Portable Battery-Powered Doppler Open Channel Area Velocity Flow Meter

Open Channel Area Velocity Flow Meter – Battery Powered BFU-300H

Portable Doppler Flow Measurement for Open Channels, Streams and Partially Filled Pipes

The BFU-300H Battery Powered Open Channel Area Velocity Flow Meter is a portable Doppler flow meter designed for accurate flow measurement in open channels, rivers, canals, culverts, stormwater systems, irrigation networks, and partially filled pipes—without requiring a flume or weir. Using a submerged Doppler velocity and pressure level sensor, the instrument simultaneously measures water velocity and level, then automatically calculates volumetric flow based on the programmed channel geometry. Its rechargeable battery, rugged field construction, and straightforward setup make it an excellent choice for temporary surveys, environmental studies, maintenance work, and flow verification projects.

Municipal utilities, environmental consultants, wastewater operators, irrigation authorities, civil engineers, and industrial facilities appreciate the BFU-300H because it delivers reliable measurements while avoiding expensive civil works associated with traditional open-channel flow installations. Since installation requires only mounting the submerged sensor at the bottom of the channel or pipe, monitoring can often begin within minutes. Compared with systems requiring flumes or weirs, an area-velocity flow meter significantly reduces installation costs while allowing flow measurement in existing channels and irregular cross-sections. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Portable Open Channel Flow Measurement Without Flumes or Weirs

Measures Velocity and Water Level Simultaneously

The BFU-300H continuously measures both flow velocity and water depth using a submerged Doppler sensor with integrated pressure level measurement. The instrument automatically calculates flow rate from these measurements together with the stored channel dimensions, eliminating manual calculations during field surveys.

Ideal for Temporary Monitoring and Field Surveys

The handheld, battery-powered design allows the instrument to be transported easily between measurement locations. This makes it particularly useful for short-term monitoring, commissioning work, hydraulic studies, troubleshooting, inflow and infiltration investigations, environmental monitoring, and verification of permanent flow meters.

Suitable for Numerous Channel Shapes

The BFU-300H supports measurements in circular pipes, rectangular channels, trapezoidal channels, canals, culverts, natural streams, and many other open-channel geometries. Once the channel dimensions are entered, the instrument automatically computes flow using the measured velocity and wetted cross-sectional area.

Advanced Doppler Area-Velocity Technology

Reliable Doppler Velocity Measurement

The submerged Doppler sensor measures the velocity of water containing naturally occurring suspended particles or air bubbles. This technology allows continuous monitoring in many wastewater, stormwater, irrigation, and environmental applications where conventional mechanical flow meters would be difficult or impossible to install.

Integrated Water Level Measurement

The built-in pressure sensor continuously measures water depth while also providing temperature information for system monitoring. Combining both measurements within a single sensor simplifies installation and improves overall reliability.

Designed for Long-Term Field Operation

The sensor is manufactured from corrosion-resistant materials and is designed to resist fouling in demanding environments. With no moving mechanical parts inside the sensor, maintenance requirements are reduced compared with many traditional flow measurement technologies. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

User-Friendly Operation

Large Colour Display

A backlit TFT colour LCD provides clear viewing of measurement values in both daylight and low-light conditions. Operators can easily monitor:

• Instantaneous flow rate
• Point velocity
• Totalized flow
• Water level
• Water temperature
• Logged measurement values

Rechargeable Battery Operation

The portable version incorporates an internal rechargeable lithium battery that typically provides approximately 6 to 8 hours of continuous operation, making it suitable for extended field measurements without external power. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Simple Installation

The supplied mounting bracket allows the sensor to be installed directly onto the bottom of a pipe or channel. Because no flume, weir, or major modification of the hydraulic structure is required, installation time is greatly reduced.

Applications

• Open channel flow measurement
• Partially filled sewer pipes
• Stormwater monitoring
• Wastewater flow surveys
• Industrial effluent measurement
• Irrigation canals
• Natural rivers and streams
• Culverts
• Environmental monitoring
• Hydraulic studies
• Temporary compliance monitoring
• Flow verification

Key Features

• Portable battery-powered operation
• Rechargeable lithium battery
• Approximately 6–8 hours operating time
• Simultaneous velocity and level measurement
• Submerged Doppler velocity sensor
• Integrated pressure level measurement
• Real-time flow rate calculation
• Totalizer function
• Water temperature display
• Backlit TFT colour LCD
• Built-in data logging capability
• Suitable for open channels and partially filled pipes
• No flume or weir required
• Corrosion-resistant sensor construction
• IP68-rated submerged sensor
• Standard 10 m sensor cable
• Mounting bracket included
• Carry case supplied for field use

Benefits

• Reduces installation costs by eliminating flumes and weirs
• Portable design allows one instrument to monitor multiple sites
• Quick deployment for temporary investigations
• Measures flow in existing channels with minimal disruption
• Suitable for irregular channel geometries
• Reliable operation in wastewater and natural water applications
• Minimal maintenance due to lack of moving parts
• Provides both instantaneous and cumulative flow information
• Improves efficiency of hydraulic surveys and environmental monitoring

Typical Industries

• Municipal wastewater utilities
• Stormwater management
• Water resource management
• Environmental consulting
• Civil engineering
• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Mining water management
• Agriculture and irrigation
• Research institutions
• Government environmental agencies

Technical Highlights

Q&A

How does an area velocity flow meter work?

An area velocity flow meter measures both water velocity and water depth simultaneously. Using the known dimensions of the channel or pipe, the instrument calculates the wetted cross-sectional area and multiplies it by the measured velocity to determine volumetric flow rate.

Does the BFU-300H require a flume or weir?

No. One of the major advantages of the BFU-300H is that it measures flow directly in existing open channels and partially filled pipes without installing a flume or weir, reducing installation costs and simplifying deployment. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

What types of water can it measure?

The instrument is suitable for many clean water and wastewater applications, including rivers, canals, stormwater, industrial discharge, irrigation water, and municipal wastewater, provided sufficient suspended particles or bubbles are present for Doppler velocity measurement.

Can it measure partially filled sewer pipes?

Yes. The BFU-300H is specifically designed for open channels and partially filled pipes, making it suitable for sewer monitoring, stormwater systems, culverts, and wastewater networks. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Is the flow meter suitable for temporary flow surveys?

Yes. The rechargeable battery, portable enclosure, carrying case, and simple sensor installation make it particularly well suited for temporary field surveys, hydraulic investigations, commissioning work, and verification of permanent flow measurement installations.

What information is displayed on the screen?

The display provides real-time point velocity, calculated flow rate, cumulative total flow, water level, water temperature, and logged measurement information, allowing operators to monitor complete hydraulic conditions from a single instrument. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}