RiverRay ADCP: 600 kHz Phased Array
RiverRay’s design includes several substantive improvements that will deliver improved performance and greater convenience while operating over a broader range of environments and conditions. A number of engineering advances have been included, notably, TRDI’s innovative and patented 600 kHz Phased Array transducer technology, embedded intelligence to create a fully automated system, improved bottom tracking performance, new NGSP electronics, and an improved Trimaran float design. We expect RiverRay’s groundbreaking ease-of–use will encourage widespread use of the ADCP, increasing the number of shallow sites where acoustic profiling can be used to measure discharge.
With growing worldwide application since 1991, TRDI’s river ADCPs have become the de-facto standard for modern technology making accurate discharge measurements. This provides us with two key sustainable competitive advantages -- an unmatched user / experience base and a best-in-class reputation for reliable products and dependable data quality.
In RiverRay, we are using TRDI’s patented phased array design to provide a small, flat, single-face design with several key advantages.
- First this design causes less flow disturbance, which can be problematic in shallow depths.
- Second, having a flat face makes the ADCP velocity data insensitive to the changes in the salinity (and therefore speed of sound) along the path traveled; this will be a key advantage in estuaries.
- Third, the new design is more compact that leads to advantages of smaller size and lighter weight for both the ADCP and the fully integrated float.
A distinguishing feature of RiverRay is the introduction of auto-modic operation. User setup is not required – there is no more selection of modes. In fact there is no more selection of anything! We have embedded intelligence to create a fully automated system that takes care of auto-setup at the riverbank and then continuously optimizes measurements from bank-to-bank while water depth and flow conditions vary. This is like having an autopilot or cruise control. Considering discharge is often identified by the parameter Q, we have called this feature on-board Qrz-control. In shallow waters, each beam is setup independently of the others for optimal bottom tracking near riverbanks. Furthermore, RiverRay interleaves a new, independent, and short-range measurement to improve the discharge computation in the critical surface layer. TRDI’s WinRiver2 software is fully compatible with the turnkey deployment, auto-modic operation, and near-surface measurements of the new ADCP.
For optimizing its data pings, the ADCP uses a bootstrapping process. The ADCP sets up each data ping automatically for the ambient water conditions—considering depth, speed, and level of turbulence. Starting with a robust ping suitable for fast flows, the ADCP emits a series of test pings that are tuned progressively to match better with the observed water conditions. This refinement permits RiverRay data to satisfy the requested precision and accuracy without averaging batches of profiles and without requiring users to specify expected flow conditions. RiverRay is integrated with the Trimaran float and is designed with a quick-fit mounting – making it more portable and easier to install. The float, which is designed and built by OceanScience, has reduced drag, causes less flow disturbance, and provides improved handling at high water velocities and in waves.
The transducer assembly consists of a patented TRDI 2-dimensional phased array transducer operating at 600 kHz. The Phased Array creates four narrow 2 deg acoustic beams inclined at 30° relative to vertical.
These beams are a Janus configuration for improved precision, accuracy, and reliability of current profiling and bottom tracking. Operating at 600 kHz and using low power, RiverRay provides a 40 m profiling range (over a wider range of water conditions). Further RiverRay’s bottom-tracking velocities are less affected by water-bias errors than higher frequency ADCPs’. These errors stem from bottom tracking speeds being biased by currents near the riverbed in the presence of resuspended sediments. As a result, discharge values obtained from bottom tracking with higher frequencies (like other manufacrurers do) are more likely to be underestimated. Using RiverRay, you can leave the river confident you are right on Q.
The ADCP is housed in a single, compact, cylindrical Delrin canister that contains both electronics--a compact stack of four circuit boards-- and the flat-face transducer. The electronics and transducers use state-of-the-art technologies to achieve high system performance as well as flexible operation. The canister will connect via a single small cable to an external 12 VDC battery housed within the Trimaran float. The link to the shore-based control laptop computer is via BluetoothTM radio communication. Protection against reverse polarity connection is included. The Phased Array offers an upgrade pathway to add a vertical beam for refined bottom depth measurement. For difficult conditions where moving bed is problematic, data from an external DGPS can be integrated directly into the RiverRay data message.
RiverRay is compatible with TRDI’s WinRiver 2 software product, which has a development team in regular contact with the USGS. The software is well documented, easy to use, and widely used, both within the US and abroad. The software is targeted to acquire, display, and record discharge transects in a simple, complete, and thorough process. The software is also designed for efficient and flexible playback and post-processing that includes export of data and summary tables.

