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Find the right wind sensor for your application | ||
Links to previous pages Wind Section
APPLICATION
LINKS Ballistic meteorology - see Carbon flux monitoring Emergency
vehicles / services Indoor track and field - see sports events Industrial monitoring Marine Outward bound centres - see schools Radar
installations Schools
Trace gas monitoring - see carbon flux monitoring. University Need help finding a sensor? or your application is not listed, email wwwusamet@biral.com with details of your specs. See also
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Please select your application then click on the link to the recommended sensor
(please select either alphabetically,
from list on the left or scroll) A B C E F G H I L M N P R S T U V W
Below we have highlighted some of the major considerations for each application, however, as there are many more issues and points to be aware of, we ask that you take advantage of our service to provide application specific knowledge and contact us. (email: wwwusamet@biral.com) Aerodynamic Studies To aid in the study of vehicle aerodynamics and /or flow distortion over small scale wind tunnel projects the USA-1 Research 300 or USA-1 Research 400 products are best suited with the ability to measure very fast three-component wind structures as well as to take into account external additional parameters for easy data correlation and later analysis. The sensors are easy to set-up and use and have a minimal ‘footprint’. The Biral wind sensors can all be calibrated by the user with the calibration kit supplied, allowing you to keep costs and equipment down time to a bare minimum while still meeting any QA procedures that may be in place. Agricultural wind measurements To measure wind direction for plant growth (carbon monoxide) and/or plant damage we would recommend the Wind Horizon. For seed transport studies and / or insect flight patterns the USA-1 Professional 100 For more in depth studies into surface fluxes, carbon dioxide and monoxide and wind affect on watering requirements select the USA-1 Research 300 or USA-1 Research 400 Airport wind measurements For Airport continuous standard wind measurements according to ICAO standards with instantaneous, 2 min and 10 min mean wind speed measurements we recommend the USA Wind Horizon 200 or USA Wind Horizon 400. For Airport site evaluations, wing tip vortex studies, low level wind shear or other turbulent structure monitoring along the glide path or elsewhere on the airfield we recommend the USA-1 Professional 200, USA-1 Research 300 or USA-1 Research 400 models as well as the instruments in the boundary layer equipment section such as the Sodar 2000- 24 and 64 and Cloud Radar. Animal spore monitoring For the monitoring of the dispersion of animal spores on the wind the USA-1 Professional 100 is recommended. Atmospheric research studies - please see Research Automatic climate control systems For automatic climate control systems you can use the USA Wind Horizon 100 Complete automation systems are available for any need and budget and can control air conditioning, heating, window shading, airflow, window opening/closing as well as other parameters. Please contact us for more information. A recent high profile system for complete building automation has been installed using sensors from Biral at the Swiss RE building in London, which has won awards for its energy management concept. Please contact us for more information (email: wwwusamet@biral.com) Automatic control system wind sensors Automatic control systems for fountain water height and on/off control dependant on temperature we suggest the use of the USA Wind Horizon 100 or USA Wind Horizon 200. Automotive paint booths Biral have several solutions available for use in production lines of automotive factories. The use of wind sensors is important to maximize the use of paint resources as very small variations in the wind flow in the booth will have significant impact on the efficiency and yield of the paint used. The solutions vary from cost-effective hand held digital units for quality control purposes, to complete operational standard installations to continuously monitor the booth and conditions for immediate and later cost benefit analysis. The data is available in several formats for use with one or more displays and archiving systems simultaneously and the data can be viewed on a PC using standard MS Office products as well as SCADA or PRC input systems and displays. Please see under wind sensor types or contact us for more information (email: wwwusamet@biral.com) Ballistic meteorology - please see Weapons Control Bridge wind monitoring of cable vibration, wind loading on vehicle traffic or structural twisting of the bridge itself can be best measured with the USA-1 Professional 100 or USA-1 Professional 200, the USA Wind Horizon 100 or USA Wind Horizon 400 and the USA-1 Research 100 respectively. Boundary layer research - please see Research Buildings and structures For the monitoring of tall buildings, structures and