I

To obtain the most realistic screen representation of the relative size of text on printed wall aaaes. adiust the text below so thatthe "8"fills the b l i e b o x then press OK THIS DOES NOTAFFECTTHE ACTUAL SIZE OFTEm ON THE PRINTED GAGE

Figure 8.3 1 Dialog box used to calibrate the screen for accurate previewing of wall gage images.

8.10

Program Options

Several miscellaneous program options can be set from the Options menu: Units - Opens the units selection dialog, described in Section 8.7.3. User Name -Prompts the user for their name, to be printed on all reports, tables and other program output. Calibrate Screen for Wall Gage Preview - Opens the dialog box used to calibrate the screen for properly displaying the previews of printed wall gages. This corrects for different resolution settings on the computer that affect the relative size of text labels shown on wall gages (Section 8.9.7). Calibrate Printer for Wall Gage Output - Opens the dialog box used to calibrate the user's printer for most accurate printing of wall gages (Section 8.9.7). Show Water Surface Profiles -Allows the user to check the Min WSP and Max WSP boxes on the bottom-profile screen or select the Show Maximum/Minimum Water Surface ProJiles commands from the Options menu to display approximate water surface profiles through the structure at minimum and maximum flow. If a water surface profile cannot be computed and shown due to hydraulic errors encountered while rating the structure, the check box will be grayed out until it can be computed. The water surface profiles are approximate only, based on the computation of upstream depth, tailwater levels, and critical depth through the structure. File-Open Dialog Options - Offers two options for displaying the file-open dialog box used to load new flume (*.jlm) files. The Explorer File-Open Dialog displays a standard Windows dialog box that fully supports long filenames

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(32-bit version only). The File-Open Dialog With Flume Summary may not properly show long filenames, but provides a useful summary of each flumes characteristics as the user browses the file list. Save Current Settings as Defaults - Saves the users current program options in the system registry so that the same options will be used during your next WinFlume session. Save Settings on Exit - Saves the current program options when the user exits WinFlume. The same options will then be used during the next WinFlume session.

8.11

Suggested Flume Dimensions

8.11.1 Length of approach channel The gaging or head-measurement station should be located sufficiently far upstream from the structure to avoid the area of water surface drawdown, yet it should be close enough for the energy loss between the gaging station and the structure to be negligible. To meet these requirements, the gaging station should be located at a distance between two and three times Iflmux from the leading edge of the sill or at Hlmax .from the beginning of the converging transition, whichever is greater. In addition, if a wall-mounted staff gage or stilling well port is used, there should be no offsets or sudden changes in alignment of the approach channel wall within a upstream from the gaging station. distance ITlmax

8.11.2

Length of converging transition

The function of the converging transition is to provide a smooth acceleration of flow with no discontinuities or flow separation at the beginning of the throat. With stationary structures the transition commonly consists of plane surfaces. The converging transition should be flatter than 2.5 to 1 (horizontal to vertical). When the structure is viewed in plan, the angle of the line describing the intersection of the water surface with the side walls of the converging transition should also have a slope flatter than 2.5 to 1 (longitudinal to transverse distance) at both minimum and maximum flow conditions. With the movable weir the transition usually is
rounded with a radius o f r = 0.2H,,,.

8.11.3 Length of control section (ie., throat, crest, or sill)

For accurate flow measurement the throat length should be chosen so that the ratio of the sill-referenced energy head, H,, to the throat length, L, is in the range

0.070 I H,IL I 0.70

Within this range WinFlume calculates rating tables with an uncertainty of less than *2%. Outside this range, the uncertainty gradually increases to about 4% at

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H,IL = 0.05 or 1.0. If a structure is to be designed with a high value of the ratio QmaJQmin, full range of H,IL values should be used. the
8.11.4 Slope of downstream expansion
If the downstream water level, y,, is sufficiently low, there is no need for a gradual transition between the throat and the downstream channel, and a sudden expansion can be selected. If the head loss over the structure is limited to such an extent that the downstream water head, h,, becomes higher than the critical water depth in the throat, a gradual transition with a 6-to-l slope can be added to regain potential energy. The amount of potential energy that can be regained depends mainly on the degree of expansion of the transition. Rather sudden expansion ratios like 1-to-1 or 2-to-1 are not very effective in energy conversion because the high velocity jet leaving the throat cannot change direction suddenly to follow the boundaries of the transition. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of the expansion ratios 1-to-1, 2-to-1, or 3-to-1. Slopes flatter than 6-to-1 are not justified because of the construction expense and the fact that the additional energy recovery in the transition is offset by additional friction loss over the length of the transition.

