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

Galvanized Steel Advantages

Galvanized steel Parshall 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 Parshall Flumes provide good damage resistance.  This can be useful in irrigation / water rights applications, particularly when cattle or other livestock may be in / around the flume.  Galvanized construction is also a good choice when the channel banks experience periodic burn-backs.

Economical

By themselves, galvanized steel Parshall Flumes are economical - less expensive than any other flume material.  When total costs are considered - material cost and shipping - galvanized Parshall Flumes tend to be as expensive as fiberglass ones.

Dimensional Tolerances

Skilled metal fabrication can result in galvanized steel Parshall Flumes that exhibit the same dimensional tolerance as fiberglass flumes.

For Openchannelflow galvanized steel Parshall Flumes, the following dimensional tolerances are typical:

• 1/8-inch [3.18 mm] (12-inch or smaller Parshall Flumes)

• 1/4-inch [6.3518 mm] (18-96 Parshall Flumes)

• 1/2-inch [12.7 mm] (120-144-inch Parshall Flumes)

These dimensions are within the +/-2% range allowed by ASTM D1941-91(2013) Standard Test Method for Open Channel Flow Measurement of Water with the Parshall Flumes.

Configuration Flexibility

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

Contact Openchannelflow for additional details.

Galvanized Steel Disadvantages

While galvanized steel Parshall flumes have many advantages, there are several disadvantages to the material.

Weight

Galvanized steel Parshall 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 galvanized steel Parshall flumes as useful in remote watershed / catchment applications.

Abrasion Resistance

Heavy / sharp sediments can abrade the surface galvanization on the flumes in the flow stream.  There will be a need for ongoing maintenance of the galvanization in applications where these are present, 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 hot-dipped galvanization has been worn away, the surface must be dried, cleaned, and the cold galvanization applied.