Practical 1: Flow velocity measurement using the Float Method

The velocity of flow is an important process parameter that quantifies the volume or mass flow
rate as well as monitors the process of silting and erosion. The parameter is necessary to measure
discharge in an open channel which is trivial for the equitable distribution of water.

Instruments:

• tape measure
• stop-watch
• at least three highly visible buoyant objects such as a drifting branches or logs, pine cone,
coffee stir sticks, half filled bottles, or oranges (objects buoyant enough not to be effected
by the wind)

Procedure:

Float method – inexpensive and simple. This method measures surface velocity. Mean velocity is
obtained using a correction factor. The basic idea is to measure the time that it takes the object to
float a specified distance downstream.

Vsurface = travel distance/ travel time = L/t

Because surface velocities are typically higher than mean or average velocities
V mean = k Vsurface where k is a coefficient that generally ranges from 0.8 for rough beds
to 0.9 for smooth beds (0.85 is a commonly used value)

Step 1. Choose a suitable straight reach with minimum turbulence (ideally at least 3 channel
widths long).
Step 2. Mark the start and end point of your reach.
Step 3. If possible, travel time should exceed 20 seconds.
Step 4. Drop your object into the stream upstream of your upstream marker.
Step 5. Start the watch when the object crosses the upstream marker and stop the watch when
it crosses the downstream marker.
Step 6. You should repeat the measurement at least 3 times and use the average in further
calculations.

Observation:
Observation Column 1: Column 2: Column 3: Column 4:
number Length between Time (sec) Surface Velocity Mean velocity
selected points (unit/sec) (unit/sec)
(unit) Column 3 x
0.8
1.
2.
Practical-2: Flow velocity measurement using Current Meter

All current-meters measure point velocity by translating linear motion into angular motion by
placing them at the specific depth.

Instruments:

• tape measure
• stop-watch
• Current meter

Procedure:

Step-1: Measure the total depth of channel for which flow velocity is to be measured.

Step-2: Mean velocities in the channel are determined by placing the current meter at 0.6 of the
depth in channel, or, where more reliable results are required, by taking the average of the
velocities at 0.2 and 0.8 of the depth, and counting the number of revolutions of propeller in a
given span of time.
Step-3: After acquiring the number of revolutions, the flow velocities are than acquired by
reading the velocity value directly against the number of revolutions from the rating curve.
Step-4: When the stream is covered with ice, the mean velocity is no longer close to 0.6 of the
water depth, but the average at 0.2 and 0.8 of the water depth still gives reliable results.
Step-5: The average of the mean velocities in any two adjacent verticals gives the mean velocity
value through this vertical strip of the cross section.

Observation:

Observation Total depth Operative Time Number of Mean flow

number of channel current meter span (sec) revolutions velocity
(unit) depth (unit) (unit/sec)
Practical 3: Stream Discharge Measurement by Velocity-Area Method

The amount of water passing a point on the stream channel during a given time is a function of
velocity and cross-sectional area of the flowing water.

Q = AV
where Q is stream discharge (volume/time), A is cross-sectional area, and V is flow velocity
Instruments:
• tape measure
• rod, yard or meter stick to measure depth
• stakes for anchoring tape measure to stream banks
Procedure:
Step 1. Measure flow velocity by using any of the methods elaborated in Practical 1 and 2.
Step 2. Measure stream’s width and depth across at least one cross section where it is safe to
wade. If possible, measure depth across the stream's width at the start and stop markers and
average the two but if measuring one cross section choose the downstream side. Use a marked
rod, a yard or meter stick to measure the depth at regular intervals across the stream. Ten depth
measurements is the minimum required but more is better, especially in larger streams. Or
another method, walk heal to toe, and measure stream depth every left big toe, along the
downstream cross section.
Step-3. Average your cross-sectional areas (A): Using the average area and corrected velocity,
you can now compute discharge, Q.

Q = Cross section area (A) * mean velocity (V)

Step-4. Essentially the cross section technique estimates each of the terms on the right hand side
of the equation(s) and multiplies them together. The cross section area of the channel is
estimated at a transect, across which water depth and average water column velocities are
measured at a series of points (verticals).
Optional steps:
If increased accuracy is desired and the stream is wide enough, you can divide the stream into 3
or more sections or float lanes, and measure surface velocities in each lane.
Observations:
Observation Breadth of Depth of Area of Mean Discharge
Number Channel Channel Channel velocity of (unit3/sec)
(unit) (unit) 2
(unit ) flow (Area x
(Breath x (unit/sec) Velocity)
Depth)
Practical 4: Depth-Velocity relationship in an Open Channel
In open channel flow, the velocity is not constant with depth. The velocity magnitude changes
with the change in depth at a constant discharge. Mathematically, the relationship can be written
as;

