MantaRay Portable Area-Velocity Flow Meter

  • Measures flow in partially filled pipes and open channels
  • No flume or weir required
  • 4-20mA and Relay outputs for connection to Samplers and SCADA
  • Powered with built-in rechargeable NiMH batteries
  • 2 million point data logger with USB output to Flash drives
  • Backlit LCD display for flow rate, totalizer and menu system
  • Description
  • Application Areas
  • Video
  • Specifications
  • Brochure
  • User’s Guide
  • How It Works

Product Description

  • Measures flow in partially filled pipes and open channels
  • No flume or weir required
  • 4-20mA and Relay outputs for connection to Samplers and SCADA
  • Powered with built-in rechargeable NiMH batteries
  • 2 million point data logger with USB output to Flash drives
  • Backlit LCD display for flow rate, totalizer and menu system

The MantaRay Portable Area-Velocity Flow Meter measures flow in open channels, partially filled and surcharged pipes using an ultrasonic sensor. It’s designed for monitoring stormwater, sewage, industrial effluent, irrigation water and natural streams. The MantaRay displays and datalogs flow rate and total flow and connects to samplers, SCADA and telemetry systems.

Calibration is simple: enter the pipe diameter or channel dimensions and the MantaRay automatically computes and displays the flow rate and total on its backlit LCD display. Mount the sensor at the bottom of the pipe or channel and hang the IP67 electronics case above the high water level.

Hydrodynamic Ultrasonic Sensor

The MantaRay uses a submerged ultrasonic sensor to continuously measure flow or reverse flow in open channels, partially filled or surcharged pipes. The sensor is a completely sealed ultrasonic unit with no orifices or ports. It is hydrodynamically shaped and designed to shed deposits and stringers for reliable operation in sewage, stormwater and stream flow applications.

The QZ02L sensor mounts inside the pipe or at the bottom of an open channel. No special compounds, tools or hardware are required. A stainless steel mounting bracket is included and a size range of optional pipe bands are available for sensor installation in manholes.

Contact AKTEK for specific recommendations in your application.

Recommended for:
Sewer Flow Monitoring and Reporting
Industrial Effluent
Stormwater Monitoring
Natural Streams
Irrigation Water


PORTABLE AREA-VELOCITY FLOW MONITOR SPECIFICATIONS

SCOPE:  The battery-powered instrument shall provide for indicating, transmitting, totalizing of the flow rate through partially filled or surcharged round pipes and rectangular, trapezoidal, egg or irregular shaped open channels.

A. GENERAL

  1. Flow Monitor to consist of a submersible ultrasonic sensor, connecting cable, and polycarbonate enclosure with indicating, data logging, transmitting and controlling electronics. The system shall have no moving parts.
  2. Level measurement accuracy shall be ±0.25% of Range. Velocity measurement accuracy shall be ±2% of reading.

B. SUBMERSIBLE SENSOR

  1. Ultrasonic sensor shall be rated IP68 for continuous submersion in liquids.
  2. Using the Doppler principle, the sensor shall measure fluid velocities from 0.1 to 20 ft/sec (0.03 to 6.2 m/sec) and reverse flow to -5 ft/sec (-1.5 m/sec).
  3. Using ultrasonic echo-ranging principle, the submerged sensor shall measure liquid level from 1" to 15 ft. (25.4 mm to 4.57 m).
  4. Level sensing circuitry shall include a temperature sensor for automatic temperature compensation.
  5. Sensor shall be constructed of PVC and epoxy resin.
  6. Sensor operating temperature shall be 5°F to 150°F (-15°C to 65°C).
  7. Shall include manufacturer's recommended stainless steel sensor mounting bracket.

C. SENSOR CONNECTING CABLE

  1. Provide 25 ft (7.6 m) length tri-coaxial shielded cable with potted bond to the Sensor head. Sensor cable and connection plug shall be waterproof. Exposed material shall be polyurethane only.

