If one of the main responsibilities of your operation is measuring sanitary flows, there are several devices that you could choose to help with this task. However, when it comes to ease of use and consistent accuracy, there are few better options than the Palmer-Bowlus flumes.
Since first introduced in the 1930s, the Palmer-Bowlus flume has been one of the most popular devices for measuring sanitary flows. However, despite its efficacy, there are some situations where this flume can give you errors and limit your operational success. Here are a few reasons you may be seeing Palmer-Bowlus flume errors and advice for fixing these problems so that you can return the accuracy of your readings.
Sediment Deposits
The Palmer-Bowlus flume is specifically designed to measure sanitary flows, which means it can certainly handle flows that contain solids. This type of flume, however, is somewhat vulnerable to upstream deposits.
Deposits upstream of the Palmer-Bowlus flume can change the shape of the flow, which can easily cause errors in your readings. If you’re frequently noticing errors, have one of your operators check upstream of the flume to see if there are any sediment deposits. You can either clear these deposits out or install a new flume that doesn’t suffer from these vulnerabilities.
Upstream Roughness
Most of the sources of Palmer-Bowlus flume errors are related to the upstream channel. In addition to making sure that there are no sediment deposits, you also need to make sure that the channel upstream of your flume isn’t too rough.
When the upstream channel is too rough, it can slow down the flow entering your flume, which will result in readings less than what you would expect. Your upstream channel should be relatively smooth if you want your readings to be as accurate as possible.
Other Sources of Error
Sediment and upstream roughness are the two main reasons that you may be seeing errors with your Palmer-Bowlus flumes. However, there are a few other issues that may be causing you problems.
For example, there could be an issue with the approach channel in your system. Palmer-Bowlus flumes need a long, straight approach channel to function correctly. If there are dips or bends in your approach channel, then this can easily cause inaccurate readings.
Another possible cause of inaccurate readings is too much energy in your flow. When your flow is too energetic, it can cause surface waves that will make it extremely difficult to take accurate measurements.
Palmer-Bowlus Flumes at Tracom
If you want to make sure your measurements are as accurate as possible, you should watch out for these common causes of Palmer-Bowlus flume errors. In addition to keeping track of these errors, you must be sure that you have the most reliable flume possible, which is easy when you buy your products from Tracom, FRP.
Our Palmer-Bowlus flumes are made from high-quality fiberglass, meaning you can trust them to perform admirably for years to come. Contact a Tracom representative today to get a quote and to learn about the other products in our inventory.
