Galvanized Steel Cutthroat Flumes are an economical alternative to standard fiberglass construction.  Galvanized Steel Cutthroat Flumes are commonly used to measure irrigation and surface water flows.  

Both Rectangular and Trapezoidal Cutthroat Flumes are available in galvanized steel construction.

Galvanized Steel Advantages

Galvanized steel Cutthroat Flumes from Openchannelflow are economical, have good damage resistance, have tight dimensional tolerances, and are available with a range of accessories and mounting / end configuration options.    

Damage Resistance

The heavy gauge construction of Openchannelflow galvanized steel Cutthroat Flumes provide good damage resistance.  In irrigation / water rights applications this can be useful, particularly when cattle or other livestock may be in / around the flume.

Economical

Galvanized steel Cutthroat Flumes are economical - less expensive than any other flume material.

Dimensional Tolerances

Skilled metal fabrication can result in galvanized steel Cutthroat Flumes that exhibit the same dimensional tolerance of fiberglass flumes. For Openchannelflow galvanized steel Cutthroat Flumes, the following dimensional tolerances are typical:

Throat

• 1/16-inch [1.59 mm] (12-inches or smaller Cutthroat Flumes)

• 3/32-inch [2.38 mm] (18-24-inch Cutthroat Flumes)

• 1/4-inch [6.3518 mm] (36-72-inch Cutthroat Flumes)

Other Flume Dimensions

• 1/8-inch [3.18 mm] (18, 36, and 54-inch L Cutthroat Flumes)
• 1/2-inch [12.7 mm] (108-inch L Cutthroat Flumes)

Configuration Flexibility

While not as many accessories or mounting / end configuration options are available for galvanized steel Cutthroat Flumes, Openchannelflow still offers a considerable range - including end adapters and wing walls.  

Contact Openchannelflow for additional details.

Galvanized Steel Disadvantages

While galvanized steel Cutthroat Flumes have a number of advantages, it is important to remember that there are several disadvantages to the material.

Weight

Galvanized steel Cutthroat Flumes weigh more twice as much as their fiberglass counterparts. This increased weight means that more manpower / heavier duty equipment is typically needed to install the flume.  Additionally, the added weight means that the are not generally used in remote watershed / catchment applications.

Abrasion Resistance

The surface galvanization on the flumes can be abraded by heavy / sharp sediments in the flow stream.  In applications where these are present their will be a need for ongoing maintenance of the galvanization or a different flume material (typically stainless steel) should be used.

Maintenance

Depending upon the application, the galvanized surfaces of the flume may present an ongoing maintenance issue.  Where the hot dipped galvanization has been worn away, the surface must be dried, cleaned, and the cold galvanization applied.