EDS E-Flow User manual

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E-Flow
User Manual V1.32

E-Flow User Manual
1.1 E-Flow Brief"2!
1.2 Measuring Principle"2!
1.2.1 Flow Rate Measurement Principle"2!
1.2.2 Principle Depth Of Flow Measurement"3!
1.2.3 Flow Measurement Principle"3!
1.3 Specifications"4!
1.3.1 Features"4!
1.3.2 Wiring interface"4!
1.3.3 Size & Dimensions"6!
2 Installation"7!
2.1 Instrument installation method and direction"7!
2.2 Site Selection"8!
2.3 Installation Precautions"10!
2.4 Installing Sensor Connector"10!
3 Operating Modes"11!
3.1 Normal Mode"11!
3.2 Sleep Mode"11!
4. Technical Specifications"12!
5. Application Scenarios and Solutions"13!
6. System Configuration Software"15!
6.1 Installation Preparation"15!
6.2 Software Interface"16!
6.3 Flow Meter Parameter Settings"17!
6.4 Velocity Spectrum"19!
6.5 History Record"20!
Appendix A Frequently Asked Questions"21!
Appendix B Shipping List"22
E-Flow Radar Flow Meter Manual V1.24 "" """"1

1.1 E-Flow Brief
The E-Flow is a non-contact fully integrated flow monitor continuously measures flow, depth of flow, and
velocity. The E-Flow uses highly accurate and reliable radar planar microwave technology to capture the true
velocity and depth of flow zero contact with the flow. With the simple software to configure your E-Flow you
can record and measure flow in any channel shape, whilst sending measure flow, level, and velocity
seamlessly over the 4G network to view in realtime on the cloud platform. !
The E-Flow support digital (RS485, RS232) or analog (4-20mA) transmission of recorded data, using
standard Modbus-RTU protocol. The E-Flow is designed to operate in the harshest of environments for
longer with ultra low power consumption, compact sizing, highly reliable, simple set up, and almost zero
maintenance. Also the E-Flow is not affected by environmental factors such as debris in the flow, large
volumes of sediment, river pollutants, and floating objects!
1.2 Measuring Principle
The E-Flow meter uses doppler planar microwave technology to measure over 10,000 velocity points to
record a true average velocity for your measured area. The E-Flow also uses the doppler micro strip radar
technology to record the depth of flow. By using the industry standard velocity-area method, the water level
is measured to convert the cross-sectional area, and then the average velocity is converted from the true
average velocity combined with the cross-sectional parameters. The empirical formulas for the velocity
distribution of the open channel cross section such as circular, rectangular and trapezoidal are established,
and the hydraulic model algorithm is used to obtain Flow rate is a non-contact flow measuring instrument
that accurately measures the flow rate without changing the boundary conditions of channels, rivers, pipes,
etc.!
1.2.1 Flow Rate Measurement Principle
The radar velocity meter uses the principle of Doppler radar velocity measurement. When measuring the
speed of the water surface, the radar velocity sensor emits microwaves to the water surface, and the
microwaves will be absorbed and reflected from the water surface. The reflected wave is received by the E-
Flow and is then converted into an electrical signal, which is processed and the Doppler frequency shift is
measured.!
E-Flow Radar Flow Meter Manual V1.24 "" """"2

