A Proper Way to Install Trapezoidal Flumes for Measurements in Furrow Irrigation Systems

A Proper Way to Install Trapezoidal Flumes for Measurements
in Furrow Irrigation Systems
1. INTRODUCTION
Measurement of flow discharge is important for design and evaluation of irrigation systems [1].
Flumes are commonly employed for discharge measurement instruments. They have a form of an
open channel having a special shape and a constricted-throat section. The material that flumes are
made up of can be concrete, metal, or fiberglass. Flumes of standard designs are available that
allow to measure a wide range of flows. Two commonly used types of flumes are Parshall flumes
and trapezoidal flumes. Flumes are used in low and steady streams, they require a relatively small
head loss, and do not require upstream reservoirs to reduce the approach velocity. Flumes are self-
cleaning and can operate accurately over a wide range of flows. As water approaches the flume, the
velocity of flow has little effect upon the flume operation, unless the flume is being submerged
(water backing up in the throat). In order to obtain accurate measurements of flow by the flume, it
is enough to measure only one head (if the flow is free in the flume).A pre-built flume can easily
be used in cold regions where frost might occur during winter. The cost of a flume that is cast in
place is relatively high. In order to get a correct and right form of a flume, it is necessary to pay
attention to its dimensions, such as throat width, convergence and divergence sections, slope
sidewalls, and correct form of staff gauge to measure flow depth [2, 3].
a) Parshall Flume
This type of flume was developed at the end of 1920 for water flow measurement. The flume
permanently or temporarily installed is also used to measure wastewater flow [4, 5]. The
advantages of Parshall flume include: (1) Because of its special shape, sediment particles are
usually removed from it and as a result the possibility of errors in flow discharge measurement is
minimized; and (2) The head loss in a Parshall flume is 25% smaller than in a weir [6].
b) Trapezoidal Flume
The trapezoidal flume is relatively new, accurate and has advantages like Parshall flume, and its
construction is simpler. The trapezoidal flume with zero throat width (triangular section) is used to
measure low flows, such as in furrow irrigation [7]. The trapezoidal flume cross section
corresponds to the shape of many farm ditches. Because its sides diverge with depth, the
trapezoidal flume of a given throat width can carry a wider range of flows than can the same size
Parshall flume. This type of flume can be used at a higher degree of submergence (un free water
flow) than the Parshall flume (up to 80%), and it can measure flow discharge with an error of less
than 3% before a correction factor is used [8].
The trapezoidal flume is installed in the same manner as is the Parshall flume and it should be
installed level in both directions as much as possible. It is also possible to install it on slopes, as it
is done within concrete ditches and within determined and fixed limits, that the maximum slope
limit for proper installation is about 0.0035 meter per meter or the critical slope for the given flow.
If the place of installment is sloping, the zero reference on the staff gauge should be the same as
the elevation of the center of the throat section. This means that the zero reference on the staff
gauge if the bottom is a slope is not zero anymore, but it shows the height difference between the
throat bottom and the entrance section bottom [9, 10]. The staff gauge can be attached to the
sloping side wall of the trapezoidal flume. In this case the flume should be carefully leveled
transversely so the staff gauge is on the exact slope specified, but the use of a stilly well is more
accurate. If the slope is suitable, the bottom of the flume and the bottom of a lined channel can be
the same [11-15]. If the slope is not suitable, which is usually the case, the flume entrance opening
will be above the channel bed level. It must be kept in mind that the flume’s entrance must always
be above the channel bed, and its height must be selected to provide free flow. The height is being
selected in the same manner as that used for the Parshall flume, in a way that submergence is 70%
or lower (in order to provide free flow). In Figure 1, a correction factor for different positions of
submergence of the trapezoidal flume is shown. The discharge measurement of h1under free flow
conditions at the flume’s entrance should be read. If the ratio of submergence is 80% or more then
the correction factor shown in Figure 1 should be used [16-18].
Figure1. Discharge correction factor for different positions of the trapezoidal flume submergence. To note:
Q – actual discharge; Qo – observed discharge; h4 – depth of water at the flume’s exit.
It should be noted that the primary equation for the flow in the flumes results from the energy
equation and continuity equation [19].In the present research a proper way to install trapezoidal
flumes applicable under non-submerged conditions in the furrow irrigation systems is investigated.
2. MATERIAL AND METHODS
In order to achieve the objective of this study, 60 furrow irrigations under the conditions of free
flow in the trapezoidal flume type 2 WSC were analyzed. Field operations were conducted in the
furrows on the farm of the Isfahan University of Technology. Different positions for the
installment of the trapezoidal flume were tested in order to provide free flow at the beginning and
at the end of furrows. The length, width, and depth of these furrows were, respectively, 42 meters,
60 centimeters, and 20 centimeters, discharge was 0.8 liters per second, slope was0.1% degree, and
flow depth was approximately 8 centimeters. The flume was set in a way to prevent leakage around
it and was installed level on every side [20].
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

From field operations, it was observed that the flume should be installed at least four centimeters
above the bottom of furrow in order to operate under free flow condition, because under this
condition standard submergence percentage (70% or less) was being achieved which resulted in the
reduced possibility of error in discharge measurement. After many irrigations, t was found that in
order to secure free flow in the trapezoidal flume, the flume entrance should be set at a height of
four centimeters or more and the sides of the furrow should be strengthened and made higher
before setting the flume in order to prevent head loss [21]. Also, in order to prevent water
retention behind the flume’s exit in the furrow and to prevent errors in the input and output
calculations and in the calculations related to infiltration, the installment place for the flume was
determined to be the channel bed with the condition that a few meters before the flume’s exit
should be made deeper to provide the free flow in the flume (Figure 2).
Figure2. Providing free flow and submerged flow (right and left accordingly) when following the proper
way of installation of the trapezoidal flume and when not following it.
4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to increase the accuracy of flow measurement in furrow irrigation systems by the
trapezoidal flume and taking into account the conditions of farm irrigation furrows [where
discharge was approximately 0.8 liters per second (approximately eight centimeters water depth in
the furrow) and slope was 0.1% degree], it was necessary for the flume to be installed at least four
centimeters above the furrow bed to provide inflow (with the condition that the entrance sidewalls
were strengthened). At the exit section the flume should be installed on the furrow bed not to
impede flow and at the same time it was necessary to provide such conditions (proper drainage) so
that the background rejection and water backing did not occur [22].

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3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

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