construction group, how to effect an external cir-
cuit, or which external parts or additional instrument can be connected and which con-
nection values these external components should have, please contact always an ex-
pert for respective information.
Before setting into operation, generally check if the instrument or construction group is
suitable for the field of application. In case of doubts, unconditionally contact special-
ists, experts or the manufacturer of the used construction group!
Please be informed, that operation and connection faults are beyond our sphere of in-
fluence. So, understandably, we cannot take over liability for resulting damages.

Never connect the instrument directly to power supply (110V or 230V) !

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3 Scope of delivery – system components

®
Included in delivery of the AquaProfiler M-Pro are:

Sensor with cable

Transmitter
Battery pack with charger
®
Software AquaProfiler on CD-Rom
WLAN USB stick (in case field laptop is available)
Cable clamps to fix cable on wading rod
Handle with bubble indicator for wading rod
Backpack

Optional Accessories

Wading rod
Spare rechargeable battery pack
Vehicle charger
Robust field laptop or HDA-Pro (Tablet PC)
Pole / rod mount bracket for HDA-Pro

3.1 Sensor with cable ®

The sensor technology for velocity measurements with the AquaProfiler M-Pro is
housed inside a robust, impact resistant housing which is mounted on a triangular
base plate (Fig. 1).

The sensor consists of 3 components:

2 ultrasonic transducers
hydrostatic pressure cell
temperature sensor

A further component is the sensor cable that connects sensor and transmitter via a fix
cable gland serving for power supply and data transmission.
In the standard configuration the sensor cable is delivered with a length of 5 meters.
Cable lengths of 10 meters are optionally available.

On the fixing plate there is a fixture for the wading rod and a locking screw for fixing
the sensor to the rod. You will also note an engraved arrow marking the positive flow
direction.

Pressure cell
The integrated hydrostatic pressure cell exactly determines the insertion depth of the
sensor. Prior to each measurement, this pressure cell needs to be calibrated in air un-
der current air pressure conditions at site.

Temperature sensor
The integrated temperature sensor measures the water temperature, which is an im-
portant variable for the calculation of sound velocity and therefore important for deter-
mining flow velocities, water depths and discharge.

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Wading rod
Connection cable
to transmitter

Ultrasonic transducer Cable connection

Temperature sensor Locking screw
Ultrasonic transducer Fixture for wading rod
Pressure cell chamber Fixing plate
Direction arrow in
positive flow direction

Fig. 1: Components of the sensor

3.2 Transmitter
The transmitter (Fig. 2) receives the measured signals via the connection cable. An in-
ternal signal processor amplifies and digitizes the signals which are transmitted wire-
less via WLAN to the field laptop or HDA-Pro for further evaluation.

The power supply of the transmitter is ensured via a connection cable from the battery
pack to the transmitter.

Battery pack
Transmitter

Antenna

Sensor connection cable

Power on / off

Battery pack connection cable

Fig. 2: Transmitter with battery pack

3.3 Battery
The separate rechargeable battery powers the transmitter (Fig. 4). With a fully charged
battery an operation of up to 8 hours is provided. The battery can be recharged up to
2000 times.

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Battery status
The charge condition of the battery is indicated after pushing the check button that can
be found at the front of the transmitter (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3: LED indicators for battery status

Charging the battery pack

Disconnect the cable to the transmitter

Connect the charger to the battery pack and a power supply source of 110 to 240
V AC (Fig. 4)

LED indicators battery status

Check button battery status

Charger control light

LED indicators charge condition

Charging cable

Fig. 4: Battery pack with charger

The actual state of charging is shown on the LED indicators on the bottom left (Fig. 4).
Please note that an empty battery pack should be charged for at least 2 hours.

on = charger is connected

on = charging

off = charging process completed

flashing 1 Hz = Error

Fig. 5: LED indicators for charge condition

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3.4 Software AquaProfiler ®

The instrument can be operated comfortably and user friendly thanks to the windows-
based software AquaProfiler ® . The software is included upon delivery on CD or can be
downloaded from the internet. After a successful installation on a robust notebook or
the tablet PC type HDA-Pro, communication to the system is possible – featuring the
following main functions:

Execution and control of measurements

Measuring results listed in tables
Graphical display of the velocity distribution in the cross section (Isotachs)
Calculation of discharge Q according to ISO748:2007(E) selectively according to
the mean-section or mid-section method.
Measurement protocol including a summary of settings, parameters and results
Data export in XML format and TXT format

3.5 Accessories

3.5.1 Wading rod and handle with bubble indicator

The wading rod suitable for the sensor comes with the following technical
details:

Material: stainless steel

Length: 3 m in m-sections
Diameter: 20 mm
Scale: dm-scale and figures

The rod is delivered in 1.00 m segments. The segments are screwed together via hex-
agon socket screws.

For a better positioning of the sensor in the water, a handle with bubble indicator will
be mounted onto the wading rod (Fig. 6). This helps to correct the position of the sen-
sor during measurement in case it differs from the vertical.

Fig. 6: Handle for wading rod with integrated

bubble indicator

3.5.2 Spare rechargeable battery

A spare rechargeable battery pack should always be available during field measure-
ments.
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