8.12

Flume Warnings and Error Messages

Warning and error messages are displayed in rating tables and design review reports when conditions occur that adversely affect the accuracy of a flume or make it impossible to compute the flume rating. Detailed descriptions of each error message are given below:
1-

2-

3-

4-

Froude number exceeds 0.5 at the gage - This is a primary design criterion intended to ensure that the water level in the upstream pool can be measured with reasonable accuracy. To eliminate this error, increase the size of the approach channel, reduce the control section width, or increase the height of the sill relative to the invert of the approach channel. FATAL: Approach area too small compared to control area - If the approach area is too small, control of the flow may occur upstream from the intended control section. To eliminate this error message, reduce the control section size or increase the size of the approach channel. Errors 2 and 7 are similar, with error 2 occurring in the routines that determine flow for a given head and error 7 occurring in the routines that determine head for a given flow. FATAL: Maximum allowable tailwater depth is zero or less - The calculation of allowable tailwater depth has indicated that the allowed tailwater depth is zero or less, which makes it impossible to develop any workable design. FATAL: Tailwater area too small compared to control area - The crosssectional area of the tailwater channel at the maximum allowable tailwater depth must be at least 5 percent larger than the corresponding cross-sectional area of the control section. If this condition is not met, it is possible that critical

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flow, and thus the control section may occur in the tailwater channel rather than in the intended control section. To eliminate this error message, increase the size of the tailwater channel, or reduce the size of the control section. 5 - Upstream energy head / control section length is less than 0.07 - The ratio H,/L should be in the range of 0.07 to 0.7 to obtain the most accurate flow measurement. This error message is generally associated with the low end of the discharge range of the structure. To eliminate this error, either reduce the control section length or narrow the bottom width of the control section (thereby increasing Hl at minimum flow). 6 - Upstream energy head / control section length exceeds 0.7 - The ratio H J L should be in the range of 0.07 to 0.7 to obtain the most accurate flow measurement. This error message is generally associated with the upper end of the discharge range of the structure. To eliminate this error, either increase the control section length or widen the control section (especially the top width) to reduce H I at maximum flow. 7 - FATAL: Approach area too small compared to control area - This error indicates that there is insufficient contraction from the approach channel to the control section to ensure that critical flow will take place in the control section. To eliminate this error, increase the approach channel size, or reduce the size of the control section. This error can also occur if the control section has an extremely complex shape for which the exponent u cannot be determined (numerical solution fails to converge). Errors 2 and 7 are similar, with error 2 occurring in the routines that determine flow for a given head and error 7 occurring in the routines that determine head for a given flow. 8 - FATAL: Head is zero. This is not allowed - Flume ratings cannot be determined for an upstream head of zero. If this error occurs, choose a non-zero head as the minimum to be shown in the rating table. 9 - FATAL: Discharge is zero. This is not allowed - Flume ratings cannot be determined for a flow rate of zero. If this error occurs, choose a non-zero discharge as the minimum to be shown in the rating table. 10 - Converging section length is too short (ramp is too steep) - In flumes whose contraction is primarily formed by a raised sill, the converging ramp slope should be in the range of 2.5: 1 to 4.5: 1 (horizonta1:vertical) to obtain the most accurate flow measurement. If the ramp is too steep, the transition is too abrupt and there will be significant flow separation in the upstream reach of the control section. To remove this error message, increase the length of the converging section so that the ramp slope is 2.5:l or flatter. In unusual circumstances it may be impossible to eliminate all of the errors related to converging section length (errors 10, 11, 22, and 23). In these cases, a converging section that is too gradual (errors 11 and 23) is better than a converging section that is too abrupt (errors 10 and 22). (See Section 8.8.9). 11 - Converging section length may be too long (ramp is too flat) - In flumes whose contraction is primarily formed by a raised sill, the converging ramp slope should be in the range of 2.5: 1 to 4.5: 1 (horizonta1:vertical) to obtain the most accurate flow measurement. If the ramp is too flat, there may be excessive friction loss between the gaging station location and the control section, and the construction cost of the flume may be greater than necessary. To remove

