If you want to effectively use a flume for flow management and measurement, it’s important that the flow entering your flume is properly conditioned. Poorly conditioned flow can massively interfere with your readings and the overall success of your operation. Fortunately, several different devices are available that can help you condition flow so that your readings will always be accurate. Learn more about flow conditioning tools and how these devices can help you get the most out of your primary flow management device.
Benefits of a Tranquilizing Rack
If the flow entering your flume is uneven, a tranquilizing rack is one of the best flow conditioning tools that you could use. Tranquilizing racks are generally installed in groups of two or three, and they work to condition your flow so that your readings will be accurate.
These racks are equipped with prongs that dip into your flow. The first tranquilizing rack breaks up the poorly conditioned flow, and then the remaining racks properly form the flow so that it’s ready to be measured. The great thing about tranquilizing racks is that they can be installed or removed from your flume as needed, which means they’re a good choice for operations where portability is a concern.
Using an Energy Absorber
In some cases, you’ll need to condition flow that is overly energetic, which means the approach velocity is too fast. To make sure that the flow entering your flume is at the proper velocity, you may want to install a tool known as an energy absorber. Energy absorbers do exactly what their name suggests: absorb the excess energy in your flow. By slowing the velocity of your flow, energy absorbers guarantee that your flume can function properly by accelerating the flow from a subcritical to a supercritical state.
Some flows are both poorly conditioned and overly energetic, in which case you can combine energy absorbers and tranquilizer racks. First, the energy absorber slows the flow to the correctly velocity, and then the tranquilizer rack makes sure that the flow is uniform.
Which Device Should You Choose?
The tool that you choose for flow conditioning will really depend on the nature of your operation. For instance, if you use a smaller flume, you may want to use perforated plates instead of tranquilizing racks. Perforated plates perform the same basic function, but are a better fit in smaller flumes where the flow doesn’t need much conditioning.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t use tranquilizing racks in applications where the flow contains solid debris. The prongs in the racks may catch this debris, which may eventually cause a blockage in your system.
Condition Your Flow
If the flow in your system is overly energetic or poorly conditioned, there are several dependable flow conditioning tools that you can use, and if you need to purchase a primary device such as a flume or weir box, Tracom, FRP is here to help you. Our inventory is filled with top-notch fiberglass open channel flow tools, and we would love to tell you which of our products is right for your operation. Request a product quote from Tracom today.
