For most water management operations, installing a permanent primary measurement device is a good choice. However, in certain situations, such as measuring watersheds or surface water flows, a permanent flume isn’t necessary. If you only need to measure flow for a set period of time, then a temporary flume installation might be the best solution.
A temporary flume installation allows you to quickly set up and break down your measuring device, providing you with a great deal of flexibility. However, if you want to get the most out of your temporary flume, you need to make sure it’s installed the right way. Here are a few easy tips for a temporary flume installation and advice to help you purchase the right water management tools for your operation.
Securing Your Flume
When you’re installing your temporary flume, your prevailing concern should be how to keep your flume in place. If you don’t secure your flume properly, it will likely shift, resulting in both flow bypass and inaccurate readings.
In most circumstances, you will anchor your flume by using packed earth. However, depending on the shape, size, and integrity of the earthen channel, and the risk for erosion, you may also need to use large pieces of lumber to provide additional support to the upstream and downstream banks. Once you have your basic support structures in place, you can add additional features to increase the utility of your installation.
Adding a Membrane
Regardless of the situation where you’re installing your temporary flume, you need to be certain that you’re minimizing the risk of flow bypass and preventing the upstream channel from being undermined. It is for this reason that many operations choose to add a waterproof membrane to their temporary flume installation.
You can place the waterproof membrane in the upstream channel and position it so that it reaches both the entrance of your flume and the wing walls. With your waterproof membrane in place, you can effectively direct flow into your flume so that you can take the accurate readings that you need.
Downstream Conditions
While most of your installation efforts will be on establishing the right upstream channel, you should be sure that you’re not ignoring your downstream conditions. If you don’t maintain the right conditions downstream of your flume, your channel may experience scouring that causes your flume to shift out of place.
As a final step to your temporary flume installation, you need to ensure the integrity of both the floor of the channel and its sidewalls. If the flow in your system is relatively light, you can add a second, smaller waterproof membrane and secure it using gravel. For larger flows, you may need to use a rip rap.
Tools for a Temporary Flume Installation
As long as you follow the right steps, a temporary flume installation can be a great choice for measuring flows for set time periods. However, before you can begin your installation, you need the right tools, which is why you should shop at Tracom, FRP.
Tracom offers everything you need to temporarily measure flows, including high-quality fiberglass flumes. Request a quote from us today so that you can get started installing your flume.