landmarks the following wind sensors should be considered: USA Wind Horizon 400, USA-1 Professional 100 or the Professional 200 - standard heated model (without options) Please see also Automatic climate control systems Carbon flux monitoring The USA-1 Research 300 and USA-1 Research 400 models are ideally suited to use in carbon or other trace gas measurement networks. These sensors are unsurpassed in the market as they have a fast response time coupled with the ability to take up to 6 analog inputs with 16 bit resolution along with 2 TTL counters and 2 PRT sensors (all with individual time delays possible for best data modulation) and have everything output as a single ASCII data string with confidence values at two levels. The additional separation of the measurement head and electronics ensures that no extra structurally induced errors are introduced in the measurements. The further ability to calibrate the wind sensor in the field as needed by the user ensures that long term projects remain valid and no outages of data occur. The ability to add heating to the three axis units ensures that no matter what location the sensors are installed in, the data outages will be reduced to the barest minimum and be due to other equipment issues rather than calibration, icing or otherwise. Climate control for buildings - please see Automatic climate control systems Coastal - please see Marine Commercial marine vessels - please see Marine Control systems - please see Automatic control system Crane wind sensors Any of the following systems can be used: USA Wind Horizon 100, Cruise ships - please see Marine |
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Emergency vehicles and services Emergency Vehicles and Services: For first
responders, incident support vehicles or services that are looking for a quick, no fuss,
easy to use system to indicate wind direction (and possibly wind speed) at the scene we
recommend the USA Wind Horizon 100 or For a complete weather station providing temperature, humidity and pressure along with the stability class in addition to the wind parameters to give the best picture for plume modelling or spills we recommend the WeatherPak from Coastal Environmental Systems Ltd. Monitoring equipment used on Ferries for use together with other shipboard systems and navigation. Please see equipment recommendations in Marine for suitable equipment. Fire services - please see Emergency services Fires in Tunnels - please see Tunnels For monitoring transfer of water vapour or ecosystem changes such as state of change of gases the USA-1 Professional 100 or USA-1 Professional 200 can be used, however for more detailed stations the USA-1 Research 300 or USA-1 Research 400 are the best choices. For monitoring the wind speed and direction during tree harvesting activity a USA Wind Horizon 100 mounted on a portable, compact tripod with display and portable power supply are available. Contact us for more information. To monitor wind speed and direction on golf courses both for players safety considerations as well as to monitor playing conditions the USA Wind Horizon 100 is the best choice. To monitor the temperature, precipitation and wind flow in greenhouses for optimal growth conditions the Clima 2000 sensor series are ideally suited. For temperature and wind monitoring alone in larger systems the USA Wind Horizon 400 will be best suited. Please also see Automatic climate control systems To monitor the wind on major or secondary roads especially in areas of high winds, which can cause vehicle overturning or driving hazards for road users the USA Wind Horizon 400 is ideal to deal with the various connection systems used and for use in all weather conditions without loss of data. Hobby Users For the amateur meteorologist or for small clubs or organisations the Meteo Comp system is ideally suited with wind speed and direction monitoring in addition to temperature. The data can be viewed on an indoor display as well as stored on a PC for archiving and graphical trend viewing. Maximum and minimum values are stored on the display to suit all hobby needs at a very competitive price. HVAC Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning applications, for monitoring flow in restricted spaces either in clean air or in concentrations of other gases the USA Wind Horizon 100 is well suited with a robust housing and compact design, allowing it to be placed in most areas. Indoor track and field - please see Sports Events For areas where emission monitoring of pollutants and concentrations are needed or where disputes can arise in heavily populated areas the use of the USA Wind Horizon 400 is recommended with the ability to connect to any system and display. With heating the sensor will operate in all weather and not lose data in snow or icing conditions. The metallic housing is well suited for use in the most extreme chemical environment and will withstand cleaning agents without harm. With no moving parts and no maintenance this sensor is ideal for hard to get to places and where safety considerations mean time and