Smart Water Conservancy

Doppler Radar Flowmeter Downhole Non-Contact Flow Monitoring Standard Solution

Q: LGF-PA66 electromagnetic flow meter vs turbine flow meter: which one should I use for clean water?

Both meters handle clean conductive water, but their construction leads to very different field behavior. Turbine meters use an impeller in the flow path to generate pulses. They are accurate (±0.5%–±1.0%), but the rotor is a wearing part: particles, scale and rust can jam it, low flow may never overcome bearing friction (a dead start-up band), and the constriction creates permanent pressure loss. On raw water carrying algae or floc, turbine bearings typically last only 1–2 years. The LGF-PA66 electromagnetic flow meter has an unobstructed measurement tube with no moving parts — only the liner and electrodes touch the medium. It is immune to particles and fibers, pressure loss is near zero, turndown reaches 100:1, and accuracy holds at velocities down to 0.3 m/s, which matches the strong day/night flow swings of supply networks. The aviation-grade PA66 composite body is roughly 60% lighter than a stainless body of the same size, cannot corrode, and the IP68 design allows submerged pit installation. Turbine meter: small-bore (DN4–DN40) batching of oil products or ultra-pure water. LGF-PA66: DN15 and above for potable water, reclaimed water and industrial water — especially custody-transfer points and DMA district meters. For more details, please visit our product page or contact our technical team.

Q: How should I choose between the 0.2% and 0.5% accuracy versions of the LGF-PA66 electromagnetic flow meter?

The LGF-PA66 is produced in both ±0.2% and ±0.5% accuracy versions. The choice depends on what the flow data is used for — not on picking the highest number. ±0.5% version : for process monitoring, internal water balance in wastewater plants, industrial cooling-water assessment and most DMA district meters, where readings guide operations rather than invoices. Paired with an EC32 RTU uploading instantaneous flow and pressure for night-flow leakage analysis, it is fully sufficient — and saves a price tier. ±0.2% version : for custody transfer and billing (water sales between companies, heat-supply metering), quota-based assessment, and any point verified under JJG 1033, the Chinese verification regulation for electromagnetic flow meters. On large lines a 0.3% error translates into a substantial annual billing difference. Two engineering details matter in practice. Rated accuracy holds within the 0.3–5 m/s velocity window — if the line runs persistently below 0.5 m/s, downsize the meter to raise velocity, otherwise neither version performs. The ±0.2% version is also less tolerant of installation disturbances: keep at least 10D straight pipe upstream and 5D downstream, away from pump-outlet turbulence. The integral PA66 body with built-in grounding electrode closes the signal loop inside the meter, which is what keeps the zero stable at high turndown. Specify the accuracy grade at order time — the two versions differ in converter calibration and are not interchangeable in the field. For more details, please visit our product page or contact our technical team.

Q: Does the velocity coefficient of a Doppler radar flowmeter need field calibration? How is a gauging-based calibration performed?

Yes. Radar measures surface velocity at a point; converting it to cross-sectional mean velocity requires a coefficient K, theoretically in the 0.85–0.95 range. HZ-KSLF ships with the COSP model pre-loaded with a dynamic K relationship for standard sections (rectangular/trapezoidal), so regular lined canals can go straight into service. Natural rivers, compound sections and channels with unusual roughness, however, must be field-calibrated before commissioning — otherwise systematic error can exceed 10%. Standard calibration procedure: Pick a stable mid-flow period and gauge the section with a current meter (rotor or acoustic, multi-vertical multi-point method per GB 50179), recording HZ-KSLF surface velocity and level simultaneously. Cover at least low, mid and high stages with three or more gaugings each. Divide the measured mean velocity by the radar surface velocity and regress the K-value curve for the section (how K varies with stage). Write the section geometry (bed width, side slopes, roughness) and the K curve into the COSP model with the configuration software, or push it remotely through an EC32/EC60 series RTU. Run one or two verification gaugings afterwards; flow deviation should converge within ±5%. Key metering stations targeting ±2–3% need denser calibration. Recalibration cycle: quarterly during the first hydrological year, then once before each flood season once K proves stable. Re-calibrate immediately whenever the section scours or silts, lining is damaged, or new structures are built upstream or downstream. Gauging records can be exported over the RTU's Modbus/4G channel for hydrological review and archiving. For more details, visit our product pages or contact our technical team.

A standardized non-contact flow monitoring solution for drainage networks based on multi-band Doppler radar flowmeter and visual fusion radar water level gauge — enabling all-weather precise metering without sewage contact and zero maintenance cost.

