Choosing a Weir or Flume Style 8/1/20, 3)04 PM

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SELECTING A PRIMARY DEVICE: CHOOSING A WEIR OR FLUME STYLE
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!(/) > Blog (/blog) > Selecting a Primary Device: Choosing a Weir or Flume Style

Flume (/blog/category/flume) | Resource (/blog/category/resource) | Weirs

(/blog/category/weirs)

In this article: flume (/blog/tag/flume), weir (/blog/tag/weir), selection guide

(/blog/tag/selection+guide), site (/blog/tag/site), flow stream (/blog/tag/flow+stream)

In the first article of this series on Selecting a Primary Device we discussed

criteria that can be used to select between a weir
(https://www.openchannelflow.com/weirs)and a flume
(https://www.openchannelflow.com/flumes). Now our attention turns to selecting
a particular style of weir or flume.

The choice of device style is normally dictated by the three considerations:

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Choosing a Weir or Flume Style 8/1/20, 3)04 PM

Site configuration
Flow stream composition
Range of expected flows

Site Configuration
Some site considerations are shared between weirs and flume (e.g. do the
upstream channel banks limit the amount of head that the device can generate),
while others are specific to the type of device [e.g. is there room for su!cient
aeration (for a weir)].

Selecting a style of device that is similar to that of the channel is one way of
managing installation costs – so long as the flume adequately covers the range of
anticipated flows.

Weirs
For a weir to properly operate the nappe (the sheet of water passing over the weir
plate crest) must be adequately aerated. Poor aeration of the nappe may result in
it clinging to the downstream face of the weir. Insu!cient aeration
(https://www.openchannelflow.com/weirs/weir-plates/flow-characteristics),
whether by poor sidewall geometry or insu!cient vertical drop from the weir crest
to the downstream water surface can increase discharge by as much as 25%.

Consideration, therefore, must be given as to whether or not the site either

naturally or artificially can provide adequate aeration.

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Choosing a Weir or Flume Style 8/1/20, 3)04 PM

Weir pool sizing is another consideration when selecting among di"erent weir
styles. All weirs require adequate upstream weir pools to properly condition the
flow as it approaches the weir crest, but some styles (e.g. V-notch) generally
require wider / longer / higher weir pools than other styles for the same flow rate.

Flumes
Flumes are available in a wide variety of cross-sections:

Rectangular (Parshall (https://www.openchannelflow.com/flumes/parshall-

flumes/dimensions), H flume
(https://www.openchannelflow.com/flumes/hs-h-hl-flumes/dimensions),
Montana (https://www.openchannelflow.com/flumes/montana-
flumes/dimensions), and Cutthroat
(https://www.openchannelflow.com/flumes/cutthroat-flumes/dimensions))
Trapezoidal (RBC (https://www.openchannelflow.com/flumes/rbc-
flumes/dimensions) and Trapezoida (/flumes/trapezoidal)l
(https://www.openchannelflow.com/flumes/trapezoidal-
flumes/dimensions))
U-shaped (Palmer-Bowlus
(https://www.openchannelflow.com/flumes/palmer-bowlus-flumes/palmer-
bowlus-dimensions-and-styles) and Leopold-Lagco)

Many times the shape of the channel is the deciding factor on which style of flume
to use for a particular application.

For example, when installing a flume in a box culvert, the natural consideration
would be a flume with a rectangular cross-section (Parshall, H-flume, Montana, and
Cutthroat) – excluding those with trapezoidal or U-shapes. Similarly RBC or
Trapezoidal flumes would be the flumes of choice for an irrigation furrow as they
conform to the shape of the channel. Selecting a flume that is similar in cross-
section as the channel can decrease installation costs and increase measurement
accuracy.

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Choosing a Weir or Flume Style 8/1/20, 3)04 PM

(/support/contact-
Contact Us
For sites with relatively flat gradients – where either the channel cannot be

us)
modified, the channel sidewalls are low, or where discharge cannot free-spill o"
the end of the flume – Cutthroat, Trapezoidal, and RBC flumes work well.

Where free-spilling discharge out of the flume is possible, H-flumes, Montana, and
Parshall flumes are good choices.

For piped flows, remember that many flumes are available with end adapters or
bulkheads, which can be provided with pipe stubs, caulking collars, or flanges. Even
H-flumes are available with inlet bulkheads attached to the approach section and
custom discharge structures to connect the flume to piping.

However, some flumes can be readily adapted to di"erent channel cross-sections

relatively easily (e.g. Trapezoidal fumes in pips or U-channels). So matching the
flume’s cross-section to the channel is not always a deciding factor.

Flow Stream Composition

For weirs, flow stream composition is generally not as great a selection criterion as
it is with flumes. That is not to say, though, that it is entirely unimportant. The
primary decision here is whether there is debris in the flow stream that would
accumulate in a V-notch weir’s restriction. If debris is present, then a Cipolletti or
Rectangular weir (with or without end contractions) would be a better selection
unless regular maintenance can be performed to keep the V-notch clear.

