River-type ADCP
Oceantek River-ADCP series is purpose-built for high-precision discharge and velocity monitoring in rivers, canals, and open channels. With two specialized configurations – the 600kHz Horizontal ADCP (HADCP) and the Dual-Frequency 9-Beam ADCP – these systems deliver accurate, reliable flow data for hydrological stations, flood forecasting, and water resource management.
Our Products
HADCP
A horizontal, side-looking ADCP optimized for continuous river cross-section monitoring. Installed on riverbanks or bridge piers, it provides long-term, unattended flow velocity and discharge data without vessel deployment.
River-ADCP-M9
A multi-beam, dual-frequency river ADCP designed for complex and shallow-to-medium river conditions. With 9 beams, it delivers full-section velocity profiles, even in braided rivers, high-turbulence zones.
River ADCP Selection: HADCP vs M9 — Which One Do You Need?
Oceantek offers two distinct river ADCP configurations. They serve different monitoring strategies — choosing the wrong one means reinstallation, not just a setting change:
| HADCP-600 | River-ADCP-M9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring style | Fixed, continuous, unattended | Mobile, survey-based, manned |
| Deployment | Side-looking, mounted on riverbank/bridge pier | Vessel-mounted or tethered boat |
| Beam count | 4 beams (standard Janus configuration) | 9 beams (4 main + 1 vertical + 4 auxiliary) |
| Best for | Flood early-warning, irrigation canals, real-time discharge monitoring stations | River discharge surveys, braided rivers, high-sediment flow, research campaigns |
| Frequency | 600 kHz single-frequency | Dual-frequency (500 kHz + 1.0 MHz x4 + 3.0Mhz x4) |
Specifications
River-ADCP-M9:dual-frequency river ADCP
| Category | Technical Specification | Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Velocity Measurement | Operation Mode | Direct Reading |
| Profile Range | 0.06-40m | |
| Typical Current Measurement Accuracy | ±0.25% ± 2mm/s | |
| Velocity Resolution | 1mm/s | |
| Velocity Range | ±20.0 m/s | |
| Flow Direction Range | 0-360° | |
| Flow Direction Accuracy | ±2° | |
| Number of Cells | 1-255 | |
| Cell Size | 0.02-4m | |
| Transducer | Number of Beams | 9 transducers; dual-beam 3.0MHz / 1.0MHz Janus; 1 x 0.5MHz vertical beam echo sounder |
| Beam Angle | 25° | |
| Depth Measurement | Height Measurement Resolution | 0.001m |
| Height Measurement Accuracy | 1% (0.02% with full water column sound speed correction) | |
| Height Measurement Range | 0.2-80m | |
| Bottom Track Range | 0.3-40m | |
| Discharge Measurement | GNSS/GPS Range | 0.3-80m, extrapolation above 40m |
| Internal Storage | 64GB | |
| Bathymetric Measurement | Range | 40m (oblique beams) - 80m (vertical beam) |
| Velocity Profile Measurement Range | ±10.0 m/s | |
| Communication | Communication Interface | RS-232 or RS-422 |
| GNSS/GPS Communication | RS-232 serial input | |
| Max Data Refresh Rate (Output Rate) | 2Hz | |
| Internal Sampling Rate | Up to 70Hz | |
| Sensors | Temperature Sensor | Accuracy: ±0.1°C; Resolution: 0.01°C |
| Pressure Sensor | Range: According to depth rating; Accuracy: ±0.25%; Resolution: 1mm | |
| Attitude Heading Reference Sensor | Range: Heading 0-360°; Accuracy (RMS): Roll ±1° | Pitch ±1° | Heading 0.8°; Resolution: 0.01° | |
| Power Supply | Power Supply Interface | 10-26V |
| Structure | Housing Material | POM |
| Environment | Operating Temperature | -5°C-45°C |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C-70°C | |
| Pressure Rating | 50m | |
| Physical Properties | Weight (in Air) | ≤1.5kg |
| Dimensions | Φ128mm × 168mm | |
| Optional | Available Options | - |
Why 9 Beams Matter for River Surveys
Standard 4-beam ADCPs have a blind spot: the near-surface and near-bottom zones where acoustic side-lobe interference contaminates measurements. In shallow rivers — where the entire water column might be only 2–5 meters — these blind zones can consume 30–40% of the profile.
The River-ADCP-M9’s 9-beam architecture solves this by adding:
- 1 vertical beam — directly measures vertical velocity without trigonometric reconstruction. Critical in high-turbulence, sediment-laden rivers where side-lobe contamination is worst.
- 4 auxiliary angled beams — provide redundant velocity measurements at different angles. In post-processing, these allow quality-checking each depth cell against 3 independent measurements.
The result: usable velocity data within 5–10 cm of the surface and bottom, compared to 50–80 cm for a standard 4-beam ADCP. For rivers under 5 meters deep, this is the difference between a complete profile and a mostly missing one.
Read: 4-Beam vs 5-Beam vs 9-Beam ADCP — Full Technical Comparison →
Applications
- 600kHz HADCP: Continuous cross-section discharge monitoring, fixed hydrological stations, flood early warning systems, and remote river long-term unattended monitoring.
- Dual-Frequency 9-Beam ADCP: Complex braided rivers, shallow-to-medium river surveys, variable-depth open channels, and high-turbulence or high-sediment flow conditions.
- General River Applications: Hydrological discharge measurement, water resource assessment, flood forecasting, and environmental monitoring in rivers, canals, and reservoirs.
Why Choose Us
High Precision
Matches the performance of global leading companies
Small Size
Much smaller in size than international products with equivalent performance.
Superior Reliability
Continuous working time ≥ 100 days.
Excellent compatibility
Compatible with protocols of similar products from international brands
View Our Direct-Reading ADCP Series
ADCP-75k: range up to 1000m,specialized for deep water projects