personnel costs are high. For research into flow structure in silos or mixing chambers to reduce loss in efficiency or waste of product the USA-1 Professional 100 is a good choice with high data output and turbulence information available to show the 3 dimensional structure of the flow in that application. To monitor the wind at coastal marine navigation safety installations such as lighthouses or marking points the USA Wind Horizon 400 is the sensor of choice as it has a variety of connection possibilities and heating to ensure full operational capability in all weather conditions. Further lightning protection is designed into the sensor to ensure that surges are dealt with as best possible for any electrical equipment. Due to the remote location of these structures, the no moving parts, no maintenance design features allow for far more cost-effective operation of the sites. Low power applications - please see Remote Location Monitoring Coastal Wind Measurements - for coastal applications in harbours and on lighthouses for warning systems and defences we would recommend the USA Wind Horizon 400. Vessels (commercial, cruise ships, passenger and car ferries etc): the onboard wind monitoring on vessels for dynamic positioning, navigation and operations at sea such as transfers of materials or people is critical and the USA Wind Horizon 400 has many features that enable the crew to get on with the work at hand instead of worrying about whether they can trust the data. The USA Wind Horizon is far more accurate than mechanical systems as it has no moving parts and therefore none of the issues associated with friction / icing or overspeeding. This ensures that measurements are very precise and in a high resolution. The data can be input into standard ships systems easily due to the industry standard connections and output format of NMEA code. Information can be displayed on digital stand alone displays as well as input into computer systems for archiving and record keeping. Naval: The military requirements for a rugged, reliable and accurate wind system on board either operational warships or support vessels are extreme and the USA Wind Horizon 400 is well suited for such harsh conditions and use. The accuracy is second to none with no moving parts and based on a tried and proven measurement concept. The sensor can be more easily cleaned than competitive systems due to the all metal housing. The transducers are also covered ensuring that the units can handle as much sea spray and chemicals as training and conditions can throw at it. The sensor has industry standard interfacing to allow connection to several systems in a single unit. In case of a failure in one comms system a switch over can be done instantly to the same sensor ensuring no loss of data and therefore operational effectiveness. All Biral ultrasonic wind sensors are made of rugged materials and designed for use in the harshest of conditions. The USA Wind Horizon 400 is the sensor to choose for horizontal flow monitoring or general purpose situations. The metalwork of the Wind Horizon is slightly thicker than competitor sensors and can withstand vibration, shock and salt or chemical environments without damage. Due to the all metal housing the sensors have a high Ingress Protection value and can be decontaminated more easily than others on the market. Military research: for applications involving dispersion, weapons systems and NBC issues the range of USA-1Professional or USA-1 Research ultrasonic anemometers are best suited and come in a variety of models to suit the exact application. Contact Biral for more information and application advice. The monitoring of the wind structure in the boundary layer and the effects of the turbulence on missiles or rockets is best studied and understood using the USA-1 Professional 100 or USA-1 Professional 200 depending on location. The sensors are easily integrated into displays and logging equipment for immediate verification as well as later analysis. |
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Naval - please see Marine NBC - please see Military For wind measuring equipment for use in military or civil defense and especially for Nuclear, biological and chemical response please see Military. Police Services - please see Emergency Services Pollution monitoring Plume modelling, flow dispersion or pollution monitoring can be best done using SODARs which give a three dimensional picture of the wind structure overhead the point of interest. However, for point measurements or model verification and observational data input the use of the USA-1 Professional 100 is recommended as it allows a variable data output rate according to the application needs and other equipment being used for easy time correlation of data. The USA-1 Professional 200 can be used in locations where there is freezing or frozen precipitation expected during the time measurements are needed to be made. The USA-1 Research 300 or USA-1 Research 400 models are used where extra input channels are needed for external equipment and delays programmed to ensure