Hall Effect Sensor-Based Low-Cost Flow Monitoring Device: Design and Validation

Monitoring and assessment of coastal and river velocities plays a key role in both scientific and industry applications. Field measurements are key for decision making for resource management and protection, as well as for validation of numerical models and climate change studies. In this paper, a Hall effect sensor-based cost effective novel device is proposed for measuring velocities and direction of near-bed currents, and water-level. This device, called the Hydromast, provides instantaneous measurements in real-world conditions, and is equipped with communication capabilities to allow near real-time data transfer and monitoring. The validation of the device is performed in real-world steady and unsteady flow conditions. Within the device measurement range it is shown that the root-mean-square-error of the time averaged flow measurements is under 0.1m/s.