Q = AV
Q/b*d=V
If Q and b are constants
Vα K/d
where Q is stream discharge (volume/time), A is cross-sectional area, b is the channel width, d is
depth of flow, and V is flow velocity
Instruments:
• tape measure
• rod, yard or meter stick to measure depth
• stakes for anchoring tape measure to stream banks
• A wedge like structure to create a transition in the channel bed
• Current meter
Procedure:

Step 1. Place a wedge in the channel and create a transition. The flow velocity and depth will
change before and after the wedge.
Step 2. Measure flow depth before and after the transition.
Step 3. Measure flow velocity before and after the transition by using any of the methods
elaborated in Practical 1 and 2.
Step 4. By the using the observed data, satisfy the following equation;
V1.d1 = V2.d2
Observation:
Observation # V1 d1 V1 d2 V1.d1 V2.d2
1
2
Practical 5: Measurement of flow rate by using Parshall flume

A Parshall flume is a fixed, hydraulic structure that is placed in a flow stream to determine the
flow of water. The flume accelerates flow by both a contraction of the parallel sidewalls and a
drop in the floor elevation in the throat. The contraction and drop accelerate the flow from a
slow, subcritical state to a supercritical one (think subsonic to supersonic). As a result, the flow
can be accurately determined in the upstream, converging section of the flume by taking a single
depth reading at a specific point of measurement. Short-throated flumes like the Parshall have
only one point of measurement (Ha) at which the flow rate can be determined. A level reading
taken upstream of the point of measurement will result in the flume over reading, while one
taken downstream will result in the flume under reading (as the flow accelerates and the water
surface draws down towards the throat).

Schematic diagram of Parshall Flume:

Where,
A= Length of side flank
POM= 2/3*A

Procedure:

Step 1. Measure the length of upstream side flank (A).

Step 2. Mark the depth measuring mechanism at 2/3 of A starting from throat.
Step 3. Measure depth at 2/3*A.
Step 4. Submergence:
The submergence transition (St) is the ratio of the secondary point of measurement depth (Hb –
located in the throat of the Parshall flume) to the depth at the primary point of measurement (Ha
– located in the converging section of the flume). For Parshall flumes, the submergence
transition increases as the flume size increases. The chart below (per ASTM D1941) provides the
submergence transition for Parshall flumes as:
Throat width St
1-3 inch Parshall 50%
6 inch Parshall 60%
1-8 foot Parshall 70%
10-50 foot Parshall 80%
Submergence (S = Hb/Ha*100)
Condition for Submergence: S > St
Step 4. For free-flow conditions, the level-to-flow equation for the Parshall flume can be
expressed as:

Per ASTM D1941:

For the Value of “n”

Throat Width K (Imperial) K (SI) n

1” 0.338 0.0479 1.55
2” 0.676 0.0959 1.55
3” 0.992 0.141 1.55
6” 2.06 0.264 1.58
9” 3.07 0.393 1.53
1’ 4 0.624 1.522
1’-6” 6 0.887 1.538
 2’ 8 1.135 1.55
3’ 12 1.612 1.566
4’ 16 2.062 1.578
5’ 20 2.5 1.587
6’ 24 2.919 1.595
7’ 28 3.337 1.601
8’ 32 3.736 1.607
10’ 39.38 4.709 1.6
12’ 46.75 5.590 1.6
15’ 57.81 6.912 1.6
20’ 76.25 9.117 1.6
25’ 94.69 11.32 1.6
30’ 113.13 13.53 1.6
40’ 150 17.94 1.6
50’ 186.88 22.35 1.6
Step 5. The equation below is application in both Imperial and SI units. Constants and exponents
are presented in both systems of measurement in the table below.
 • Where the constants and exponents (in both Imperial and SI unts) are listed in the table
below:

W Imperial SI nf ns St
Cf Cs Cf Cs
1-Inch 4.06 3.59 2.38 2.10 1.55 1.000 0.56
2-Inch 4.06 3.67 2.38 2.15 1.55 1.000 0.61
3-Inch 3.97 3.66 2.32 2.14 1.55 1.000 0.64
6-Inch 4.12 3.32 2.50 2.02 1.58 1.080 0.55
9-Inch 4.09 3.35 2.34 1.91 1.53 1.060 0.63
12-Inch 4.00 3.11 2.26 1.76 1.52 1.080 0.62
18-Inch 4.00 2.95 2.32 1.71 1.54 1.115 0.64
24-Inch 4.00 2.97 2.34 1.74 1.55 1.140 0.66
36-Inch 4.00 2.87 2.37 1.70 1.56 1.160 0.68
48-Inch 4.00 2.78 2.40 1.66 1.57 1.185 0.70
60-Inch 4.00 2.71 2.43 1.65 1.58 1.205 0.72
72-Inch 4.00 2.64 2.46 1.62 1.59 1.230 0.74
84-Inch 4.00 2.59 2.49 1.61 1.60 1.250 0.76
96-Inch 4.00 2.55 2.49 1.59 1.60 1.260 0.78
120-Inch 4.01 2.48 2.47 1.52 1.59 1.275 0.80
144-Inch 3.96 2.45 2.43 1.50 1.59 1.275 0.80
PS: The universal submergence equation should not be used on Parshall flumes experiencing
submergence ratios above 90%.

