A current meter has been designed, intended for surveillance of low-power battery driven devices with a large dynamic range in their current consumption. Among such devices may, for example, be nodes in a wireless sensor network (WSN). The large dynamic range originates in the nodes’ states from an active mode for data collection and communication to a sleep mode for preserving very limited energy and prolonging the lifetime of the device. The active mode draws current up to hundreds of milliamperes whilst the sleep mode’s current may be as low as 22 nA. This makes the dynamic range larger than 6 orders of magnitude. To perform measurements that prevail over noise sources and resolution of involved components, an increase in the SNR must be made. If the current is measured with a shunt resistor, this may be done by varying its resistance as required. The resistance should be as high as possible to maximize the SNR, but low enough such that the burden voltage of the current meter is kept within tolerances of the device. A literature study was done, and with the gained knowledge a circuit was designed and simulated in LTSpice. Then a printed circuit board (PCB) of the circuit was designed and implemented using Altium Designer (an ECAD program), manufactured and hand-soldered. The final PCB was tested but shown to have some design flaws that deteriorated the performance, for example too frequent switching of the current range.

Every type of current meter is different and has its proper characteristics. Knowing the performance of a current meter is essential in order to use it properly either for field or laboratory measurements (such as in the Offshore Technology Research Center wave basin). A study of the MAVS (Modular Acoustic Velocity Sensor) in a wave basin is a first step essential for later deployment in real studies. This thesis is based on data obtained from different series of laboratory measurements conducted in the OTRC wave basin. The objective of the first part of the study was to characterize the MAVS frequency response using benchmarks such as tow tests or wave tests. These benchmarks allowed us not only to characterize the sensor but also to eventually correct some of the measurement distortions due to flow blockage, vortex shedding, or vibrations of the mounting structure, for example. After the preliminary study was done, we focused on the potential use of the MAVS in the OTRC wave basin. Indeed, in the case of a study of a scale model in the wave basin, the stresses applied to the model have to be accurately known. In the case of current-induced loads, this includes contributions from both the mean flow and the turbulence. Thus, after correcting the values measured by the MAVS, a mapping of the current jet was executed to determine its three-dimensional structure in the wave basin. Knowing the structure of the current in the OTRC wave basin, it was then possible to define a domain in which the current can be considered uniform with a certain tolerable error. This domain of uniformity will allow us to validate the use of the OTRC wave basin to study large models such as FPSOs (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Units).

This experimental diploma thesis investigates the changes in the metrological characteristics of the electromagnetic current meter of velocity. The theoretical part of the thesis includes a brief summary of technical and metrological characteristics of these types of devices. In addition, it describes the tested device, the test track, and the measurement procedure, which consists of two variants: long-term monitoring with a relatively regular monthly measurement interval and short-term monitoring with a regular daily measurement interval. The evaluation of the experimental work focuses on the repeatability and variability of the displayed point speed values and their stability over time. Furthermore, the parameters reported by the meter during long-term and short-term monitoring are compared to each other. The results are also compared with similar experiments.

The development of hydrology and the need of getting exact data increase the demands on hydro metering. Measurement of spot velocities and deriving the flow of water are frequently performed by the workers of Český hydrometeorologický ústav (Czech Hydrometeorological Institute) and other companies. The limited precision of the measuring machines, the imperfection of methods and the influence of human senses cause that we are not able to get the accurate value of quantity. We are just close to the right values. The term uncertainty of measuring determines the interval which is assigned to each measurement and contains the real value of measured quantity. Twenty imminently repeated measurement were done in twelve measuring profiles of the Dyje River and in one profile of the Morava River using the current meters OTT (OTT Hydromet, 2013) type C2 and type C31. We investigated the dependence of uncertainties type A and B in different profile parameter. The measurement was done with the suspension bar with 2 to 4 propeller current-meters. The hydrometric car on the bridge was used in deeper waters. The results were analysed from the point of view of the uncertainties and generalized. Next point of the research was to find out how the frequency of the current meter depends on temperature of water. For this purpose, the specific canal was made in the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Brno (Ústav vodního hospodářství krajiny) and the measuring was done in temperature interval from 1 °C to 24 °C. Repeated measuring was statistically evaluated from the uncertainties point of view. In the thesis, the proposal of elaboration of uncertainties determined by both types of measurement into current methods of determination of uncertainties of the derived flows using the measurement of spot velocity by the propeller current-meter in measuring profiles of the rivers is introduced.