『ADV Flow Meter: Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters for Hydrographic Surveying』Related information(clamp on meter|electromagnetic meter|venturi meterrotameter|orifice meter|ultrasonic flow meter|mass flow meter|coriolis mass flow meter|coriolis flow meter|magnetic flow meter|magmeter flow meter|magflow flow meter|mag meter flow meter|electromagnetic flow meter|vortex flow meter|turbine flow meter|thermal mass flow meter|thermal flow meter|rotameter flow meter)
ADV Flow Meter: Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters for Hydrographic Surveying
Quick Answer: An ADV flow meter measures water velocity at a single point using acoustic Doppler phase shift. Hydrographic survey teams use ADV meters for discharge measurement, dredging checks, outfall studies, and coastal monitoring. Silver Instruments supplies ADV flow meters with depth ratings up to 50 m, RS232 and SDI-12 output, and velocity range 0 to 5 m/s for field work in rivers, estuaries, and coastal zones.
What an ADV Flow Meter Measures in Hydrographic Surveying
An acoustic Doppler velocimeter, also called an ADV flow meter, records 3D velocity at a measurement cell located a few centimeters away from the probe. The instrument sends sound pulses into the water and detects the frequency shift from particles, sediment, or small bubbles moving with the flow. Hydrographic crews often use this type of instrument as a current meter because it has no moving parts and records all three velocity components at the same time. Because the measurement is point based, a hydrographer can place the probe near the bed, mid channel, or in a mixing zone and map velocity changes in fine detail.
Where Hydrographic Teams Use ADV Flow Meters
In practice, a hydrographic survey company in Vietnam may use an ADV meter to verify flow velocity around a new bridge pier before piling starts. A desalination plant in Saudi Arabia may check brine outfall velocity to confirm discharge dispersion. A dredging contractor in the Philippines may place an ADV meter near the work zone to record current speed and direction before excavation. These jobs need instruments with stable zero offset, low side lobe interference, and a clean signal in high turbidity water.
Most engineers skip this part. Mount the ADV probe on a rigid rod when you need repeatable point measurements. Movement from the boat or from hand holding can add low frequency noise to the velocity record.
Key Specifications to Check Before You Request a Quote
Send us these parameters with your inquiry: water depth, salinity, expected velocity range, cable length, logger type, and mounting method. We have seen many customer sites where a standard 10 m cable was too short or the logger did not accept SDI-12 output.
For a typical hydrographic ADV flow meter from Silver Instruments, check these values. Velocity range is 0 to 5 m/s. Velocity resolution is 0.1 mm/s. Accuracy is plus or minus 1 percent of measured value plus or minus 1 mm/s. Sampling rate goes up to 25 Hz. Depth rating is 50 m standard. Output options are RS232, SDI-12, and optional 4-20 mA for control room integration. Power supply is 9 to 18 V DC. Operating temperature is 0 to 40 degrees C for freshwater and saltwater.
We recommend the Silver ADV-2000 for most hydrographic survey tasks. The Silver ADV-2000 has a 10 MHz transmitting frequency, a measurement cell volume of about 0.25 cubic centimeter, and internal tilt and temperature sensors. The tilt sensor helps field crews reject bad data when the probe is not vertical. The temperature sensor allows sound speed correction in real time. The 4-20 mA output is c
How to Specify an ADV Flow Meter for Saltwater and Turbid Water
Saltwater and high turbidity change the acoustic signal. In seawater, the sound speed is higher, and the ADV firmware needs a salinity input or a calculated sound speed value. In turbid water, high suspended sediment can improve the return signal, but it can also increase signal attenuation near the transducer. We have seen this on customer sites in Nigeria where river sediment load was high during flood season. The solution was a shorter measurement range and a probe guard to prevent debris damage.
For marine hydrographic surveys, request a titanium or high grade 316 stainless steel housing. Marine growth is a real problem in ports in Oman, Indonesia, and coastal Australia. A smooth transducer face and a sacrificial zinc ring can reduce biofouling between maintenance cycles.
Why Buy an ADV Flow Meter from Silver Instruments
As a flow meter supplier for hydrographic applications, Silver Automation Instruments supports dealers and end users in Southeast Asia, Oceania, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. We keep spare cables, mounting rods, and transit cases in stock for common ADV flow meter models. Our technical team checks the frequency, blanking distance, and signal to noise ratio before shipment. We also offer one year warranty and after sales support on WeChat and WhatsApp.
If you know your sensor depth and output type, contact us for a price quote. Send us your velocity range, water type, cable length, and data logger model. Tel: +86-135-1213-1526. Whatsapp: 86-135-12131526. WeChat: +86 13512131526. Website: flow-meter.com.au.
ADV Flow Meter FAQ for Hydrographic Surveying
1. What is the difference between an ADV flow meter and an ADCP? An ADV measures velocity at a single point. An ADCP measures velocity profiles across multiple depth cells. Hydrographers use ADV for fine point measurements and ADCP for full channel discharge.
2. Can an ADV flow meter measure very low flow in a river or estuary? Yes. A good ADV probe can resolve velocities down to 0.1 mm/s. Low flow measurement still needs stable mounting and a clean signal. Check the zero offset specification before purchase.
3. Does Silver Instruments supply ADV meters for long term coastal monitoring? Yes. We supply ADV flow meters with 50 m depth rating, marine connectors, anti fouling options, and low power SDI-12 output for solar powered stations.
4. What output is best for a hydrographic data logger? RS232 is common for direct laptop connection. SDI-12 is better for remote low power loggers. Some control room projects use 4-20 mA for current speed only. Confirm your logger input before ordering.
5. How do I get a quote from Silver Instruments? Send us the water depth, salinity, expected velocity, cable length, and logger protocol. We will reply with model selection, unit price, and shipping cost to your port or site.
Hot Product
Related AD
