The Study of a Capacitance Sensor and its System Used in Measuring Ice Thickness, Sedimentation and Water Level of a Reservoir

This paper presents a multi-electrode capacitance sensor and its system used in measuring sedimentation volume, water level, ice thickness of a river or reservoir. Based on the different characteristics of the capacitor in the different mediums such as in ice, water, sediment, a multi-functional, multi-electrode and non-closed capacitance sensor is designed. That is, a multi- electrode capacitance sensor is set up around a long hollow circular, which can be vertically placed in a river or reservoir. The capacitance value of each group is measured respectively. Using a simple algorithm, the two-dimensional cross-section data can be transformed into three-dimensional volume. Based on the experiment, a capacitance sensor and its system used in measuring ice thickness, sedimentation and water level of a reservoir is introduced. Experiments show that the sensor and its measurement system is advanced.