Observation:

S. W A 2/3*A Ha Hb St S n K nf ns Q
No.
1
2
 Practical 6: Measurement of flow rate by using Cutthroat flume

In the 1960’s researchers at the Utah Water Research Laboratory at Utah State University began
investigations into what would become the Cutthroat flume. The goal of the researchers was to
develop a flume that overcame the limitations of the Parshall flume in flat gradient applications.
Rectangular Cutthroat flumes are available in four different lengths (18, 36, 54, and 108-inches
L) and four throat widths for each length. Trapezoidal Cutthroat flumes come in three different
throat widths. Rectangular Cutthroat flumes have a distinct advantage over similar flumes in that,
for a given length, intermediate throat widths can be developed without the need to laboratory or
field rate the new flume size.

Schematic diagram of Cutthroat Flume:

Step 1. Measure Ha and Hb at specified locations on the flume.

Step 2. Submergence:
Designed to operate on flat gradients, smaller sizes of Cutthroat flumes have somewhat greater
resistance to the effects of submergence that the Parshall flume. The submergence transition (St)
– the point at which downstream hydraulics restricts flow out of the flume – increases as the
flume length increases.
Length St
18-inch L Rectangular Cutthroat 60%
36-inch L Rectangular Cutthroat 65%
54-inch L Rectangular Cutthroat 70%
108-inch L Rectangular Cutthroat 80%

The submergence transition is taken as a ratio of the secondary point of measurement depth (Hb
– located in the diverging section) to the depth at the primary point of measurement (Ha –
located in the converging section).

Submergence (S = Hb/Ha*100)

Condition for Submergence: S > St

Step 2. For free-flow conditions, the level-to-flow equation for the Cutthroat flume can be
expressed

Length Width n K K (SI) C C (SI)

(Imperial) (Imperial)
18” 1" 2.150 6.100 7.4791 0.494 0.1802
18” 2" 2.150 6.100 7.4791 0.974 0.3553
18” 4" 2.150 6.100 7.4791 1.975 0.7205
18” 8" 2.150 6.100 7.4791 4.030 1.4701

36" 2" 1.840 4.500 3.7758 0.719 0.1811

36" 4" 1.840 4.500 3.7758 1.459 0.3675
36" 8" 1.840 4.500 3.7758 2.970 0.7503
36" 16" 1.840 4.500 3.7758 6.040 1.5213

54" 3" 1.720 3.980 2.9394 0.960 0.2103

 54" 6" 1.720 3.980 2.9394 1.960 0.4293
54" 12" 1.720 3.980 2.9394 3.980 0.8718
54" 24" 1.720 3.980 2.9394 8.010 1.745

108" 12" 1.560 3.500 2.1383 3.50 0.6322

108" 24" 1.560 3.500 2.1383 7.11 1.2843
108" 48" 1.560 3.500 2.1383 14.49 2.6175
108" 72" 1.560 3.500 2.1383 22.0 3.9741
Submergence Equation

Parameters:
Length Width n2 Ks Ks (SI) Cs Cs (SI)
(Imperial) (Imperial)
18” 1" 1.741 3.250 3.983 0.261 0.0952
18” 2" 1.741 3.250 3.983 0.516 0.1882
18” 4" 1.741 3.250 3.983 1.408 0.3823
18” 8" 1.741 3.250 3.983 2.140 0.7806
36" 2" 1.480 2.580 2.1402 0.413 0.1040
36" 4" 1.480 2.580 2.1402 0.837 0.2108
36" 8" 1.480 2.580 2.1402 1.705 0.4294
36" 16" 1.480 2.580 2.1402 3.465 0.8727
54" 3" 1.410 2.250 1.6789 0.548 0.1200
54" 6" 1.410 2.250 1.6789 1.120 0.2453
54" 12" 1.410 2.250 1.6789 2.275 0.4983
54" 24" 1.410 2.250 1.6789 4.575 1.0021
108" 12" 1.390 1.700 1.0303 3.50 0.3049
108" 24" 1.390 1.700 1.0303 7.11 0.6196
108" 48" 1.390 1.700 1.0303 14.49 1.2591
108" 72" 1.390 1.700 1.0303 22.0 1.9148
Observation:

S. W Ha Hb St S K n Ks Cs n2 Q
No.
1
2