Radar developments enhance wave climate data
Further to development work by UK based hydrpgraphic survey systems supplier Ohmex and earlier results from testing at the Franzius-Institut, Leibniz University of Hannover, VEGA has now produced updated versions of their K band range of radar level sensors.
These improved sensors have new firmware and processors which allow more rapid level measurement while maintaining very low power consumption. These developments in the PULS61 and PULS62 radar water level sensors make them more suited to detecting wave climate and the derived significant wave height values.
Ohmex has modified its existing instruments so that the radar sensor can be used with either the TideM8 tide gauge or their AIS TideMet combined tide and weather systems. The importance of water level and significant wave height measurements has come to the fore with the recent boom in offshore wind farms and energy platforms. The water level and SWH measurements are used both as a measure of available energy and also as a common agreed constraint for a safe working environment.
The radar sensor is ideally suited for deployment from harbor walls, fixed marine structures or offshore platforms. The installation is low maintenance as, unlike a pressure sensor, there are no parts in direct contact with the water. The low cost sensor has been designed to operate with very low power requirements so can easily be powered from solar cells or intermittent power supplies and batteries.
The system is supplied with free configuration, display and data logging software or can be configured within the more advanced EDAS software package to provide professional VTS displays and a user defined website.