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Choosing a Weir or Flume Style 8/1/20, 3)04 PM

Flumes in general are quite good at passing solids; however some flumes are better
than others in this respect. Flumes with elevated throats (RBC, Palmer-Bowlus, and
Leopold-Lagco) tend to accumulate more upstream silt, sediment, and debris than
those with flat floors (Parshall, H-flume, Trapezoidal, and Montana).

Additionally, flumes with narrow throats (those under 3-inches [7.62 cm] in width)
should not be used on unscreened wastewater (/blog/dont-get-stuck-sanitary-
flows-in-flumes) (those with sanitary solids) due to the likelihood of clogging.

Range of Expected Flows

The ability of a primary device (weir or flume) to handle the range of expected
flows is of particular importance - usually more so than the configuraiton of the
site or the flow stream composition. If the device chosen cannot adequately
measure the range of expected flows, then there is usually little reason to proceed
with an installation.

Weirs
For an application where high flow rates are expected, a Cipolletti or Rectangular
weir (with or without end contractions) would be a natural choice over a V-notch
weir. While the V-notch may be able to handle the flows, the size and cost of the
installation would be greater.

The choice of a weir style can be somewhat complicated if flow is banded in both a
low flow and a high flow regime. Where flow banding is present or where the flows
are expected to otherwise widely vary, a compound weir (/blog/compound-weirs)
may be considered. Here a 90 degree V-notch (or similar) is designed to handle
the lower flows and cut into a larger (usually Cipolletti or Rectangular) weir (which
is designed to handle the higher flows).

From low to high flows, the natural progress of weir styles is:

V-notch
Cipolletti

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Choosing a Weir or Flume Style 8/1/20, 3)04 PM

Rectangular with end contractions

Rectangular without end contractions

Flumes
Where low flows are expected, Trapezoidal, HS-flumes, and (to a lesser extent) RBC
flumes are commonly used – although smaller sizes of Parshall, Montana, and
Cutthroat may be suitable depending upon the flow stream composition.

Large flows tend to be the domain of Parshall and HL flumes. Montana flumes
(short Parshalls) are theoretically possible, although their unique discharge
requirements mean that they are rarely applied in sizes larger than 36-inches.

For very large flows, Parshall flumes (usually concrete (/blog/concrete-parshall-

flumes-for-flow-measurement)) are used exclusively.

Some styles of flumes have many di"erent standard sizes available (Parshall /
Montana – 22, Cutthroat 16, HS / H / HL – 14), while others are limited in their
o"erings (RBC – 5, Trapezoidal – 9). Naturally the fewer the number of sizes, the
less likelihood there is that a flume of a particular style will fit the range of flows.

For applications where flows are expected to increase dramatically over time, some
flumes may be provided in nested configurations (/blog/whats-a-nested-dual-
range-flume) where a smaller flume is nested in a larger flume. Here the inner
flume is sized to handle the initial flows, while the outer flume is designed to handle
future flows. As the flows increase overtime, the inner flume is removed (and
usually discarded) leaving the outer flume to measure the flow. For applications
where flows are expected to seasonally fluctuate (resorts, fruit / vegetable canning
operations, etc.) the inner flume may be removed, but later replaced as flows peak
over several months and then resume a lower normal flow rate.

Usually when flumes are nested, the same style of flumes are used (e.g. Parshall in a
Parshall), this is not, however, always the case. Sometimes a di"erent style of
flume will better handle the initial flows than will handle the future flows. Here
dissimilar flumes (e.g. Trapezoidal in a Cutthroat) may be used.

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Choosing a Weir or Flume Style 8/1/20, 3)04 PM

Previously…
In our last article we covered: Choosing a Weir or a Flume (/blog/selecting-a-
primary-device-part-1-choosing-between-a-weir-and-a-flume)

Up Next…
In the next article we cover: Choosing a Weir or Flume Size (/blog/selecting-a-
primary-device-choosing-a-weir-or-flume-size)

Image: Oulu University Library

(http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514259777/html/chapter7.html)

RELATED ARTICLES

(https://www.openchannelflow.com/blog/selecting-a-primary-device-part-1-choosing-
between-a-weir-and-a-flume)

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Choosing a Weir or Flume Style 8/1/20, 3)04 PM

Selecting a Primary Device: Choosing Between a Weir

and a Flume
(https://www.openchannelflow.com/blog/selecting-a-
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CONTINUE READING (HTTPS://WWW.OPENCHANNELFLOW.COM/BLOG/SELECTING-A-PRIMARY-DEVICE-PART-1-CHOOSING-BETWEEN-
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(https://www.openchannelflow.com/blog/selecting-a-primary-device-choosing-a-weir-or-
flume-size)

Selecting a Primary Device: Choosing a Weir or Flume

Size
(https://www.openchannelflow.com/blog/selecting-a-
primary-device-choosing-a-weir-or-flume-size)
CONTINUE READING (HTTPS://WWW.OPENCHANNELFLOW.COM/BLOG/SELECTING-A-PRIMARY-DEVICE-CHOOSING-A-WEIR-OR-
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(https://www.openchannelflow.com/blog/long-throated-flumes-short-throated-flumes)

Long vs Short-Throated Flumes: Construction,

Accuracy, & More
(https://www.openchannelflow.com/blog/long-
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!(/) > Blog (/blog) > Selecting a Primary Device: Choosing a Weir or Flume Style

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