Parshall Flume Selection Without Pitfalls! Dayu Teaches You to Find the Best Flow Measurement Solution for Chemical Plants
When selecting a open-channel flowmeter using a Parshall flume, it is indeed necessary to choose the appropriate model based on the expected flow range. Parshall flumes come in various models, each with its specific flow measurement range and accuracy. Below is a detailed explanation, based on the example you provided, of how to select the right Parshall flume model for a chemical plant in Nanning.
First, we need to know the daily maximum discharge of the chemical plant and convert it to hourly and per-second flow rates.

Convert daily flow to hourly flow:
The daily discharge is 9,072 tons, which equals 9,072 cubic meters (assuming 1 ton of water equals 1 cubic meter).
Hourly flow rate = 9,072 cubic meters ÷ 24 hours = 378 cubic meters/hour
Convert hourly flow to per-second flow:
Per-second flow rate = 378 cubic meters/hour × (1 hour/3600 seconds) = 0.105 cubic meters/second
Or convert to liters/second = 0.105 cubic meters/second × 1000 = 105 liters/second
Next, we need to consult the flow range table of Parshall flumes to determine which model is most suitable for this flow rate.
Consult the Parshall flume flow range table:
In "Appendix 2: Parshall Flume Water Level-Flow Formula", we need to find the Parshall flume model whose flow range (Q) matches the maximum flow rate calculated for the chemical plant.

In this example, the maximum flow rate of Flume No. 3 is 32.1 liters per second, while that of Flume No. 4 is 111.0 liters per second. Since the maximum flow rate of the chemical plant is 105 liters per second, it falls between the maximum flow rates of Flume No. 3 and No. 4, but it is closer to the maximum flow rate of Flume No. 4.

Select the Parshall flume model:
Therefore, the most suitable Parshall flume model is No. 4.
Summary: For the chemical plant in Nanning with a daily discharge of 9,072 tons, the most suitable Parshall flume model is No. 4. This ensures accurate and reliable flow measurement while avoiding the need to repurchase and reinstall due to improper selection.
