Nivelco Open Channel Flow Meter in Bangladesh
Nivelco open channel flow meters from Hungary: non-contact ultrasonic flow measurement for effluent, sewage and clean-water channels, supplied and supported by Techno Bangla Creation Ltd.
What Is a Nivelco Open Channel Flow Meter?
A Nivelco open channel flow meter tells you how much liquid runs through a channel, drain or flume that is open to the air. An ultrasonic transmitter hangs above the water and times its echo off the surface to find the level. It then turns that level into flow using the shape of a Parshall flume or weir. Nothing ever touches your effluent.
An open channel flow meter is not a pipe flow meter. Electromagnetic and vortex meters are built for pipes that run full, while an open channel meter works where liquid runs partly full with a free surface, such as the outlet channel of an ETP.
- Non-contact ultrasonic level sensing, so the sensor stays out of the effluent
- Level converted to flow for a flume or weir
- Multicont controller with EasyTREK / EchoTREK transmitters
- Suited to clean water and waste water channels
- Installation and after-sales support in Bangladesh
Open Channel Flow Meter Specifications
- Type
- Ultrasonic, non-contact open channel flow meter
- Models
- Multicont controller with EasyTREK / EchoTREK ultrasonic transmitters
- Principle
- Ultrasonic time-of-flight level measurement, converted to flow for a flume or weir
- Measuring range
- EasyTREK and EchoTREK transmitters reach up to 25 m (about 82 ft), depending on model
- Beam angle
- About 5 to 7 degrees (full beam angle of SenSonic transducers)
- Output
- 4 to 20 mA with HART communication, depending on model
- Primary device
- Parshall flume, weir or another structure with a known level-to-flow relationship
- Application
- Clean water, waste water (ETP, STP and WTP channels)
- Brand
- Nivelco
- Origin
- Hungary
Exact range, accuracy, power supply, housing and output depend on the model you select. Confirm values on the datasheet of the exact model. Send us your channel size and flow range and our engineers will confirm the right Nivelco model.
How Does an Open Channel Flow Meter Work?
- Sensor Sends a Sound PulseThe ultrasonic transmitter above the channel sends a burst of sound toward the water surface.
- Echo ReturnsThe surface reflects the sound back, and the electronics time the trip.
- Time Becomes LevelFlight time becomes distance, and distance becomes water level above the flume floor or weir crest.
- Level Becomes FlowThe meter applies the head-to-flow relationship of the Parshall flume or weir to get the flow rate.
- Signal Reaches Display or PLCA 4 to 20 mA or HART signal feeds the Multicont display, a PLC or a recorder.
Why Use an Ultrasonic Open Channel Flow Meter?
A flow record is a basic part of any ETP or STP that discharges treated water.
- Non-contact sensing: the transmitter stays above the effluent, away from solids, grease and chemicals
- Works with standard primary devices such as Parshall flumes and weirs once the head-to-flow relationship is set
- Narrow beam of about 5 to 7 degrees and ranges up to 25 m on EasyTREK and EchoTREK models
- 4 to 20 mA and HART communication, with Multicont for display and multidrop connection
- Suited to both clean water and waste water channels
- Local engineering and after-sales support from Techno Bangla
Which Open Channel Flow Meter Fits Your Channel?
Choose an Ultrasonic Meter When
- You have, or can build, a Parshall flume or weir with free-flowing discharge
- The channel is open to the air and fairly sheltered from steam, spray and strong wind
- The flow carries solids, grease or chemicals that would foul a submerged sensor
- You want a lower upfront cost than radar for a predictable site
- You need a flow record for ETP or STP discharge reporting
Choose Another Technology When
- Heavy foam, steam or condensation covers the channel. Ask us about a radar level option.
- The line runs as a full pipe. See our electromagnetic flow meter.
- A flume is not possible, or the channel often backs up or surcharges. Consider an area-velocity meter.