D. ELECTRONICS

  1. The flow meter shall be powered by internal, rechargeable 12VDC NiMH batteries with 10,000 mAh capacity and maximum power consumption of 2.7 Watts.
  2. Flow meter electronics shall be housed in a watertight, airtight, dust proof IP67 carry case with lockable, hinged cover.
  3. Provide a white, backlit matrix LCD display indicating flow rate, level, velocity, relay states and 14-digit totalizer in user-selected engineering units.
  4. The portable flow meter shall provide for field calibration to round pipes and open channels of any shape.
  5. Calibration shall be via built-in 5-key calibration system with menu selection of parameters. Calibration data shall be password protected. Systems requiring calibration by Parameter codes, BCD switches or external calibrators shall not be accepted.
  6. Field calibration shall allow selection and automatic conversion of measurement units, measurement span, high/low flow alarm relay and flow proportional relay pulse rates.
  7. Flow meter shall permit field programmable damping to smooth output in turbulent flow conditions.
  8. Flow meter operating temperature shall be from -5° to 140°F (-20° to 60°C).
  9. Flow meter shall have menu-selectable 4-20mA output rated 500 ohms and 0-5VDC rated 100 mA.
  10. Provide two solid-state relays, 40V AC/DC max., rated 250mA with maximum frequency of 0.4 Hz. Relays shall be operator-programmable for flow proportionate pulse to a remote totalizer or sampler, high-low flow, velocity and/or level alarm, echo loss alarm.
  11. The flow meter shall include an external breakout box for ancillary connections including relays, analog outputs and power input.
  12. The flow meter shall include a built-in 2 million point Data Logger with USB output to flash drives or mass storage devices. The logger shall not require connection to a laptop or PC for data download. The data logger shall support time and date-stamped logging and generate formatted flow reports including total, average, minimum, maximum and times of occurrence which can be viewed on the flow meter display.

E. PC SOFTWARE

  1. Shall include Windows™ software to retrieve, display, save and export log files from the Level-Velocity Logger. Shall support Windows versions including XP, Vista, 7 and 8.
  2. Shall display, save, output to a printer and export log files in graph and tabular format. Exported log files shall be delimited for import to Excel™ spreadsheet or database programs.
  3. Shall permit conversion of linear and volume units.

F. OPTIONAL FEATURES FOR INSERTION AS REQUIRED

  1. Shall include 50 ft / 15 m length sensor cable extension with watertight connector plugs to permit sensor installation total distance of 75 ft / 23 m from the electronics enclosure. Cable extension shall be shielded, submersible with a durable polyurethane coating.

Mantaray Brochure

Mantaray Brochure

Mantaray User Guide

Mantaray User Guide

Measure open channel flow without a flume or weir
An Area-Velocity Flow Meter continuously measures both Level and Velocity to calculate flow volume in an open channel or pipe.

The ultrasonic sensor is installed at the bottom of a pipe or channel. To measure water level the sensor transmits ultrasonic pulses that travel through the water and reflect off the liquid surface. The instrument precisely measures the time it takes for echoes to return to the sensor. Based on the speed of sound in water, the level is measured with accuracy of ±0.25%.

Flow velocity is measured with an ultrasonic Doppler signal continuously injected into the water. This high frequency sound (640 KHz) is reflected back to the sensor from particles or bubbles suspended in the liquid. If the fluid is in motion, the echoes return at an altered frequency proportionate to flow velocity. With this technique the instrument measures flow velocity with accuracy of ±2%.

Greyline Area-Velocity Flow Meters work in partially full and surcharged pipes, rectangular, trapezoid and egg-shaped channels.

Optional - Separate Level and Velocity Sensors

A separate down-looking ultrasonic sensor can be used for highly aerated or turbulent flow applications. It measures level by transmitting ultrasonic pulses through the air to the liquid surface with accuracy of ±0.25%. Along with the level sensor, a submerged Doppler velocity sensor is used to measure the water velocity.