CHAPTER 8 - FLUMES

10. Parshall Flumes

Although Parshall flumes are in extensive use in many western irrigation projects, they are no
longer generally recommended because of the advantages of long-throated flumes previously cited
and the disadvantages of Parshall flumes to be subsequently discussed. Some states specify the use
of Parshall flumes by law for certain situations.

In the past, it was common to size and set flumes for 95-percent submergence to reduce approach
flow depths 4 to 6 in. The 1976 second edition of this manual gives detailed examples of selecting
size and setting crest elevation for free flow and intended submergence. Although correction
methods for determining submerged discharge exist, designing flumes for submerged flow
measurement is no longer considered good design practice because it compromises accuracy. For
example, imprecision of head measure-ment increases discharge error by 4 to 20 percent over the
primary free-flow accuracy of 3 to 5 percent. In addition, a recent study (Peck, 1988) found a 12-
percent discontinuity in the submergence correction function for a 1-ft flume depending upon
whether downstream measuring head results from a falling or rising water surface.

Designing and setting Parshall flumes for submerged flow measurement is not usually
recommended because less expensive, long-throated flumes can be designed that approach or
exceed 90 percent submergence limits with a single upstream head measurement. Moreover, the
absolute required drop in water surface is usually less for the long-throated flumes, particularly the
modified broad-crested weir styles.

Because so many Parshall flumes are currently in use, the remaining part of this section is
concerned mainly with structural dimensions for checking existing flumes, equations for computing
discharges, free-flow discharge tables for each size flume, plots for submerged discharge
measurement corrections, and head loss curves for assessing upstream depth changes caused by
downstream delivery depth changes.

Care must be taken to construct Parshall flumes according to the structural dimensions given on
figure 8-9. This factor becomes more important as size gets smaller. The portion of the flume
downstream from the end of the converging section need not be constructed if the flume has been
set for free flow where it is not expected to operate above submergence limit. This truncated
version of the Parshall flume is sometimes referred to as the Montana flume. Submergence
corrections or discharge cannot be determined for Montana flumes or other modified Parshall
flumes because they do not include the part of the full Parshall flume where the submergence head,
hb, was measured during calibration.Different size Parshall flumes are not geometrically
proportional. For example, a dimension in the 12-ft flume cannot be assumed to be three times the
corresponding dimension in the 4-ft flume. Each of the flumes on figure 8-9 is a standard device
and has been calibrated for the range of discharges shown in the table. The flumes can reliably
measure free-flow discharge to within "3 to "5 percent, plus head detection error, if standard
dimensions are attained during construction, the flume is correctly set, and the flume is operated
and maintained according to the recommended procedures.
 Figure 8-9 -- Parshall flume dimensions -- sheet 1 of 2
(courtesy of U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Services)..

Figure 8-9 -- Parshall flume dimensions -- sheet 2 of 2

(courtesy of U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Services)..

Parshall flume sizes are designated by the throat width, W, and dimensions are available for flumes
from the 1-in size for free flow of 0.03 ft3/s at 0.2 ft of measuring head up to the 50-ft size with
3,000 ft3/s at a head of 5.7 ft. The free-flow discharge range and dimensions for Parshall flumes are
given on figure 8-9. The minimum flows in this table up to the 1-ft-size flume are for a head of 0.2
ft because measuring at smaller heads results in imprecision of head measurement and surface
tension effects. The remaining discharge limits are based on the range of the calibration data and
practical size considerations.

(a) Free-Flow Discharge Tables and Equations

Parshall flumes were calibrated empirically to generate the free-flow head versus discharge rating
for the 1-in to 50-ft flumes. Some of the larger sizes were not directly calibrated but were scale
modeled. The free-flow discharge equations for the standard Parshall flume sizes are of the form:

(8-3)

where:

ha = measuring head (ft)

Q = discharge (ft3/s)
C and n for each size are given in table 8-6

Head versus discharge is given in tables A8-7 through A8-21 for all sizes (see appendix).

Table 8-6
 Coefficients (C) and exponents (n) for Parshall flumes for equation 8-3

Throat width Coefficient (C) Exponent (n)

1 in 0.338 1.55
2 in 0.676 1.55
3 in 0.992 1.55
6 in 2.06 1.58
9 in 3.07 1.53
1 ft 3.95 1.55
2 ft 8.00 1.55
3 ft 12.00 1.57
4 ft 16.00 1.58
5 ft 20.00 1.59
6 ft 24.00 1.59
7 ft 28.00 1.60
8 ft 32.00 1.61
10 ft 39.38 1.60
12 ft 46.75 1.60
15 ft 57.81 1.60
20 ft 76.25 1.60
25 ft 94.69 1.60
30 ft 113.13 1.60
40 ft 150.00 1.60
50 ft 186.88 1.60

(b) Submerged Flow Determination

Calibration tests show that the discharge at a given upstream measuring head is not reduced until
the submergence ratio, hb/ha (submergence head to measuring head) expressed in percent, exceeds
the following values:

50 percent for flumes 1, 2, and 3 in wide

60 percent for flumes 6 and 9 in wide

70 percent for flumes 1 to 8 ft wide

80 percent for flumes 8 to 50 ft wide

These submergence limits are based on two measuring head locations shown in figure 8-9 within
the structure and do not measure all the head loss caused by the flume. Thus, these limits do not
represent the total required head loss needed to measure flow with one head measurement. The
method of determining submerged flow discharge varies with different flume size groups.
Examples are provided later.