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StreamPro: 2000 kHz
The StreamPro ADCP revolutionizes discharge and velocity measurement in stream from 15-200 cm in depth.
The StreamPro's 'bottom tracking' capability provides the ability to move continuously across the stream to obtain a discharge measurement in two or three minutes instead of thirty minutes to an hour using the older point-by-point method.
StreamPro's unique design allows you to take measurements without even entering the water.  Simply pull the instrument across the stream as you walk across a bridge, or attach the unit to a tagline.
Data is collected in real-time and transmitted via a wireless data link to a convenient palm PC loaded with Teledyne RDI's user friendly software.  
Stream gauging truly has become as simple as 1-2-3!

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Rio Grande: 300 kHz - 600 kHz - 1200 kHz
A revolutionary new tool for shallow water discharge measurement
Workhorse Rio Grande is a accurate, rapid sampling current profiling system designed to operate from a moving boat.
The Rio Grande can be used for a wide range of river conditions, from shallow 30 cm deep streams to rushing rivers and tidal estuaries where no prior discharge data exists.
Mounted at a fixed location for acquiring and displaying data in real-time; Available in 3 frequencies varying from 15m to 100m reach for measuring water currents; uses direct cable connection to external power supply and PC computer and operation at great depth.
The Monitor is Teledyne RD Instruments’ most popular direct-reading Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler. The unit is typically bottom frame-mounted and hard-wired to shore to provide real-time monitoring of coastal currents.
The Monitor’s high data accuracy and reliability make it a favorite for deployments in high-volume traffic areas such as ports and harbors, where the data is often integrated into a Vessel Traffic Monitoring System.
 - Extreme accuracy and reliability: The Monitor is ideally suited for the most demanding environments, including high traffic areas such as ports and harbors.
 - Versatility: This direct reading unit can easily be upgraded to tackle a wide variety of coastal applications. Typical upgrades include pressure sensor, external battery pack, bottom tracking, and directional wave measurement—a single instrument can do it all!
 - Precision data: Teledyne RDI’s patented BroadBand signal processing delivers very low-noise data, resulting in unparalleled data resolution and minimal power consumption.
 - A four-beam solution: Teledyne RDI’s patented 4-beam design improves data reliability by providing a redundant data source in the case of a blocked or damaged beam; improves data quality by delivering an independent measure known as error velocity; and improves data accuracy by reducing variance in your data.
 - Budget an issue? This product is available in our new value priced basic Express Configuration. Same broadband quality, with basic current profiling capabilities

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Channel Master: 300 kHz - 600 kHz - 1200 kHz
The compact, versatile and affordable ChannelMaster is a two-beam, horizontally oriented ADCP designed to obtain high accuracy velocity data at ranges from 1 to 300 meters, utilizing 1 to 128 cells of data.
By leveraging Teledyne RDI’s patented BroadBand technology, ChannelMaster allows you to obtain unmatched data quality,even in low velocities and complex flows, where a single cell cannot provide enough information.
The ChannelMaster is ideally suited for use in rivers, streams, estuaries, open channels, and ports and harbors.

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V-ADCP: 2400 kHz
The Vertical Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (V-ADCP) is designed for the high-accuracy measurement of water flow, level and velocity profile in open channels, rivers, streams, and irrigation channels.
The V-ADCP can be deployed as a self-contained instrument recording data for later use; as a real-time instrument for real-time measurements; or as a portable flow meter, with the option to move from station to station.

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