Overview

Summary

Key Advantages

World's first downhole non-contact Doppler radar flow measurement solution filling an industry gap

Multi-band Doppler radar flowmeter measures velocity, water level, flow rate, and water temperature simultaneously

Visual fusion radar water level gauge captures real-time water level data + video imagery for remote visual inspection

IP68-rated fully-sealed integrated design withstands high humidity and hydrogen sulfide corrosion

EC32 RTU with intelligent edge computing processes data locally, reducing cloud transmission and storage costs

Integrated solar power system operates independently for 3+ years without external grid power

Challenges

Harsh downhole environments cause clogging and corrosion in traditional contact-type flowmeters, requiring frequent manned entry for maintenance
Confined downhole space limits installation options — large-diameter conventional flowmeters cannot be deployed
Dramatic water level fluctuations during storms can submerge and destroy contact-type equipment
No unified technical standard or installation specification exists for downhole non-contact measurement in the industry
Scattered monitoring points across drainage networks make data transmission and centralized management challenging
Limited power availability downhole — conventional high-power devices require frequent battery replacement or cable trenching

Results

Non-contact measurement eliminates clogging and corrosion, reducing maintenance costs by over 90%
Integrated compact design fits confined downhole spaces — single-point installation in just 2 hours
Multi-band Doppler technology delivers ±1% flow velocity accuracy, unaffected by water level fluctuations
Established a standardized non-contact downhole flow monitoring framework for the industry
EC32 RTU supports 4G/NB-IoT/LoRa multi-mode communication with <3s real-time cloud data latency
Low-power design + solar power enables year-round unattended operation without grid power

Solution Details

The Challenge of Downhole Flow Monitoring in Urban Drainage Networks

Urban drainage networks are the "venous system" of city infrastructure, where flow monitoring is critical for flood control, sewage dispatch, and pipeline maintenance. However, the downhole environment presents extreme conditions — high humidity, high temperature, confined space, and corrosive sewage. Traditional contact-type flowmeters (electromagnetic, ultrasonic) suffer from clogging, corrosion, and maintenance difficulties in such environments, failing to meet long-term monitoring requirements.

Introducing the Doppler Radar Flowmeter Downhole Non-Contact Flow Monitoring Standard Solution

Ecolor Technology's Doppler Radar Flowmeter Downhole Non-Contact Flow Monitoring Standard Solution leverages the world's first multi-band Doppler radar flow measurement technology, combined with a visual fusion radar water level gauge and EC32 smart RTU, to achieve non-contact, all-weather, high-precision online flow monitoring in drainage networks. This solution fundamentally eliminates clogging and corrosion issues inherent to contact-type measurement devices, providing a standardized, replicable technical paradigm for drainage network flow monitoring.

Proven Performance and Operational Efficiency

The solution has been validated in drainage monitoring projects across multiple cities in China. Single-point installation takes less than 2 hours, and the maintenance cycle has been extended from monthly to annual, reducing O&M costs by over 90%.

Key Features of the Doppler Radar Flowmeter Downhole Non-Contact Flow Monitoring Standard Solution

World's first downhole non-contact Doppler radar flow measurement solution filling an industry gap
Multi-band Doppler radar flowmeter measures velocity, water level, flow rate, and water temperature simultaneously
Visual fusion radar water level gauge captures real-time water level data + video imagery for remote visual inspection
IP68-rated fully-sealed integrated design withstands high humidity and hydrogen sulfide corrosion
EC32 RTU with intelligent edge computing processes data locally, reducing cloud transmission and storage costs
Integrated solar power system operates independently for 3+ years without external grid power

Core Technical Specifications at a Glance

Measurement Parameters

Velocity, Water Level, Flow Rate, Temperature

Technology

Multi-band Doppler Radar

Enclosure Rating

IP68 Fully Sealed

Edge Computing

EC32 Smart RTU

Power Supply

Solar, 3+ Years Autonomy

Installation Time

Less than 2 Hours

Approach

How we implement intelligence into your infrastructure step by step.

Downhole Survey & Site Assessment

Conduct on-site surveys of drainage networks to evaluate hydraulic conditions, manhole dimensions, and communication signal coverage at each monitoring point, then develop a standardized installation plan.

Equipment Selection & System Design

Select appropriate Doppler radar flowmeter models based on pipe diameter and flow velocity range; configure visual fusion radar water level gauge and EC32 RTU; design solar power supply scheme.

Rapid Downhole Installation

Use quick-mount brackets with expansion bolts — no civil works required, no damage to manhole structures. Standardized single-point installation ≤2 hours, supporting live-pipe operation.

System Commissioning & Data Integration

Connect RTU to the Ecolor Cloud platform, configure data collection frequency (default 5 min), alarm thresholds (flow/level exceedance), and complete end-to-end communication commissioning.

Standardized O&M Management

Establish a remote inspection + annual on-site calibration maintenance framework. Monitor device status, battery level, and communication quality in real time via the cloud platform with automatic dispatch for anomalies.