Hydrostatic Level Sensor

Hydrostatic Level Sensor for Aquaculture

Operating principle

• The sensor is immersed at a certain depth.

• It measures the pressure exerted by the water column above it.

• This pressure is proportional to the water height:

  $$P=\rho \cdot g\cdot h$$

  where:

  • $\rho$ = water density (kg/m³),

  • $g$ = gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s²),

  • $h$ = water height (m).

• The sensor converts this pressure into an electrical signal (4–20 mA, 0–10 V, or digital) that corresponds to the water level.

Typical features

• Measuring range: adapted to pond or tank depth (e.g., 0–5 m, 0–10 m).

• Accuracy: ±0.1% to ±0.5% of full scale.

• Materials: stainless steel, ceramic, or PVDF resistant to corrosion.

• Protection rating: IP68 for continuous immersion.

• Temperature compensation: corrects variations in water density due to temperature.

• Output: analog (4–20 mA), digital (RS485/Modbus), sometimes wireless.

Advantages in aquaculture

• Real-time monitoring of water level in ponds, tanks, or recirculating systems.

• Alerts in case of abnormal drops in level (leaks, pump failure).

• Enables automation (pump or valve control).

• Reliable and less affected by waves or turbulence compared to ultrasonic surface sensors.

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