timing issues are dealt with appropriately. Input resolution can be defined as needed from 12 bit for standard use to 16 bit with ultra fine resolution devices. The data output rates are higher with these models to provide even more detail of the change in flow. Power line monitoring - please see Power stations To monitor the effect of wind on power generation and especially the loss thereof due to strong cooling or heating, the USA Wind Horizon 400 is suggested as it can easily interface with existing infrastructure and displays and is heated to ensure continuous monitoring. Very cost effective, this sensor will provide a truly tangible cost saving benefit to operations. The monitoring of wind at radar sites for mechanical safety reasons or to better calibrate the efficiency is easily done with the USA Wind Horizon 200 model, which is heated and will allow continuous reliable and accurate data in all weather conditions. The data output can be collected digitally for use in existing systems or displays. To monitor wind on train station platforms, rail tunnels, underground /subway systems or areas of concern for wind loading the USA Wind Horizon 400 is the sensor of choice as it can be integrated into SCADA systems, or displayed directly on digital LED units mounted to portable masts or tripods for short term observation, as well as fixed structures for permanent monitoring and connected to data logging systems. The sensor has no moving parts and provides a very detailed output of wind speed and direction with an excellent resolution. As the unit is heated it can be installed in any environment without data loss. The rugged construction and materials used allow the sensor to withstand the harsh chemicals used in cleaning tunnels or enclosed spaces where the instrument maybe mounted. Ranges - please see Missile Ranges Relaxed Eddy Accumulation (REA) systems - please see Research and Carbon Flux Monitoring Remote location monitoring Remote locations requiring low power: Biral have a special very low power wind sensor with only 14mA current draw at 12 VDC and still providing the full range of features. This sensor has been used on ocean data buoys and wind turbine siting projects amongst others. The sensor is unheated. Please contact us for more information (email: wwwusamet@biral.com) on this special sensor. For conventional low power weather monitoring needs in remote locations we recommend the USA Wind Horizon 300. This sensor can be used with most data acquisition systems using the analog outputs and does not have a heater to save power. The sensor has no moving parts and requires no maintenance. For serious research requirements such as: clean rooms, atmospheric boundary layer studies, boundary layer studies, street canyon projects, modelling verification, data input, windtunnel verification, disturbance monitoring such as aerodynamic flows, or military NBC dispersion data the USA Professional series are recommended for basic cost effective monitoring of the three dimensional forces. Either the USA-1 Professional 100 model or, where heating is required, the USA-1 Professional 200 would be suitable. For finer details and micrometeorological studies the USA-1 Research 100 or USA-1 Research 300 models arel required depending on budget and whether external sensors need to be time correlated with the wind information. For online real-time turbulence calculations at very fast data rates the USA-1 Research 400 is the sensor of choice. Roadside Monitoring - please see Highways To provide basic monitoring of weather conditions for student and staff safety as well as school teaching purposes there are two weather stations that are worth considering, which have wind information included with the output. The MeteoComp is a basic weather station with wind speed and direction as well as temperature output to an LED digital display. The display also allows the data to be viewed on a PC and archived. The second station provides wind speed, wind direction and temperature as well as precipitation information and humidity. The LPM station uses a highly accurate laser beam ribbon of light to detect falling precipitation, from which the amount, type and intensity can be derived. Sewage plants For typical monitoring of sewage processes and the directional flow the USA Wind Horizon 100 is well suited, with the ability to connect to a computer or digital display for direct viewing or record keeping. The sensor has no moving parts and requires no maintenance. Shipping: for marine requirements - please see Marine Shopping centres - please see Building and Structures Ski Hills: For the monitoring of wind speed and direction on ski hills there are several factors which by using a USA Wind Horizon 400 will allow you to save valuable resources and provide the best customer service. The use of a wind sensor can help to determine snow drift and loss due to warmer air moving over the snow pack and also for the optimal use of snow making machines. The sensors are heated and have multiple outputs to allow the operator to install local displays at