1. UltraLab®-Series Sensing of Water Level, Waves and Bottom Contours
Remote Sensing Technology based on
Superior Ultrasound Measurement
GENERAL ACOUSTICS GmbH, Germany

2. Lab Measurement Engineering
Remote Sensing of Water Levels, Waves and Distances for Lab Applications
Hydraulic Laboratories
Ship Model Basins
Simulation Facilities of Channels and Waterways

3. Lab Measurement Engineering
Technology
a) remote sensing of waves and water levels on the basis of ultrasound via air (products ULS, ULS Advanced)
b) distance measurement on the basis of ultrasound
via water (product UWS)
Innovation/
Unique selling proposition
accuracy of distance measuring
resolution
measuring of wave contours up to breaking waves
fast measurement
free of calibration
User
Laboratories, Science- and Development Centres:
Hydraulic Laboratories, Ship Model Basins, Towing Tanks, Simulation Facilities of Channels and Waterways, Universities, Navy-Institutes
References
HSVA (D), SVA Potsdam (D), MARIN (NL), French Navy (F), etc.

4. UltraLab® ULS
Highly accurate remote sensing of water level and waves for.....
hydraulic labs
ship model basins
flumes
towing tanks

5. UltraLab® ULS HF5-A
Highly accurate remote sensing of steep and very fast moving waves with 4 synchronised sensors
hydraulic labs
ship model basins
flumes
towing tanks

6. UltraLab® ULS Advanced
Highly accurate remote sensing of steep and very fast moving waves with a relative velocity up to 15 m/s
hydraulic labs
ship model basins
flumes
towing tanks

7. UltraLab® UWS
Mini echo sounder to measure underwater distances and levels for:
Underwater bottom contour
Underwater object distances
Level sensing through container walls
Hydraulic models
Sediment transport

8. Advanced sensitive sound reception
UltraLab®: Performance
Based on sophisticated technology the sensors with the controller deliver a superior performance, as there are:
Advanced sensitive sound reception
Narrow sound beam with practically .no side lobes resulting in enhanced spatial resolution
Measurement on steep wave flanks/breaking waves are possible
Extreme resolution surface scanning
High repetition rate

9. UltraLab®: Advantages
Because of its remote sensing technology in combination with its high accuracy and wide detection range almost all kinds of water dynamics (also steep waves/breaking waves) can be recorded
Superior resolution up to 0,18 mm
Repetition rates up to 75 Hz/100 Hz
Various sensors measuring from 250 mm up to 6000 mm
Detection of smallest and fastest changes

10. Applications UltraLab®: Applications Level monitoring
Analysis of wave fields
Measurements in flood- and surface water models
Detection of surface waves
Measurement of dynamic processes
Recording of topographic contours in models

11. Measuring Setup
Example of an expected wave or level fluctuation of around 600 mm:
The right task for sensor USS20130 with a measuring range of 200 to 1300 mm

12. UltraLab® ULS: Calibration Curve
The calibration curve:
is a straight line
does not path through the origin
...
min
max h U
meas + - =
... this means that:
the conversion of distance to voltage is linear
A two point calibration is easy to do

13. UltraLab® ULS: Measurement Example 1
High resolution measurement of a water level
- University of Applied Sciences Suderburg, Germany -

14. Superposition of two different waves - VWS Berlin Model Basin -
UltraLab® ULS: Measurement Example 2
Superposition of two different waves
- VWS Berlin Model Basin -

15. UltraLab® ULS: Measurement Example 3
Planar motion (v=2m/s) towards the incoming wave
- Hamburg Ship Model Basin -

16. Local reading of a single wave packet
UltraLab® ULS: Measurement Example 4
Local reading of a single wave packet
- Potsdam Model Basin -

17. UltraLab® ULS Advanced: Measurement Example 5
Measurement at a relative velocity about 10 – 12 m/s
- Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) -

18. Specifications UltraLab® ULS
Sample rate: up to 75 Hz
Steep waves can be measured with a horizontal speed of 2 m/s against the incoming wave (4 m/s vertical speed)

19. Sensor Specifications UltraLab® ULS HF5-A
The system is equipped with 4 synchronised channels. Due to the synchronisation of the channels the sensors can be placed very close to each other. The measuring of wave fields in high resolution concerning time and place are possible with the HF5-A.
Sensor
USS 13/HF
Blind area:
200 mm
Working range:
1200 mm
Frequency:
200 kHz
Techn. Resolution:
0.36 mm
Output update:
50 Hz
Interfaces:
RS232, LAN
Digital output:
ASCII
Proteccion class:
IP65

20. Sensor Specifications UltraLab® ULS Advanced
Steep and very fast moving waves can be measured with a relative velocity up to 15 m/s
Free of calibration
Sensor
USS 12/HF
Blind area:
200 mm
Working range:
1200 mm
Frequency:
200 kHz
Techn. Resolution:
0.36 mm
Output update:
100 Hz
Interfaces:
RS232, LAN
Digital output:
ASCII
Proteccion class:
IP65

21. Some References
Maritime Research Institute Netherlands MARIN /
Vienna Model Basin Ltd. / Schiffbautechnische Versuchsanstalt in Wien GmbH / Austria:
Hamburg Ship Model Basin / Hamburgische Schiffbau-Versuchsanstalt GmbH / Germany:
Potsdam Model Basin / Schiffbau-Versuchsanstalt Potsdam GmbH / Germany: potsdam.de
Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems / Entwicklungszentrum für Schiffstechnik und Transportsysteme e.V. / Duisburg, Germany:
Bassin d'essais des carènes / French Navy / France:
Laboratoire de constructions hydraulique /Switzerland:
Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute / Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau Hamburg / Germany:
University of Trento Trento / Italy:
University of Bari / Italy:
RWTH Aachen University /Germany: www-zhv.rwth-aachen.de/
Technical University of Munich / Germany: