Tips for Maintaining Your Trapezoidal Flume

When it comes to measuring flow in outdoor applications, there’s almost no better choice than a trapezoidal flume. With these flumes, you’ll have the ability to measure flow in several different outdoor settings, including irrigation canals, streams, and ditches. Like any device, however, your flume will need periodic maintenance to make sure that it always functions the way that you need. Here are a few simple tips for trapezoidal flume maintenance that you should keep in mind if you want to make the most of this device.

Inspect Your Flume

Regularly inspecting your flume is the most important thing you can do to maintain its functionality. First, you need to be certain that your flume is positioned correctly. Your trapezoidal flume must be level in the channel and oriented in the correct direction. Because many trapezoidal flumes are installed in earthen channels, they can easily shift out of position, particularly in areas where the ground frequently freezes and thaws.

You’ll also need to regularly check the interior of your flume so that you can be certain that there’s nothing that might impede the flow in your system. If you notice any algae or other debris building up inside of your flume, clean these substances immediately. Finally, if your flume is made of galvanized steel, you should periodically inspect the flume for signs of corrosion.

Check the Channel

Inspecting the installation channel is another important part of trapezoidal flume maintenance. Improper channel conditions can interfere with the normal functioning of your flume and may cause inaccurate readings.

Start your inspection with the upstream channel. Make sure there’s nothing that could prevent the flow from entering your flume, including vegetative growth on the channel banks. You should also make sure that the none of flow in the upstream channel bypasses your flume. The flume must capture all of the flow in the channel to work correctly.

Now, you can move on to the downstream channel. Check to see if there’s anything that may block flow from exiting your flume, and remove anything that may interrupt free flow. Next, carefully examine the channel for signs of scouring, meaning that the channel is wearing way. Over time, scouring may cause your flume to shift out of place.

Condition the Flow

The final step of flume maintenance is making sure that the flow entering your flume is properly conditioned. First, examine the flow to determine if there is any surface turbulence. For accurate readings, the surface of your flow needs to be tranquil and also evenly distributed across the channel.

Second, inspect the velocity of your flow. Trapezoidal flumes function by accelerating the velocity of the flow to a supercritical state, so the flow must be at a subcritical state as it enters the device. If the flow is too fast, you may need to add an energy absorber.

Purchase a Trapezoidal Flume

Use these tips for trapezoidal flume maintenance, and you should be able to keep your flume in tiptop shape. If you need a new trapezoidal flume for your operation, Tracom, FRP is here for you. We offer the most popular flume styles on the market, all of which are made from durable fiberglass. Contact us today to find out which of our flumes is right for you.