Blog

There are many, many different ways to install an H flume, some of them quite inventive!  Here we’ll go over the basics of installing an H flume in an earthen or concrete channel.   Keep in mind that these guidelines are just that:  guidelines.  …

Measuring flow in a flume should be a straightforward affair.  Unfortunately, we get more calls and inquiries on where / how to measure flow in a Palmer-Bowlus flume than all other flumes combined so we thought that we would go over it set the record straight. To better…

Openchannelflow offers a number of different flow conditioners to help to normalize the flow before it enters a Parshall flume.  Some of the conditioners are in-flume accessories, while others are installed upstream of the flume itself. Upstream For applications where the…

With the advent of the Packaged Metering Manhole (PMM) in the 1960’s, monitoring wastewater discharge compliance by industrial customers became considerably easier.  By factory integrating a primary device (usually a flume or weir, but mag meters can also be…

The freeboard is the difference in height between the top of a flume or weir and the highest water level anticipated. Freeboard is a guard against overtopping by waves, unexpected rises in the water level, or miscalculation in the maximum anticipated flows.  Freeboard is…

While not as varied as H flumes are in terms of their mounted, Parshall flumes can be installed in a number of creative ways to meet your flow measurement needs. The flumes are suscessfully used in:   Above grade At grade Below grade And manhole installations Versitle in…

In terms of installation and mounting, one of the most versatile flumes is the H series.   The flumes are suscessfully used in:   Above grade At grade Below grade And manhole installations This versatility in installation, combined with a wide range of styles and sizes,…

A staff gauge is a measuring tool, similar to a tape measure, used to provide a visual indication of the depth of water (typically in a river, flume, or weir).   Staff gauges are inexpensive, static, permament, and don't require power and can be an excellent way to…

During periods of rapid water level change, the level in a stilling well may lag behind those in the channel that it is measuring.  This phenomenon is known as stilling well lag and is a result of head loss in the intake system. Stilling well lag may occur when the water…

User Daniel Kelly has posted two videos on Youtube that show problems with insufficienlty conditioned flow entering a Parshall flume and an attempt to fix it. The flume (and flow meter), measuring treated effluent, was under-recording the effluent flows. Prior to the attempted…

Openchannelflow is pleased to announce that Whitney Equipment of Bothell, WA has signed as a full-line representative for the Pacific Northwest. The professionals at Whitney Equipment are specialists in flow meters, level controls, and automatic sampling representing…

From an industry standpoint, the primary reason for monitoring a facility is to ensure that the industry is fairly charged for the pollutant load that they discharge to the municipal wastewater treatment system or per a NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System)…