A new kind of sensor for determining the flow of waste water

Increasing general requirements for environmental protection at the lowest possible cost apply also to public waste water systems and sewage treatment plants. Waste water systems in particular have developed over decades and there is no way to determine their overall efficiency or that of their various sections in a cost effective manner. Especially in small systems, measured values of the flow in relation to atmospheric conditions which are required to assess the mass transfer characteristics of the various sections are often not available. These values are essential for characterisation and modelling, which are absolutely necessary for an optimisation of the systems. This paper deals with the prototype of a new kind of sensor and is intended for simultaneous, cost effective, and time-controlled detection of waste water at various points in a network. The parts of the sensor in contact with the sewage flow are easily replaceable low-cost mechanical components. Speed of flow and cross-sectional area are measured using pressure differences on baffles.