Many of the mounting and end connections developed over the years for the Parshall are also available for Montana Flumes.
Montana Flume Mounting
Concrete Channels
Concrete encapsulation is the most common method of installing a Montana Flume. The flume is set in an oversized, roughed-in channel and then grouted into place. To help secure the flume during installation and make sure that it does not float out of place, wire is run through the anchor clips on the outside of the flume back to rebar before the grout pour begins.
In both concrete and earthen channel installations, the inside of the Montana Flume must be cribbed and weighted so that the flume does not shift out of place or the sidewalls / floor distort. Once the installation has been completed, the cribbing is removed.
Earthen Channels
Earthen channel installations are typical where Montana Flumes measure watersheds or where the flume is used for water rights apportionment / irrigation flows. An oversized area is excavated, typically bedded on a compactable base, and then backfilled. To help secure the flume in place, earth anchors or threaded rods are usually run through the anchor clips on the outside of the flume.
Flow bypass can be a concern upstream of the flume; both here and downstream (where scour is a concern), geotextiles may be used.
In both concrete and earthen channel installations, the inside of the Montana Flume must be cribbed and weighted so that the flume does not shift out of place or the sidewalls / floor distort. Once the installation has been completed, the cribbing is removed.
Flow Metering Manholes
For applications where below grade flow monitoring is required, Openchannelflow offers flumes integrated into our fiberglass Packaged Metering Manholes.
Montana Flume End Connections
End Adapter
End connections for Montana Flumes revolve around the inlet end adapter. An end adapter is a rectangular structure that attaches to a Montana Flume inlet that allows the flow to be transitioned into the flume in a controlled manner.
End adapters can be provided with pipe stubs, flanges, or caulking collars to connect to piping. Additionally, end adapters can be left with the ends open if necessary.
End adapters are convenient locations to mount other accessories that otherwise would not fit in the Montana Flume itself.
Staged Manhole Transitions
Taking our standard inlet end adapter, a curved is molded into the piece so that the flume can now be directly connected to a manhole wall – eliminating the need to either form a transition or have a pipe connection to the flume. Staged transitions are available for select sizes of Montana Flumes and manhole diameters. Contact Openchannelflow for additional details.
Wing Wall Transitions
Wing walls are radius plates attached to the flume to direct flow into the flume from a wider channel.
Wing walls can be factory attached or shipped loosed for field installation as required.
Inlet wing walls should always be of the radius type. Research has shown that flat 45º inlet wing walls can adversely affect flow in the flume's converging section.