Electromagnetic Characterization of a PCB Salinity Sensor

Abstract

Saltwater intrusion occurs when seawater contaminates sources of freshwater and is a major concern for coastal communities. Presented is a sensor developed for easily measuring saltwater intrusion. The sensor is comprised of two planar electrodes integrated onto a printed circuit board (PCB). PCB technology enables this sensor to be manufactured at high volumes for a modest cost. In this work, the PCB sensor was tested in water samples originating from several locations to prove that it functioned correctly. The sensor’s performance was then simulated for multiple electrode geometries to determine the influence different electrode dimensions have on its measurements. The measurement and simulation results were then used by a genetic algorithm to derive an equation describing the behavior of the sensor.