1.2.2 Principle Depth Of Flow Measurement
The E-Flow radar level sensor uses highly accurate pulse coherent radar (PCR) technology. The micro-strip
planar antenna emits very narrow microwave pulses (unlike typical ultrasonic sensors that have a large
measuring angle). The E-Flow PCR level sensor reflects the signal off the water surface measuring the time
interval for the signal to travel. The time interval between the transmitted pulse and the received pulse is
proportional to the distance between the sensor and the surface of the water. !
Due to the extremely high propagation speed of electromagnetic waves from the E-Flow, the time interval
between the transmitted pulse and the received pulse is very small. Compared with the traditional ultrasonic
level sensors. The E-Flow further improves the accuracy of depth by using developed modulation and
demodulation technology. Through the pulse coherence method, the E-Flow accurately identifies the time
interval and phase difference between the transmitted pulse and the received pulse, greatly measurement
accuracy and repeatability. The E-Flow firmware the uses the onboard wave cancellation algorithm to carry
out a final check of accuracy and repeatability of the recorded depth.!
1.2.3 Flow Measurement Principle
The velocity and level measurements recorded by the E-Flow sensor is used to calculate the flow rate. Flow
rate (also known as Q, as the flow, or as throughput) is the amount of fluid moving through a channel or pipe
in a period of time. For example, if 100 litres of water move past the sensor in one minute, the flow rate is
100 litres per minute (LPM). !
To calculate the flow rate, two things are needed:#
The cross-sectional area of the wetted channel (A) and the average velocity (V).#
Cross-sectional area is determined using the dimensions of channel and the measured level.!
Average velocity is determined using the surface velocity (measured by the sensor) and empirical
equations. !
Flow rate is calculated by using the Continuity Equation: Flow Rate = Average Velocity x Area !
E-Flow Radar Flow Meter Manual V1.24 "" """"3

1.3 Specifications
1.3.1 Features
1. Compact rugged design.!
2. Zero contact with the flow. !
3. Zero chance of sensors ragging and causing costly overflows. !
4. Highly accurate and repeatable with simple operation and set up. !
5. Zero maintenance needed. !
6. Measure flow in high sediment or debris conditions.!
7. The IP68 rating ensures years of hassle free operation. !
8. Ultra low power consumption, solar power can be used, easy installation and maintenance-free;!
9. Ultra-low power consumption sleep mode, 12V power supply current is less than 30uA. (E-Flow-""
R).!
!
1.3.2 Wiring interface
1. 7-32V / 5.5-32V (optional) DC power supply; !
2. The working current and standby current are low, it can be powered by solar energy, which is
convenient for installation and maintenance-free;!
3. Lightning protection circuit, 6KV lightning protection. Thunderstorm days can effectively protect
equipment against lightning strikes;!
4. Support RS485, RS232, 4-20mA wired communication methods;!
5. 4G lte wireless communication.!
E-Flow Radar Flow Meter Manual V1.24 "" """"4
Pin Configuration
Pins
Colour
Instruction
1
Brown
7-32V / 5.5-32V (optional) DC power supply
2、6
Black ,White
GND
3
Green
TXD_A（232_TX/485_A+）
4
Red
RXD_B（232_RX/485_B-）
5
Yellow
IOUT（4-20mA positive electrode，Set aside）

!
!
As shown in the figure above, the flowmeter host consists of a flow velocity measurement sensor, a water level measurement
sensor, a data transmission interface, and a wireless data transmission antenna (optional).!
E-Flow Radar Flow Meter Manual V1.24 "" """"5

1.3.3 Size & Dimensions
The appearance size without antenna is 160 ×100 ×83.2 (unit: mm)!
!
E-Flow Radar Flow Meter Manual V1.24 "" """"6

2 Installation
2.1 Instrument installation method and direction
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!
2.2 Site Selection
When choosing the installation site, ensure that the radar wave covers the water surface to avoid the
influence of floating objects, and back eddies. The measuring angle of the radar water level gauge is 8 °, and
the launch angle of the radar velocity meter is 12 °, as shown in the figure below;!
!
The relationship between the diameter and distance of the circle is shown in the following table:!
E-Flow Radar Flow Meter Manual V1.24 "" """"8