(1) Submerged Flow in 1- Through 3-Inch Flumes

Submergence begins to reduce the discharge through the 1-, 2-, and 3-in flumes when it exceeds 50
percent. To determine discharges for submerged flows, the heads ha and hb are used with figures
8-10, 811, and 8-12. Users found they had difficulties in obtaining field readings of hb because of
wave interference. To solve this problem, figure 8-13 was developed to relate hb to hc, which is
located at the downstream end of the flume divergence where the water surface is smoother.

Figure 8-10 -- Rate of submerged flow through a 1-in Parshall

flume (Robinson, 1957)..

Figure 8-11 -- Rate of submerged flow through a 2-in Parshall

flume (Robinson, 1957)..
 Figure 8-12 -- Rate of submerged flow through a 3-in Parshall
flume (Robinson, 1957)..

Figure 8-13 -- Relationship of hc and hb gages for 1-, 2-, and

3-in Parshall flumes for submergence greater than 50 percent
(Robinson, 1957)..

In a 3-in flume, assume ha of 0.20 ft and the downstream head measured at the hc gage is 0.19 ft.
To determine the discharge, turn to the curve on figure 8-13, which shows the relationship of hc to
hb. For a value of hc equal to 0.19, hb is found to be 0.17. The submergence, hb/ha = 0.17/0.20 =
0.85 or 85 percent.

Enter figure 8-12 with the value of the upstream head, ha, of 0.20 and move horizontally to the
right to the vertical line for hb/ha of 85 percent. This intersection point lies about seven-tenths of the
distance from the curved discharge line for 0.06 ft3/s, toward the 0.07ft3/s line. The interpolated
discharge value is 0.067 ft3/s. This rate of flow for submerged conditions is considerably less than
the free-flow discharge value of 0.082 ft3/s for ha of 0.20 ft. As mentioned previously in section 7
of this chapter, correcting for submergences greater than 90 percent does not provide reliable
accuracy.

(2) Submerged Flow Determination With 6- and 9-Inch Flumes

When 6- and 9-in flumes are operating with submergences greater than 60 percent, the discharge is
directly determined using figures 8-14 and 8-15, respectively. For example, determine the
discharge through a 6-in flume when ha is 1.32 ft and hb is 1.20 ft. The submergence ratio, 1.20
divided by 1.32, is 0.91, or 91 percent. On figure 8-14, find 91 percent along the left-hand vertical
scale and follow the 91-percent line horizontally to intersect the curved line for ha, which is 1.32
(one-fifth the distance between the 1.3 and 1.4 lines). Then move vertically downward from this
point to the scale at the base of the diagram and find that the submerged rate of flow is 2.02 ft3/s.
As mentioned previously in section 7 of this chapter, correcting for submergences greater than 90
percent does not provide reliable accuracy.

Figure 8-14 -- Diagram of determining rate of submerged

flow for a 6-in Parshall flume (courtesy of U.S. Natural
Resources Conservation Servics).

Figure 8-15 -- Diagram for determining rate of submerged

flow for a 9-in Parshall flume (courtesy of U.S. Natural
Resources Conservation Service)..

(3) Submergence Correction for 1- to 8-Foot Flumes

The submergence corrections that must be subtracted from the free-flow values in table A8-12 to
obtain submerged flow values in a 1-ft flume are shown on figure 8-16. For example, in a 1-ft
flume with ha of 1.00 ft, the discharge from table A8-12 is 4.00 ft3/s. If hb is measured to be 0.8, the
submergence, hb/ha, is equal to 80 percent. If figure 812 for ha is 1.00 and submergence is 80
percent, the correction is 0.35 ft3/s. Therefore, submergence would result in a reduction in
discharge of 0.35 ft3/s or an actual discharge of 3.65 ft3/s, compared to a free-flow discharge of
4.00 ft3/s.
 Figure 8-16 -- Diagram for determining correction to be
subtracted from free discharge to obtain rate of submerged
flow for 1- through 8-ft Parshall flumes.

