How to monitor ecological flow discharge at hydropower stations?

　　Ecological flow, or ecological water demand, was first proposed in the 1940s by U.S. fisheries and wildlife conservation organizations. They defined ecological flow as the minimum river flow required to prevent degradation of the river’s ecosystem.

　　With the evolution of the times, the concept of ecological flow in rivers has expanded. Today, ecological flow refers to the allocation of water resources—beyond the social and economic benefits derived from water use—in rivers, wetlands, and coastal areas where competing water demands exist. Its aim is to maintain a flow regime that sustains ecosystem integrity, ensuring that, while meeting domestic, industrial, and irrigation needs, water is appropriately distributed to preserve the downstream river ecosystem and the stability of the river’s hydrological cycle. When necessary, portions of water allocated for industrial and agricultural uses may be reduced to augment downstream ecological flow.

　　Ecological flow is the lifeblood of rivers, which provide humanity with water resources, abundant flora and fauna, and hydropower. Safeguarding the stability of rivers is, in essence, ensuring that they can continue to serve human needs more effectively and sustainably. To this end, it is essential to manage the relationship between humans and rivers appropriately, upholding the principle of “harmonious co‑development” as a whole. On the one hand, for their own development, humans must exploit, utilize, and transform rivers;

　　Application scope: Ecological flow monitoring at hydropower stations, suitable for both regular and irregular cross‑sections. The radar‑based flow measurement system enables all‑weather, automated acquisition and real‑time monitoring of flow and water‑volume data in open channels and natural riverbeds.

　　Overall machine technical specifications:

　　l Configuration software: The configuration software can display and transmit charts for water level, flow velocity, discharge, cumulative volume, and process curves.

　　l Flow calculation: The built-in radar-based hydraulic model is used for flow computation, supporting automatic current‑measurement mode.

　　l Scalability: It can simultaneously connect multiple radar velocity sensors to form an array‑type radar current‑measurement system.

　　l USB Interface: Equipped with a USB port for connecting portable storage devices, enabling the input of flow‑section parameters as well as import and export operations.

　　l Setting functions: Supports the input of both standard and non-standard cross sections, allows pre‑setting the functional relationship between radar‑measured flow velocity and cross‑sectional average flow velocity, and calculates discharge.