1. The selection of any flow monitoring location should follow these main principles:!
"1) The channel is straight, with in 10 diameters upstream and 5 diameters downstream of the monitoring
"location;!
"2) The water flow is smooth and even, and is not affected by the vortex, gate opening and closing.!
"!
2. For non-contact measuring equipment such as radar flowmeters, the installation points should avoid the
following positions!
"1) Avoid any change in the direction of flow, try to ensure that the flow direction is parallel to the
installation direction of the radar flowmeter!
!
E-Flow Radar Flow Meter Manual V1.24 "" """"9
Installation height (m)
Flowmeter covers diameter !
range (m)
Water level gauge covers diameter range
(m)
0.2
0.073
0.028
0.5
0.168
0.07
1
0.325
0.14
2
0.64
0.28
3
0.955
0.42
5
1.585
0.7
7
2.215
0.98

"2) Avoid the direction of the flow probe of the radar gauge directly facing the water flow with large drop!
!
"3) Avoid installing above the sluice gate and above the underflow reservoir.!
"!
"4) Avoid installation points located at culvert exits, mountain pass air ducts, etc. where wind easily rises.!
2.3 Installation Precautions
1. When the instrument is installed, keep the upper surface and the river surface at an even level;!
2. Do not install the instrument on a bend;!
3. The instrument should not be installed at high or low drop;!
4. Do not install the instrument on the vortexed flow conditions.!
2.4 Installing Sensor Connector
As shown in the figure below, when the cable is inserted into the instrument, hold the position of the cable
④, the red dot ②of the cable plug is aligned with the red dot ①of the instrument interface, and insert it until
you hear a snap. When unplugging, you can pull it out by holding the position of ③in the cable and pulling
back. !
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3 Operating Modes
For the wire type, E-Flow / E-Flow-R radar flowmeter is compatible with the standard MODBUS-RTU
communication protocol, our company can also provide customised communication protocol for users.!
For the wireless type, the E-Flow-W radar flow meter supports 4G wireless communication function. The
data measured by the E-Flow radar flow meter can be reported to the central station server by setting the
station address, communication port, and central station IP.!
E-Flow-W / E-Flow-R radar flowmeter has two working modes: normal operation and timed sleep. When the
sleep time register is set to 0, the device is in normal working mode, and when it is greater than 0, it enters
the timer sleep mode. After the measurement is completed, the device sleeps according to the set sleep
time (minutes), and continues in that state until program to wake. !
3.1 Normal Mode
The radar flowmeter is in continuous working state, continuous sampling measurement, relatively high power
consumption, returning to the last measurement result, fast response and excellent real-time performance.!
3.2 Sleep Mode
After setting the scan rate of the device, the flowmeter will measure the latest flow rate, water level and other
data before entering the sleep mode and save it. When the set scan rate time is reached, it will exit the sleep
mode and the flowmeter will be automatically awakened. The flowmeter after waking up will measure the
most recent flow after waking up in the shortest time (note that the accumulated flow at this time is the most
recent flow after waking up). !
Because there may also be unpredictable flow changes during the dormant period, which will cause the flow
rate of the water flow during the dormant period to be unstable, causing the accumulated flow counted
during the dormant period to be different from the actual accumulated flow. In order to ensure the accuracy
of the accumulated flow, it is recommended that the scan rate not be set too high.!
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4. Technical Specifications
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Item
Index
Flow measurement system
Measuring principle
Planar microstrip array antenna CW + PCR
Operating mode
Manual, automatic, telemetry
Applicable environment
24 hours, rainy day
Operating temperature
-30~80℃
Operating Voltage
7-32V / 5.5-32V (optional) DC power supply
Working current
12VDC input, working mode: ≤28mA standby mode: <1mA!
E-Flow-R (4G working current ≤80mA; NB-IOT working
current ≤30mA; sleep ≤30uA)
Protection level
IP68
Lightning protection level
6KV
Physical dimension
160*100*80（mm）
Weight
< 1KG
Radar speed sensor
Radar power
100mW
Radar frequency
24GHz
Maximum range
40m
Speed range
0.03m/s~20m/s (related to water flow)
Speed measurement accuracy
±0.01m/s ;±1%FS
Radar current meter beam angle
12°
Measuring direction
Automatic recognition of water flow direction, built-in vertical
angle correction vertical angle correction
Radar water level gauge
Radar frequency
60GHz
Radar Ranging range
0.2~7.0m
Radar Ranging accuracy
±2mm
Antenna angle
8°
Data transmission system
Data transmission type
RS485/ RS232,4~20Ma,4G RTU, LORA/LORAWAN

