Blog

Sometimes measuring discharge from lakes and ponds can be challenging…particularly when there isn’t a convenient spot to put a discharge weir or flume. One arrangement that has been used successfully is a vertical standpipe with a weir box mounted to the top. 

Many kinds of flume are in use today around the world, in applications as diverse as dam seepage monitoring to industrial pre-treatent discharge.  These flumes can be divided into two different classes:  short throated and long throated.

The factory-direct method of dealing with our customers works well in many instances, but there are times when only "boots-on-the-ground" will do.   To better serve our ever growing customer-base, Openchannelflow is pleased to announce that we are now actively seeking…

For many engineerings and end-users the default configuration for flume always includes a stilling well...and why not?  When they work, they work great - providing a convenient area to measure the flow in a flume.  When they don't work....well that's another…

In flow measurement, freeboard is defined as the distance from the top of top of the water to the top of the flume or channel that it is in.  For flumes, freeboard allows minor surface turbulence to exist without flow overtopping the sidewalls.  The amount of freeboard…

The combination of a flume with an ultrasonic flow meter is a very reliable method of measuring wastewater flows. The set-up can be low cost and provide good overall accuracy.

Cribbing (bracing) a flume is one of life's little chores.  It isn't something we want to do, but rather something we have to do.  If it is done well, the results are great. If it is done poorly (or not at all), trouble is bound to follow. Find out how why…

The Water Measurement Manual states that:      “Long-throated flumes have many advantages compared to other measuring devices (for open channel flows), including Parshall flumes.  Long-throated flumes are more accurate, cost less, have better technical…

Openchannelflow welcomes Guthrie Sales and Service, Inc. into our growing network of world-wide representatives!  Guthrie Sales and Service will cover Tennessee and all but the western tip of Kentucky for Openchannelflow.   Established in 1946, the companies of J.T.…

Weir boxes are the preferred method of monitoring seeps from concrete and earthern dams.   Their ability to meaure low flows and retain sediment for future investigation make them a natural choice for the application.  The small foot print and ability to have differnt…

Steel, while not used in wastewater applications, is a common material of construction for flumes used in water rights and irrigation applications.  Both painted and galvanized steel are used for these applications; of the two, though, galvanized steel is the most common.

One problem application we see time and time again is measuring the flow out of a UV disinfection system.  UV disinfection systems usually have V-shaped overflow weirs just downstream of the lamp banks.   Parshall flumes are then placed immediately downstream to measure…

The installation of a Palmer-Bowlus flume is a straight forward and can be accomplished with a minimum of effort.  The straight-through, u-channel design means that there are no changes in elevation to accommodate and that the flume is well suited for installation in manhole…

Rectangular weirs can be a good fit for Water Rights applications where the soil at the installation site is stony / has large rocks (making the installation of a flume difficult or expensive) or where a realtively large volume of water must be metered in a realtively narrow…

End adapters are specially shaped structures that attach to the inlet and / or outlet of a Parshall flume and are designed to: Provide a convenient method of connecting to piping. Transition flow into and out of the flume in a controlled manner. Condition the flow into the…

Irrigation flumes can be categorized into two groups: those used for Water Rights and those used to measure in-field flows (Furrows). Water Rights flumes are concerned with the overall apportionment of water from an irrigation canal / channel or some other source of surface…

A nested (or dual-range) Parshall flume is one where a smaller, lower flow range flume has been mounted into a larger, higher flow range flume. By nesting the two different flumes together, over time two substantially different ranges of flow can be measured in one installation.

As State Engineer’s Offices become more concerned over accurate measurement of water rights withdrawals, flow-measuring devices are becoming mandatory.  These flow-measuring devices typically take shape as flumes – with the Parshall and Cutthroat flumes being…

For operators who use them, Fiberglass Packaged Metering Manholes are a great solution to the problem of measuring piped flows below grad. They provide a safe, convenient place in which accurate flow measurement can take place.   Improved measurment accuracy, installation…

Fiberglass Packaged Metering Manholes are a great solution to the problem of measuring piped flows below grade and provide a unique set of benefits to consulting engineers who specify them. To the consulting engineer these benefits include:  installation / measurement…