Submergence correction values for 1- to 8-ft flumes are obtained from figure 8-16, but the
procedures contained in the note in the figure must be followed. These procedures state that values
read from the curve are multiplied by the M values listed in the table on figure 8-16 for each size to
obtain the product or correction to subtract from the free discharge values.

For example, assume that submerged flow occurs in a 3-ft flume where ha is 2.10 ft and hb is 1.89
ft. The submergence ratio, 1.89 divided by 2.10, is 0.90, or 90-percent submergence. The free-flow
discharge for a 3-ft flume with ha of 2.10 is found from table A8-12 to be 38.4 ft3/s. On figure 8-16,
ha is 2.10 and submergence is 90 percent: a correction of 3.5 ft3/s. However, this correction is only
for a 1-ft flume. For a 3-ft flume, the correction must be multiplied by 2.4 (from tabulation on
figure 8-16) to get the total correction of 8.4 ft3/s. The corrected submerged discharge is, therefore,
38.4 minus 8.4, or 30.0 ft3/s. As mentioned previously in section 7 of this chapter, correcting for
submergences greater than 90 percent does not provide reliable accuracy.

(4) Submergence Correction for 10- to 50-Foot Flumes

The submergence ratio, hb/ha, expressed in percent, and the ha value are used on figure 8-17 to
obtain the correction to be subtracted from the free-flow discharge determined from tables A8-12
through A8-20.

Figure 8-17 -- Diagram for determining correction to be

subtracted from free discharge flow to obtain submerged flow
discharges through 10- to 50-ft Parshall flumes (Parshall
1953).

The correction values, indicated along the base of the diagram on figure 817, give the number of
cubic feet per second to be subtracted for each 10 ft of crest width, W. To aid in determining the
multi plying factor, a tabulation has been incorporated on figure 8-17.

Thus, to determine the discharge for submerged flow through a 20ft flume when ha is 3.25 ft and hb
is 3.06 ft, first determine the submergence ratio:
Enter at the left side of the diagram of figure 8-17, and at ha equals 3.25, project a horizontal line to
intersect the 94-percent line, then continue on to one-tenth of the distance between the 94- and 95-
per-cent lines. Vertically below this point on the horizontal scale is the correction value, 56 ft3/s.
For a 20-ft flume, the multiplying factor is 2.0 (from tabulation on figure 8-17), and the total
correction is:

2.0 x 56 = 112 ft3/s

The free discharge value from table A8-16 for ha of 3.25 is about 503 ft3/s. Therefore, the
submerged flow is 503 minus 112, or 391 ft3/s. As mentioned previously in section 7 of this
chapter, correcting for submergences greater than 90 percent does not provide reliable accuracy.

(c) Head Loss Determination

Flumes are obstructions that produce backwater that extends upstream from the flume and raises
the water surface in the approach channel. This difference in eleva-tion of the flow upstream from
the structure with and without the flume in place is the head loss caused by the flume. The
difference in measuring heads is not the head loss of Parshall flumes.

Downstream channel depth-discharge relationships often change with changes of downstream flow
resistance, which frequently varies with sediment deposits, debris, canal checking operations, and
aging. Downstream changes in flow resistance plus head loss can cause overtopping of upstream
approach channel banks. Thus, irrigation system managers that have Parshall flumes need to
determine head losses.

(1) Head Loss for 10- to 50-Foot Throats

The increase in depth upstream from the structure or the head loss for the 10- to 50-ft flume is
determined using figure 8-18. For example, assume a 20-ft flume is set 1.4 ft above the bottom of
the channel, is discharging 950 ft3/s, and is at 90-percent submergence. The head loss from figure
8-18 is obtained by following the vertical 90-percent submergence line up to the curved discharge
line for 950 ft3/s, projecting a horizontal line to the sloping 20-ft throat line, and coming vertically
down to the head loss scale reading of 0.9 ft.
 Figure 8-18 -- Head loss through 10- to 50-ft Parshall flumes
(Parshall 1953).

(2) Head Loss for 1- to 8-Foot Throats

The head loss values for flumes 1 to 8 ft wide can be determined from figure 8-19. For example,
assume a 4-ft flume which has a 70-percent submergence with 20 ft3/s, and determine the head loss.
Using figure 8-19, find the intersection of the vertical 70-percent line with the slanting 20-ft3/s
discharge line in the left side of the figure. Then, from this intersection, project a horizontal line to
the intersection with the slanting line for the 4-ft throat width in the right side of the figure. From
this point, project vertically down to read head loss on the bottom scale, which reads 0.43 ft.

Figure 8-19 -- Head loss through 1- to 8-ft Parshall flumes

(courtesy of U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service..

(3) Head Loss for 9-Inch Throats and Smaller

Losses for 9in flumes and smaller are usually less critical, and the elevation of the upstream water
surface is determined in the manner used for the

1-, 2-, and 3-in flumes. The difference between ha and hb is considered an adequate estimate of
head loss.