does anyone have any concepts on detecting waterpump operation(flow)in a non contact manner(led, laser,etc)
With that in mind monitoring pump power won't necessarily let you know about a blocked line or broken impeller, not simply anyway. Since you don't want to open a pipe and insert a sensor that gets thigs down to as I mentioned earlier, along the lines of a ultra sonic non intrusive clamp on device. Tey come in switch versions working off a large window of power needs including DC shipboard power. Omega Engineering makes them and a host of other manufacturers.Marine cooling system applications. is my goal.
I'd look into a venturi. Very simple, non-invasive, not terribly expensive. If you need remote telemetry instead of reading it in the field, it gets more expensive and its advantages may disappear.power to a pump would be nice but would not detect blockage. and power could be supplied via mechanical means(engine). solids would not likely unless micro organisms would count. Marine cooling system applications. is my goal. in current detection( wheels, hall effect, vanes) are all mechanical and do- able. non invasive would be an improvement.
The problem you are going to have is measuring flow with no intrusion can be done but as soon as we move from invasive to non invasive flow measurement the cost is steep. Years ago and I mean many years ago I had a 1963 Cris Craft Cavalier Express 30 footer. The boat was powered by Chevy V8 engines. Every now and then in the bay the cooling water inlets would get clogged by a plastic bag and it was obvious as that engine temp would start climbing. The fact that you only want a flow or no flow indication requires a simple flow switch with a preset level.it really is just a matter cooling water flow or no flow in lines 1"-2" diam. marine dirty water.
That should work depending on the cooling system design. Many boats merge the seawater inlet with the exhaust so the used cooling water exits after flowing through the exhaust. Some also run cooling water through an engine oil heat exchange. You could likely place a pressure sensing switch just upstream of the inlet pump, that should work and be easy to do. Good idea and inexpensive too.RE:<<cutting a pipe and inserting a simple flow switch>>
then one extremely cheap but effective and longlasting thing is water level (pressure) sensor from any domestic washmachine, Bosch, Candy, Electrolux, Beco and plethora of other. It will indicate do there are pressure in the output aperture. If is, then flow is obvious. Sensor costs below the 5 USD in the spare part store.
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