DENSE: Semicontinuous, Automated, Gravimetric Measurement Device for Suspended Sediment Concentrations

Abstract

Automated, real-time suspended sediment concentration (SSC) measurement techniques are important for the design and operation of hydraulic structures as well as the sediment management of river and reservoir systems. Traditional methods provide high-accuracy data but are inadequate to provide high temporal and spatial resolution. Surrogate methods, such as turbidity, laser diffraction, or acoustic backscatter, allow higher temporal and spatial resolution, but accuracy is negatively affected by natural variations in sediment grain size, color, or shape and the maximum measurable concentration is limited. To overcome these limitations and to close the gap between traditional and surrogate technologies, a new automatic density measurement device called a densimeter for semicontinuous SSC measurements (DENSE), for high SSC values, is presented. Laboratory tests have been performed for the evaluation of its performance and precision. The results show that the new DENSE technology has an accuracy of 0.3 g/L.