It’s clear that the CHM 15k ceilometer measures up to 15 km high clouds. But how can the measurement device’s accuracy be determined and calibrated? Our developers invented a solution to simulate cloud heights and depths – the used tool you may know already. What this is all about, you can find out in the following blog post…
MARWIS as all-rounder: the new CHM Simulator is able to simulate clouds with the help of the sensor which is normally used for traffic meteorology applications. The name of the simulator equipment refers to the cloud height sensor CHM 15k, which can measure up to 15 km into the height and detects different types of clouds.
The CHM Simulator is an absolute novelty for the efficient and prompt maintenance of the cloud height sensor CHM 15k. From now on, you can check the measurement system’s performance at any time at day and night by yourself with the help of this handy field exerciser. Moreover it saves you from deployment and transporting the laser measurement unit to us in order to ensure the required regular examination.
Furthermore it’s a great tool to compare the performance and the measurement accuracy of more than one operating CHM 15k directly. Through this we got one step closer to the realization of our ambitious target: to create the necessary conditions in order to support and enable the growth of the global operative and homogenous ceilometer network.
The CHM Simulator consists of a sensor, a special template for the positioning of the simulator device, as well as an Android respectively iOS app with which you can adapt the required cloud height and depth. The CHM 15k and the App are easily paired via Bluetooth.
MARWIS’ photo sensors absorb the laser beam and emulate a highly precise reflection. This allows the simulation of a certain cloud height and layer thickness which can be set to an exactness of 10 meters. Through this, the measurement accuracy of the Lufft ceilometer CHM 15k can be checked optimally.
For this, it’s important to cover the ceilometer’s laser source by means of the template completely in order to ensure that one of the five LEDs can absorb the cloud height sensor’s laser impulses. After a short time, the LEDs send a signal to the ceilometer and imitate the desired cloud characteristics.
In addition you can test how good the CHM 15k can manage disturbances caused by light with the help of the DC light or backlight.
The sensor can issue the device check results directly. Some of them – such as laser frequency – can be made accessible through the simulator app or the UMB protocol.
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