Why not catch changes in the water surface in real time and prevent problems before they occur?

This time we will introduce the "water surface sensor" which can measure distances quickly and easily with simple operation.

In recent years, sensor technology has evolved remarkably, attracting attention in many industries. In particular, new sensors have emerged that can perform well in situations where conventional sensors have difficulty measuring, such as dark places or dirty environments. These sensors can measure at night and have a certain degree of resistance to bad weather such as rain and fog, and to environments where the housing becomes dirty, allowing for safer and more efficient operation.

In the Company experiments, we were able to confirm the performance under various conditions, such as differences in reflection due to materials and transparency when there is an obstruction. These results suggest that the sensor can be applied in many different fields. For example, this sensor can be used in environments where it is dangerous for people to take measurements or where it is difficult to go to take measurements in the first place, such as chemical management in chemical plants, monitoring of sewers under manholes, and even monitoring of rivers and lakes. Since there is no need for a window for the sensor in the housing, it is less susceptible to the effects of rainwater and condensation, and can be used safely even in dark places.

Macnica Monozukuri Consulting (Monocon®) offers a "water surface sensor" that is easy to operate and can be used for experiments right away. In addition to the features, track record, and experimental data of this sensor, we will introduce some concrete examples. Let's take a look together at how this technology can contribute to our lives and businesses.

Water Level Sensor Overview

The water surface sensor introduced here can measure long distances with low power consumption and has excellent environmental resistance (waterproof and dirt resistant), making it possible to operate over a wide area. Furthermore, it boasts high detection accuracy for the water surface and can provide real-time data from remote locations via wireless communication, so it is expected to be used more in the future for IoT-related applications.

A recent news story featured a manhole being blown away by a sudden downpour in Shibuya. This air hammer accident could have been noticed in advance if the sewer water level had been monitored in real time from the manhole. (For example, a water level sensor could be installed behind the manhole and the water level data could be saved in the cloud every 10 minutes.)

This water level sensor can also be used to monitor river flooding. For example, by installing it under a bridge and notifying government offices when the water level exceeds a certain level, a system can be created that can grasp the situation deep in the mountains from a remote location. This will help reduce the risk of natural disasters.

This sensor is also excellent from the perspective of privacy. It can be used in places where cameras cannot be installed, and is expected to be used in places where monitoring is required while respecting personal privacy, such as bathrooms and toilets. In addition, it reacts not only to pure water but also to soups and other liquids, and is resistant to steam and oily smoke, so it is likely to contribute to the promotion of digital transformation in the food and beverage industry.

Another big attraction is that it can be retrofitted to existing equipment. For example, it could be used like a level switch to monitor ballast water on ships. Since it is easy to install, the hurdle for introduction is low.

It can also be used to monitor household kerosene tanks and chemical tanks at plants. It is possible to detect the liquid level through resin. There is no need to worry about sealing the sensor mounting hole, and it is possible to detect through caps and ceilings, so explosion-proof measures are simplified.

Potential use cases for water surface sensors

The water surface sensor overcomes the weaknesses of conventional sensor technology and is capable of providing reliable data even under harsh conditions, making it suitable for use in a variety of industries. This sensor offers a worry-free solution by performing well even in harsh environmental conditions.

Installation locations that require waterproofing

One of the features of this sensor is that it does not require a window, which is unique to optical sensors. In other words, there is no need to drill holes in the housing, which has the advantage that it is possible to create a housing with high waterproof reliability. The sensor introduced here has waterproof performance equivalent to IP67, so it can be installed in outdoor environments such as rivers, lakes, and rice paddies, and will continue to operate without failure even if it is exposed to splashes of water, rain, or snow.

Another major benefit is the high degree of freedom in the design of the housing, which allows for flexible designs that suit a variety of installation conditions and meets the needs of users who also place importance on the appearance of the product.

[Expected installation location]
・Rivers
・Swamp Lake
・Rice fields
・Locations at risk of flooding

Nighttime or pitch black spaces

It is possible to perform stable measurements 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of lighting conditions. This characteristic makes it suitable for use in nighttime surveillance and low-light environments. It is possible to perform accurate measurements even in nighttime environments without street lights, and can be used without problems in pitch-black spaces where no light normally enters, such as sewers and fire-fighting water tanks.

[Expected installation location]
Sewerage
・Fire water tank
・Nighttime surveillance equipment

Easy to install on existing equipment

This dirt-resistant, durable sensor delivers consistent data even in harsh environments. The casing has a certain degree of resistance to dirt, rain, wind, steam, condensation, etc.

This characteristic is also an advantage because it can be installed on existing facilities, such as the lid of an outdoor water tank, and can be put into operation immediately. Installation is simple, which also leads to reduced implementation costs.

[Expected installation location]
・Factory/Plant Chemical tank
・Outdoor water tank
Breweries
・Ships (ballast water)

Measurement examples at the Company

the Company measurements show good results for water surface detection.

Below is the simplest measurement. No special settings are required, so anyone can operate it easily. The distance from the sensor to the water surface is measured, and the obtained distance measurement data is graphed. As a result, the distance from the sensor installation point to the water surface was captured with high accuracy, with an error of about 10 mm.

Furthermore, we conduct experiments under a variety of conditions.
If you are interested, please also take a look at the related articles below.

>> [Water surface sensor] Can the water surface be detected through a wall?
We conducted an experiment to see whether the water surface could be detected correctly even when there was a wall (obstruction) between the sensor and the water surface.

In addition, we are evaluating various other use cases, such as measuring the remaining amount of kerosene or a pot, and whether measurements can be taken even when the sensor casing is dirty.

Services provided by Monocon® (Manufacturing Consulting)

Even if an application seems to be measurable, it is affected by the surroundings, so we recommend that you actually measure it. Knowledge acquired from the web is often not applicable. Also, the subject is not limited to the water surface.

example)
Q. Can snow accumulation be measured?
A. Compacted snow can be measured. New, fluffy snow requires further investigation.

In the case of measuring snow, there were some issues that became apparent only after the actual measurements were taken, such as "detection accuracy changes too much over time." We will support you in carrying out pre-implementation verification by assuming various use cases.

At Monocon®, we would like to conduct experiments with people who are interested in this technology. We are also happy to discuss detailed data and experimental conditions, so please feel free to contact us.
*Please note that as this is a service aimed at businesses, we cannot respond to inquiries that do not apply to our services.

Related article

We conducted an experiment to see if the water surface could be detected correctly even when there was a wall (obstruction) between the sensor and the water surface. We believe that by conducting a verification in an environment close to the real thing, you will be able to get a more concrete image.

[Water level sensor] Can the liquid level be detected through a wall?