Ailun General AL-3020 Portable Open-Channel Flow Meter

Overview

The Ailun General AL-3020 Portable Open-Channel Flow Meter is an engineered field instrument designed for accurate, traceable, and compliant flow verification in wastewater discharge monitoring applications. It operates on the principle of ultrasonic time-of-flight measurement to determine liquid level above standardized hydraulic structures—including triangular notch, rectangular notch, constant-width thin-plate weirs, and Parshall flumes—enabling volumetric flow calculation via established hydraulic equations (e.g., ISO 4359, ASTM D1941, and HJ 15–2019). Unlike fixed-installation systems, the AL-3020 functions as a portable reference standard for performance validation, supporting regulatory compliance with China’s HJ 353–2019 (installation), HJ 354–2019 (acceptance testing), and HJ 355–2019 (operational quality assurance) technical specifications for water pollution source monitoring systems. Its dual-mode measurement architecture—synchronous and asynchronous level/flow acquisition—ensures alignment with both short-term spot verification and extended comparative assessment protocols required under environmental auditing frameworks.

Key Features

• Standardized comparison mode: 12-minute liquid level logging (six 2-minute intervals) paired with 10-minute cumulative flow integration—fully aligned with HJ 15–2019 verification procedures.
• Flexible measurement scheduling: Supports custom-defined continuous or time-triggered acquisition sequences for site-specific operational workflows.
• Site configuration memory: Stores enterprise name, discharge outlet ID, and associated weir/flume geometry parameters—eliminating repetitive manual entry during repeated visits.
• Integrated GNSS positioning: Records geotagged coordinates (latitude/longitude) automatically with each measurement set, enabling spatial traceability in GIS-integrated reporting.
• 10.1-inch rugged tablet interface: High-resolution display optimized for outdoor readability; decoupled from sensor electronics via Wi-Fi for ergonomic operation in confined or elevated access points.
• Real-time data visualization: Historical flow profiles rendered as interactive time-series curves—supporting rapid identification of diurnal patterns, surges, or anomalies.
• Local data storage: Capacity for >100,000 measurement records with timestamp, location, environmental metadata (temperature, pressure), and calculated flow error against online analyzers.
• Secure wireless connectivity: Utilizes BluFi protocol for one-touch Wi-Fi provisioning—minimizing configuration overhead in electromagnetically noisy industrial environments.
• Built-in thermal printer support via Bluetooth: Enables immediate hard-copy generation of calibration reports, field logs, or audit-ready summaries.
• Field-sustained power system: 14.8 V / 10 Ah lithium-ion battery with USB-C fast charging; supports ≥12 hours of continuous operation under mixed-use conditions (level sensing, computation, display, and wireless transmission).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The AL-3020 is validated for use with all primary open-channel hydraulic structures specified in national and international standards: triangular (V-notch) and rectangular thin-plate weirs per ISO 1438-1, constant-width weirs per ISO 1438-3, and Parshall flumes per ASTM D1941 and HJ 15–2019 Annex A. Its measurement uncertainty budget—≤±1% flow error and ≤±0.5 mm level accuracy—is verified under controlled laboratory conditions per JJG 711–1990 verification methodology. The device meets IP67 ingress protection requirements for dust-tight and temporary immersion resistance, ensuring operational integrity in rain-exposed, humid, or splash-prone wastewater infrastructure settings. All firmware and data handling logic are structured to support GLP-aligned documentation practices, including immutable timestamps, user authentication logs, and full audit trails—critical for regulatory submissions under China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) oversight.

Software & Data Management

The companion Android application provides full instrument control, real-time telemetry visualization, and export-grade data curation. Measurement datasets are natively exported as ISO/IEC 26300-compliant OpenDocument Spreadsheet (.ods) or Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) files—retaining all raw and derived parameters (level, temperature, pressure, computed flow, error delta vs. online system, GPS coordinates). Exported files include embedded metadata headers compliant with HJ 355–2019 record-keeping requirements. Sharing is enabled via secure channels including WeChat Work, WPS Office, email, or local network transfer—without reliance on cloud synchronization or third-party servers. The software enforces role-based access control (admin/operator modes), supports digital signature capture for field reports, and maintains local encryption of stored records using AES-128. All data exchange conforms to TLS 1.2+ when transmitted over Wi-Fi, satisfying baseline cybersecurity expectations for environmental instrumentation in industrial deployments.

Applications

• Regulatory compliance verification of continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) at municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants.
• Periodic performance audits of online ultrasonic flowmeters installed in effluent channels, outfalls, and combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
• Commissioning and post-installation acceptance testing per HJ 354–2019 guidelines.
• Field validation of hydraulic model inputs in watershed management and urban drainage studies.
• Supporting environmental impact assessments (EIAs) through high-fidelity, geo-referenced flow quantification at ungauged discharge points.
• Troubleshooting flow signal drift or inconsistency in legacy analog or pulse-output systems.

FAQ

What regulatory standards does the AL-3020 comply with?
The AL-3020 is designed and verified in accordance with HJ 15–2019 (ultrasonic open-channel flowmeter technical requirements), HJ 353–2019 (installation), HJ 354–2019 (acceptance), HJ 355–2019 (operation), and JJG 711–1990 (verification procedure).
Can the AL-3020 be used for calibration of permanently installed flowmeters?
Yes—it serves as a portable reference standard for field verification and performance evaluation, not as a primary calibration standard traceable to national metrology institutes. Its uncertainty budget supports comparative assessment per HJ 355–2019 Section 6.2.
Does the system support multi-user operation with audit trail?
Yes—the tablet application logs user login events, measurement initiation/completion timestamps, parameter modifications, and report generation actions—enabling full accountability in regulated environments.
Is GPS data embedded directly into exported spreadsheets?
Yes—latitude, longitude, altitude, and UTC timestamp are included as dedicated columns in all .xlsx and .ods exports, compliant with HJ 355–2019 Annex C metadata requirements.
What is the expected service life of the integrated battery under typical field use?
Rated for ≥500 charge cycles with capacity retention ≥80% after 2 years of biweekly field deployment; battery health diagnostics are accessible within the device settings menu.