This website uses a variety of cookies, which you consent to if you continue to use this site. You can read our Privacy Policy for
details about how these cookies are used, and to grant or withdraw your consent for certain types of cookies.
Filter By:
Fiberglass (FRP) Parshall Flumes
Fiberglass (FRP / GRP) Parshall Flumes are the default material for most Parshall Flume applications - from stream gauging to wastewater treatment plants. Parshall Flumes are available in fiberglass in sizes from 1 to 144-inches. Larger than this, and concrete construction tends to be more economical.
Fiberglass Advantages
Typically constructed of polyester resins, fiberglass Parshall Flumes are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, economical, can have tight dimensional tolerances, and have considerable configuration flexibility.
How a Parshall Flume Works
Parshall flumes are a class of short throated flumes. Originally developed in the 1920's, the Parshall flume has become the most researched style of flume leading to its wide acceptance and use in a variety of applications. In North America, the Parshall flume is…
Stainless Steel Parshall Flumes
Stainless steel is often viewed as the material of choice for Parshall flumes when severe corrosion is expected or when abrasion is a concern. For Parshall flumes, the split between T-304 and T-316 stainless steel is about 60 / 40, with more flumes being constructed…
Non-Standard Parshall Flume Sizes
Over the years 22 standard sizes of Parshall flume have been developed. Sized by throat width, these standard flumes range from 1-inch all the way up to 50-feet. With so many sizes available you would think that there wouldn’t be a call (or need) for intermediate…
Fiberglass Parshall Flumes are about 1/2 the weight of comparable steel construction flumes and are about the same weight as aluminum construction flumes. Their light weight makes fiberglass Parshall Flumes particularly suitable for remote watershed / catchment monitoring applications where flume weight is an issue.
Polyester resins are suitable for most surface water, industrial discharge, and wastewater applications where the flow stream may be mildly acid or basic and at atmospheric temperatures.
For more aggressive / higher temperature applications, vinyl esters (or epoxies) resins can be used, although it is usually more cost-effective to use stainless steel construction. It is important when using alternative resin systems also to match the gel coat to the resin system.
With standard polyester construction, fiberglass Parshall Flumes are an economical choice - priced between galvanized / painted steel and aluminum / stainless steel construction.
Vinyl ester construction typically falls between the price of 304 and 316 stainless steel construction. While epoxy construction is still yet higher.
The dimensional tolerances for fiberglass Parshall Flumes are dependent upon the dimensional accuracy of the molds used. The tighter a mold's tolerances are, the better the flume's tolerances will be.
For Openchannelflow fiberglass Parshall Flumes, the following dimensional tolerances are typical:
Throat
- 1/16-inch [1.59 mm] (12-inch or smaller Parshall Flumes)
- 3/32-inch [2.38 mm] (18-24-inch Parshall Flumes)
- 1/4-inch [6.3518 mm] (36-96-inch Parshall Flumes)
- 1/2-inch [12.7 mm] (120-144-inch Parshall Flumes)
Other Flume Dimensions
- 1/8-inch [3.18 mm] (24-inch or smaller Parshall Flumes)
- 1/2-inch [12.7 mm] (36-96-inch Parshall Flumes)
- 1-inch [25.4 mm] (120-144-inch Parshall Flumes)
The above dimensions are within the +/-2% of nominal required by ASTM D1941-91(2013) Standard Test Method for Open Channel Flow Measurement of Water with the Parshall Flumes.
Openchannelflow fiberglass Parshall Flumes are available with a wide selection of accessories and mounting / end configuration options.
LOCATIONS IN ATLANTA, GA & BOISE, ID