Expt. No.

06
DETERMINATION OF THE DISCHARGE CHARACTERISTICSOF PARSHALL
FLUME
Aim
To determine the discharge characteristics of a Parshall Flume
Equipments
Open channel, scale, stop-watch, weights, parshall flume
Theory
The Parshall flume is a type of critical-depth flume. This flume consists of a converging section
with a level floor, a throat with a downstream sloping floor and a diverging section with an
adverse slope bed. The range of standard widths goes from 152.4 mm (i.e. 6 inches) to 2.438 m
(i.e. 8 feet).
In the wall there are two piezometer tappings for measuring head. One tapping is located at 1/3 rd
length station in the converging section and the other near the downstream end of the throat.
Provided that the flow is critical in the throat, the discharge is obtained solely in terms of the
head ha measured at the first tapping.
The model flume used in this experiment is intended for critical flow conditions. Head ha at 1/3rd
length station in the converging section is measured by point gauge.
Standard calibration formulae for two small sizes of Parshall flume are
For
Bt= 152.4 mm (i.e. 6 inches)
Q= 4.55 x 10-5Btha1.58
For Bt
Bt= 228.6 mm (i.e. 9 inches)
Q= 6.02 x 10-5Btha1.53
Where Bt and ha are measured in mm and Q is given in l/sec
Assuming the relationship between Q and ha to be a power law
i.e. Q= Khan
then the logarithmic form is
log Q= log K +n log ha

1
Procedure
1. The flume is first set and floor is profiled as shown in figure.
2. Head measurements ha are taken at 1/3rd length station in the converging section by point
gauge.
3. The discharge Q is measured by noting down the time and the volume of a known weight of
water for a particular value of ha.
4. Reduce the flow in steps and record the discharge and the depth ha at each stage.

Observations
Width of channel, B = 75 mm
Throat width = 41.5 mm

2
 Sl ha (mm) t (sec) Q (lit/sec) log ha log Q
No.

01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
Where,
ha= Head at the one-third length station in the converging section which is measured by a point
gauge

Sample Calculation

Plot the following:

i) log Q vs log ha, from the graph determine the relationship between Q(lite/sec) and
ha(mm).
ii) Discharge- head curve of parshall flume, i.e. the power law dependence of Q on ha [Q as
f(ha) by plotting ha (mm) vs Q (lit/sec)].

Discussion