5. Application Scenarios and Solutions
Water treatment plant and sewage treatment non-full pipe monitoring system:!
1. Open Channel Gravity Sewer Flow: The sewage system is an indispensable part of the urban development
process. In order to meet the requirements of real-time monitoring, a comprehensive scientific and
intelligent comprehensive sewage treatment management system is essential. A new generation of 24QP
radar flow monitoring system, the device uses non-contact measurement, is not subject to sewage
corrosion, greatly reducing maintenance costs. The water level, velocity and flow rate are measured in real
time and transmitted to the monitoring centre through the RTU.!
2. Urban Drainage Network Monitoring Solution: The system consists of a radar flowmeter, a pressure water
level gauge (mainly for monitoring the water level in the well during the full-tube state), RTU, wireless
communication equipment, disposable lithium batteries, and mounting brackets.!
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(1)System structure
The radar flow monitoring station has two working conditions: full pipe and non-full pipe. The working
modes under the two working conditions are as follows:!
When the drainage pipe is in the non-full pipe state, the radar flowmeter works to monitor the flow velocity,
flow direction, water level and flow data inside the sewage pipe in real time;!
When the drainage pipe is in the full pipe state, the radar flowmeter is in a flooded state, stops working, the
optional pressure water level sensor starts operating to record the water level data in the sewer in real time.!
!
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6. System Configuration Software
In addition to the data acquisition and transmission through the data acquisition terminal or the serial port,
the radar flowmeter can be configured and set using the provided software package. The visualisation
software can facilitate the user to quickly set the parameters of the flowmeter and read the data, assist the
customer to quickly understand the function and performance of the product, and provide a simple and fast
intuitive means for system joint adjustment and on-site debugging. The following describes how to use the
software.!
6.1 Installation Preparation
1. Prepare a computer with Windows 7 and above operating system;!
2. The RS485 communication interface of the radar flowmeter needs to communicate with the PC, and a set
of RS485 to USB converter is required (if RS232 interface is required, a corresponding converter is required),
and the RS485 interface is connected (for specific connection methods, please refer to 1.3.3 Pin
configuration above).!
①Install the driver of RS485 to USB converter;!
②Install the application software on your PC;!
③After the installation is successful, double-click the application icon on the desktop (as shown in the figure
below) to run and enter the main interface.!
(Note: we will send the free RS485 to USB convertor and the matched driver and the system configuration
software)!
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6.2 Software Interface
!
The main interface of the software can display the current water level value, flow velocity value,
instantaneous flow, accumulated flow and other information, and display it in a curve.!
①Click behind the serial port to refresh the serial port list and find the serial port corresponding to the
radar flowmeter;!
②The device address refers to the address selection on the label of the radar flowmeter (default 0x80H,
hexadecimal), click "open serial port" to show the connection between the device and the PC;!
③The query interval can set the frequency of data refresh, the unit is second, if it is set to 2, it means that
the measurement result is refreshed every 2 seconds, click start measurement to start the flowmeter and
enter the working state;!
④If you need to modify the address, you can write and modify it in the modify address column (range
1~C8H, corresponding to decimal 1~200);!
⑤The maximum flow rate, maximum water level, and maximum flow are used to set the ordinate amplitude
of the coordinate view, which is convenient for viewing the curve;!
⑥The vertical angle is used to display the angle between the current radar flow meter beam emission
direction and the water flow direction in real time. After the radar flowmeter is installed horizontally, the angle
is about 55°±1°;!
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⑦Signal strength of flow meter and water level meter (reserved), respectively indicate the current flow meter
and water level meter echo signal strength, the larger the signal, the stronger the signal; for the flow meter
signal, when the distance to the water surface is too far or the water surface is relatively calm, The echo
signal becomes weak. If it is lower than the noise threshold described later, the measurement effect will be
reduced. You need to reduce the noise threshold setting or lower the flowmeter to be closer to the water
surface; it is recommended to observe the signal strength through the debugging software during on-site
installation. Evaluate the signal quality of the installation point, and ensure that the set noise threshold is
lower than the signal strength of the site under high probability. The default value has considered most
application scenarios, and the setting needs to be modified only when the signal is too weak;!
⑧The lower right corner displays the current measurement results numerically, and at the same time
updates according to the set query time period, the home page view will have 3 coordinates displayed on
the corresponding measurement parameter curve;!
6.3 Flow Meter Parameter Settings
Click "Parameter Setting" to enter the following interface to set related parameters;!
①Select the corresponding option according to the shape of the water channel, pay attention to the
rectangle, the triangular water channel is a special rectangle, set its length according to the sign shown, and
click "write parameter" after setting;!
②The distance from the water level radar sensor to the bottom of the tank minus the air height is the water
level to be measured;!
E-Flow Radar Flow Meter Manual V1.24 "" """"17