- Downstream water often submerges the flume
- You only need level or volume in a tank or sump, not flow
Where Are Open Channel Flow Meters Used?
Any channel, drain or flume where liquid flows with a free surface.
- ETP Inlet Channel
- ETP Outlet Channel
- STP Effluent Channel
- Textile and Dyeing Mills
- Pharmaceutical Plants
- Food Processing Plants
- WTP Raw Water Channel
- Canals and Drains
- Sumps and Lift Stations
How to Choose an Open Channel Flow Meter
Share these details with our engineers and we will recommend a suitable Nivelco model and setup.
- Primary device. Decide between a Parshall flume and a weir. Flumes suit flows with solids and lose less head, while weirs suit clean, low flows but tend to trap solids. Size it for your minimum and maximum flow, because accuracy below the minimum head is questionable.
- Sensor position. Mount the sensor at the measuring point the flume specifies. Moving it upstream or downstream makes the meter over-read or under-read. Keep it above the highest level plus the sensor's blocking distance.
- Steam, foam and heat. Dyeing, washing and hot effluent in Bangladesh's humid climate can create steam and foam. Shade the sensor, keep the sound path clear, and ask about radar if foam is heavy.
- Free flow or backwater. Keep the flume free-flowing. If downstream water often submerges it, a single level reading is no longer enough.
- Output and display. Tell us whether you need 4 to 20 mA, HART or a Multicont display, and how far the signal must travel to your PLC or panel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Nivelco product works as an open channel flow meter?
Nivelco’s open channel line is the NIVOSONAR system. It pairs an EasyTREK or EchoTREK ultrasonic transmitter with a MultiCONT controller and a Parshall flume. The sensor reads water level and the controller converts it to flow. Tell us your channel width and we will match the model.
Does a Nivelco open channel flow meter come with a Parshall flume?
Nivelco makes compact, factory-calibrated polypropylene Parshall flumes in nine sizes as part of NIVOSONAR. The transmitter can also be set up for other flume or weir types. We confirm exactly what your quotation includes, so you know whether the flume is in scope.
Who makes Nivelco open channel flow meters?
Nivelco Process Control Co. of Budapest, Hungary. It began as a telephone-systems maker in 1939, moved into level measurement and control in 1982, and now has operating companies or distributors in about 75 countries.
How accurate is a Nivelco open channel flow meter in real use?
Two numbers matter. One is the transmitter’s level accuracy, which is on the datasheet. The other is whole-system accuracy, which also depends on the flume. A Parshall flume can reach about ±2% in a lab, but better than ±5% is hard in the field, and total system error near ±10% is common. A clean, level, free-flowing flume gives the best result.
Can it send flow data to a PLC or record daily totals?
Yes. Nivelco transmitters output 4–20 mA, with HART on selected models, and the MultiCONT shows flow and totalised volume. That signal can feed a PLC, recorder or SCADA. Ask us about digital output options if your panel needs them.
Can I fit it on my existing ETP outlet channel?
Often yes. If the channel already has a Parshall flume or weir with known dimensions, the transmitter can be configured for it. If not, Nivelco’s compact flumes are designed to fit new or existing channel structures. Send us a photo and the channel width, and our engineers will confirm.
Will steam, foam or heat affect the reading?
They can. Dense foam, steam and strong temperature swings weaken ultrasonic echoes. EasyTREK transmitters are temperature-compensated and Nivelco lists them for vapour and foam duty, but with heavy foam a radar option is safer. Shade the sensor and keep the beam path clear.
What maintenance does it need?
Very little, because the sensor never touches the flow. Keep the flume and approach channel free of silt, debris and algae. Wipe the transducer face when it gets dirty, and check the displayed level against a staff gauge now and then.
What decides the price of a Nivelco open channel flow meter setup?
Four things: flume or weir size, transmitter model, controller and display, and cable length or accessories. A wider channel needs a larger flume, so channel size changes the total. Send your channel width, maximum flow and power details, and we will quote the full set.
