Abstract: In order to meet the need for automatic measurement of multi-point flow velocity in river model experiment, a synchronous automatic system of multi-point flow velocity acquisition at different water depths is designed. The system computer is connected with multiple flow meters at different depths via RS485 bus. The flow meters can automatically measure the current water depth, and fix the position vertically and acquire the flow velocity for flow velocity sensor according to the measured water depth and a predetermined rule such as 1-point method, 3-point method, or 5-point method. The system computer controls each flow meter to achieve functions of simultaneous measurement of each vertical velocity, data transmission, data display, data save and query, and to automatically generate the required measurement recorded statements via a serial communication mode. The system significantly improves the velocity measurement efficiency and the accuracy of depth measurement and positioning for river model experiments.

Key words: velocity measurement, depth measurement, river model experiment, multi-point automatic measurement system