Company Profile

Quick Answer: Teledyne Isco Signature Flow Meter and Silver Instruments Open Channel Solutions

The Teledyne Isco Signature flow meter is a well-known open channel stormwater logger using ultrasonic Doppler and pressure sensors. Many engineers specify it for permanent stormwater monitoring networks. Silver Instruments offers industrial-grade ultrasonic open channel flow meters with area-velocity sensing, data logging, and 4-20 mA HART output, often at a lower installed cost. Send us your channel type, flow range, and data requirements and we will send a matched specification and price within 24 hours.

What the Teledyne Isco Signature Flow Meter Does in Stormwater Applications

Municipalities and industrial sites use the Signature meter to measure flow rate and total volume in open channels, culverts, and storm drains. The meter stores time-stamped level, velocity, and flow data. It operates on battery power with solar options. This makes it common for remote stormwater outfall monitoring. A typical setup measures inflow and infiltration in sewer networks during heavy rain events. The internal logger can store months of data at 1-minute intervals. In Brisbane, a council uses 12 Signature units for real-time flood alerting on major drains.

Measurement Technology and Sensor Details

The Signature flow meter uses continuous wave Doppler to measure mean velocity. A submerged pressure transducer measures liquid level. The meter calculates flow rate from cross-sectional area and the measured velocity. The standard velocity range is 0.03 to 6.1 m/s. Level accuracy is typically plus or minus 0.25 percent of full scale. The sensor is rated IP68 and can survive temporary submersion in flooded manholes. Output options include 4-20 mA, SDI-12, and Modbus. In practice, most engineers pair it with a rain gauge for complete storm event analysis.

Key Installation and Operating Parameters

The Signature meter installs in the bottom of a pipe or channel with a stainless steel mounting band. It works in pipes from 150 mm to over 3 meters in diameter. The pressure transducer requires a vented cable to compensate for barometric pressure changes. Desilting is needed in channels with high sediment load. Because the sensor sits in the flow path, debris can damage the cable if not armored. Battery life in standard logging intervals often reaches 12 months. A water department in Jakarta found that adding a simple debris shield cut maintenance visits from every 3 months to once per year.

Silver Instruments Alternative Open Channel Loggers

Silver Instruments supplies ultrasonic and radar-based open channel flow meters designed for stormwater and wastewater. Our model UFM-7100 area-velocity logger uses an ultrasonic Doppler sensor and a separate ultrasonic level sensor. Here is the thing: submerged pressure sensors can drift in silty water. The UFM-7100 avoids that problem entirely. It outputs 4-20 mA HART, RS485 Modbus RTU, and pulses. The internal 8 GB logger stores flows, level, and totalizers with a date stamp. Users can set logging intervals from 10 seconds to 1 day. We have shipped these units to water authorities in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Nigeria. Often the total procurement cost is 30 to 40 percent lower than premium brand labels.

Real-World Example from Southeast Asia

Last year, an industrial park in Thailand needed to monitor stormwater discharge into a public canal. The authority required proof of flow rates during monsoon season. They originally quoted the Teledyne Isco Signature but faced long lead times and high import duties. Silver Instruments provided four UFM-7100 loggers with rain gauges and solar power kits. The customer installed them in 1.2-meter concrete box culverts. The meters run on 10-minute logging intervals and upload data via 4G modem to their SCADA. So far zero sensor failures after one rainy season. The park is n