Optical Water Level Sensor

Development of an optical water level sensor is proposed to solve some of the problems and limitations of current sounding tube/protective well acoustic sensors. By using light instead of sound, temperature gradient effects on the measurement are obviated. Furthermore, the proposed system eliminates the need for a sounding tube, protective well and associated temperature sensors, and does not require having any part of the system under water. These features would provide several benefits which include: more robust performance with accuracy not affected by temperature effects, considerably reduced installation and maintenance costs, small size with great mechanical simplicity and structural stability, easier installation with greater flexibility in siting, high immunity to fouling and freezing problems, not subject to attenuation of high-frequency water level signals, improved performance in terms of range, resolution, and sampling rate, and greater overall cost-effectiveness.