③River types correspond to different algorithm processing, here you can select the default “normal";!
④Choose the corresponding value of the shore coefficient according to different materials, the default value
is 1, if you don't confirm, just follow the default parameters;!
⑤Flow rate measurement gear, corresponding to different measurement ranges:!
1——Used for ultra-low speed precise measurement (less than 0.1m/s, reserved);!
2——0.03~10m/s conventional flow velocity measurement (system default value);!
3——0.1~20m/s wide range velocity measurement, accuracy is slightly lower than 2.!
⑥The radar wave direction of the flow velocity radar sensor is divided into automatic, downstream, and
upstream. It is used to set different flow velocity directions. Oncoming is upstream. It is recommended to
install upstream (default), with rain resistance; if you choose automatic or downstream , The rain-resistant
mode is invalid;!
⑦The noise threshold of the flow rate radar sensor is used to set the signal extraction threshold. If the
signal strength (available in real time on the main interface) is lower than the set value, it is considered to be
noise and not picked up; this parameter usually does not need to be adjusted; only when the installation
distance is long and the flow rate is low, the signal is weak, and it needs to be adjusted according to the field
signal strength. The threshold setting of the flow rate radar sensor should not be less than 400;!
⑧The number of filtering times corresponds to the wave-eliminating effect, the larger the wave-eliminating
effect is, the more stable the measurement result is, but the real-time performance will be weakened, and the
default is normal;!
⑨The horizontal angle setting is used for the angle that needs to be corrected when the flowmeter is
installed on the bank, not directly above the river, and has a certain angle with the flow direction of the river;
although this installation is not recommended, the device still provides a correction option, the default Is 0°;!
⑩The rain mode has certain requirements for the installation direction of the device, and the river needs to
face the flowmeter. If you need to measure downstream or bidirectional flow, the rain mode will fail; the
device defaults to the rain mode;!
⑪Sleep time is to set the time for the flow meter to enter the low-power sleep mode, and stop
measurement during this period. Measure and accumulate the flow again after the sleep time is
automatically awakened. It is generally used in low-power application environments and the unit is minutes;
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after reaching the sleep set time, it automatically enters the working mode, and enters the sleep state again
after measuring a valid result;!
⑫Click "Read all settings" to get the currently set parameters;!
⑬Click "Restore Factory Settings" to restore the default parameters.!
⑭Set the still water height and click "write" to set the still water height.!
6.4 Velocity Spectrum
Click Get Spectrum, you can view the signal quality of the velocity radar sensor for on-site debugging.!
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