chairlifts as well as feeding the signal back to the main chalet or control room for resource planning and cost analysis. The data can be archived on a PC and viewed in a graphical user interface for trend plotting. Ski Lifts: The use of the USA Wind Horizon 400 on ski lifts at critical wind sectors is vital to skier safety and ensures that no unnecessary medical attention is required due to wind chill while on the chairs; thereby ensuring that skiers are happy and enjoying the facilities instead of telling others about unpleasant experiences. The sensors are heated and have multiple outputs to allow the operator to install local displays at chairlifts as well as feeding the signal back to the main chalet or control room for resource planning and cost analysis. The data can be archived on a PC and viewed in a graphical user interface for trend plotting. Sports events The need to monitor wind speeds at sporting events to validate records of individual achievement is well known. A wide variety of sporting events use this information to also keep the public informed of the likelihood for success, such as ski jumping or indoor track and field running events. The quality and accuracy are highly important as is the obvious need for reliability. The USA Wind Horizon 400 fills all of these needs and more. With the heating element the sensor can be used in winter events as well as summer and has the ability to hook up to almost any interface for displaying the data. Street Canyons - please see Research Structural Monitoring - please see Buildings and Structures Trace gas monitoring - please see Carbon Flux Monitoring. Accurately measuring wind speed and direction is highly critical in tunnels as the restricted space increases the danger associated with any incident. The common concern for longer tunnels is that the wind flow in the tunnel can be adjusted manually by means of fans or other automated systems to bring the ‘zero wind’ line over the incident within a very short time, thereby reducing any ‘feeding’ of the fire or other event in the tunnel. The measurement of wind tends to be more concentrated on speed as the direction will generally be a plus or minus flow in one direction or the other in tunnels (unless it is a very wide tunnel and has several entrances and exits). The USA Wind Horizon 400 is the sensor of choice for such applications as it can be easily integrated into SCADA or PRC interfaces and have a digital display in a shelter locally as well as outputs going to a control center to monitor tunnel safety (particularly with fires). As tunnels tend to provide the ideal conditions for ice to form when conditions are worsening, the USA Wind Horizon 400 is heated to ensure that the sensor will provide wind speed and direction as well as temperature in these harsh conditions. A second use (and far more common to all tunnels) is for the monitoring of visibility reductions either caused by fog or mist forming naturally or formed with the aid of the exhaust output from vehicles. The reduction to visibility in a tunnel is a major cause of accidents as any small incident can quickly become a major life threatening event if traffic is high. The Biral HSS brand of visibility sensors are useful to warn of decreasing visibility conditions either to a control room or locally (or both) and additionally the analog signal output can be monitored for changes in the slope of the degradation to the signal as this has been proven to be a major aid for the detection of fires. (As naturally occurring fog tends to degrade visibility quite linearly.) For more information on this aspect of tunnels please see our visibility pages or contact Biral. (email: wwwusamet@biral.com) There are several aspects to research done at Universities and most are covered under the Research heading above. The major aspect of using Biral ultrasonic anemometers is that they allow universities to know exactly how much confidence they can have in the measurements they publish and base their scientific reputation on. The Biral Professional range and Research range of ultrasonic wind sensors all have built in data quality checks and the USA-1 Research 300 and USA-1 Research 400 models even allow the user to define the threshold with which they are comfortable to use the measured data. The percentage of data received from that expected is output in simple numbers at the top of every data string output to ensure that you are aware of the quality of data you have received. An example is SDQ 85 (which is Signal Data Quality with 85 percent data received compared to the data transmitted and expected). This approach is unique in the field and allows you to control how much confidence you wish to place in the equipment rather than having to ‘guess’ the thresholds used by manufacturers. This open approach is a fundamental and refreshing change in working together with research institutes and organisations to provide the best results possible. Urban Canyon Studies - please see Research Vessels - Open Water Vessels: please see Marine Wind tends to be the first parameter that users wish to measure when building a weather station. The importance of having the appropriate level of equipment for your application is not to be underestimated. If you are looking for a weather station as a hobby or amateur meteorologist you will have very different needs than that of an industrial factory looking to measure wind direction to best deal with the surrounding environment and concerns…The Weather station pages provide you with solutions appropriate to all budgets and needs. Should you be looking specifically for sensors to use with an existing weather station and wish only to replace the wind sensors, then please check our USA Wind Horizon pages and the mechanical wind sensors pages. On board military naval vessels or at ranges the use of wind measuring equipment is vital to security as well as to ensure maximizing the effectiveness of the projectile. The use of the USA Wind Horizon 400 is suggested for most applications with the all metal construction and easy decontamination capability during exercises or in combat. The multiple outputs allow the user to connect to several displays or systems simultaneously as required using standard output formats. The accuracy and reliability are second to none and will ensure a true ‘fit and forget’ capability. For three dimensional turbulence research profiling with weapons we recommend the USA-1 Professional range for fast response measurements with the possibility to heat the unit if required by weather conditions. SODARs are ideal to aid in ballistic meteorology such as artillery as they can continuously provide a near real time vertical profile of the wind speed and direction as well as temperature for the lower boundary layer. This is far more cost effective than traditional radio-sonde flight releases during events and also allows a degree of independence as no consumables are required for continued operation. SODARs are the choice of consultants for wind farm siting research, as they provide an excellent value for money capability. They do not require any structural masts or permanent fixings to measure and can be easily set-up by one person within 30 minutes. SODARs provide three dimensional wind profiles of the lower atmosphere and can show the all important effects that turbulence structures will have on the blades of turbines, as well as aiding in establishing the power curve output for different sites. The SODAR technology has come a long way and can now be calibrated for wind farm usage. SODARs have been given the first approvals from industry standards organisations such as RISO. For traditional wind cup mechanical speed measurement equipment to use when siting masts for wind farms, we have two sensors that are RISO and DEWI approved and calibrated. The First Class sensors are the highest specification mechanical wind sensors available and will provide excellent response times and accuracy. The starting speed and overspeeding issues typically associated with mechanical systems are dealt with as best possible in the design and ensure measurements are highly accurate true reflections of the wind conditions at the site. The USA Wind Horizon 200 is the sensor of choice for measuring the ambient flow shifts on the actual wind turbines. The sensor is designed to withstand very high levels of shock and vibration and has a very efficient heater to ensure proper operation in all weather conditions. The signal is digital and can be fed into standard control systems for alignment of the blades to ensure optimum yield of the wind turbine power generation. Modern turbine manufacturers are starting to also look at adjusting the pitch of the blades to better deal with turbulence as it reaches the turbine structure. The use of the 3 axis USA-1 Wind Professional allows the user to understand the three dimensional wind on the turbine and monitor both wind direction and turbulence ensuring that the turbine is always running at optimum. The construction is designed to withstand the harsh conditions on the turbines and all Biral wind sensors are designed from the ground up to deal with lightning surges (at least as best possible for any electrical device that needs to deal with surges and strikes). To validate wind tunnels or for use with dispersion experiments in wind tunnels the USA-1 Professional series or USA-1 Research series are best suited, as they provide information on any turbulence structures that may be forming or influencing the measurements. They also have the ability to take external sensors data outputs into the wind sensors time modulated output string. This makes for easy analysis of additional parameters such as temperature, humidity and pressure.
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Links to previous pages Wind Section
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Need help finding a sensor or your
application is not listed, contact us wwwusamet@biral.com
with details of your requirements. or check out these links: Thank you for visiting www.biral.com/meteorology/usa/wind/applications.htm |
Website Copyright 2006 Biral.