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this error message, reduce the length of the converging section so that the ramp slope is 4.5:l or steeper. In unusual circumstances it may be impossible to eliminate all of the errors related to converging section length (errors 10, 11, 22, and 23). In these cases, a converging transition that is too gradual (errors 11 and 23) is better than a converging transition that is too abrupt (errors 10 and 22). (See Section 8.8.9). 12 - Gage is too close to converging section and/or throat - The gaging- or headmeasurement station should be located sufficiently far upstream from the structure to avoid the area of water surface drawdown, yet it should be close enough for the energy loss between the gaging station and the structure to be negligible. To meet these requirements, the gaging station should be located at from the leading edge of the sill a distance between two and three times Hlmax or at Hlma from the beginning of the converging transition, whichever is greater. To eliminate this error, increase the approach channel length on the flume bottom profile drawing. 13 - Tailwater ramp is too flat - A gradually sloped tailwater ramp helps to recover energy downstream of the flume by converting some of the kinetic energy of the flow in the critical section back into potential energy in the tailwater channel. A slope of 6:l (horizonta1:vertical) is recommended. If the slope is flatter than lO:l, the ramp becomes so long that additional friction loss along the length of the ramp probably exceeds the additional energy recovery. To eliminate this error message, increase the slope of the tailwater ramp or reduce its length to obtain a slope of 10:1 or steeper. 14 - Upstream energy head exceeds channel depth - This error message indicates that the approach channel energy head (water level plus velocity head) is above the banks of the upstream channel. If the velocity head is a large part of the total energy head, the water level may actually be within the channel banks, but this is still an undesirable flow condition because there is so little freeboard in the approach channel that it could conceivably spill over the banks if the flow were brought to a stop by a local offset in the canal lining or an obstruction in the approach channel. To eliminate this error message, reduce the contraction in the control section or increase the size or top elevation of the approach channel. Note that WinFlume will compute an h , vs. Q rating if the water level is below the top of the channel, even though the energy head may be above the top of the channel. This is considered a fatal error in WinFlumes design evaluation routines. 15 - FATAL: Attempt to lower movable weir sill too much. Try reducing sill radius - Movable weirs cannot be lowered to a sill height that is less than the sill radius. To eliminate this error, reduce the sill radius, or increase the width of the control section (which reduces the required head and allows the movable weir to be operated at a higher sill height). 16 - FATAL: Movable weir water depth must be over 1.5 times sill radius - The constant operating depth upstream from a movable weir must be at least 1.5 times the radius of the approach transition on the movable weir crest. To eliminate this error, reduce the sill radius or increase the operating depth. 17 - FATAL: Approach channel water level exceeds 0.9 times diameter - When the approach channel is circular, the flow depth in the approach channel cannot

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18 -

19-

20 -

21 -

22 -

23 -

be greater than 90 percent of the diameter. This flow condition is susceptible to unpredictable filling of the circular conduit due to the rapid increase in wetted perimeter as the depth increases. To eliminate this error, increase the approach channel diameter or enlarge the control section (perhaps by reducing the sill height). FATAL: Control section water level exceeds 0.9 times diameter - When the control section is circular, the water level in the control section cannot be in the top 10 percent of the circular section. This flow condition is susceptible to unpredictable filling of the circular conduit due to the rapid increase in wetted perimeter as the depth increases. To eliminate this error, reduce the contraction in the control section, and/or increase the control section diameter. Tailwater channel water level limited to 0.9 times diameter - When the tailwater channel is circular, the flow depth in the tailwater channel cannot be greater than 90 percent of the diameter. This flow condition is susceptible to unpredictable filling of the circular conduit due to the rapid increase in wetted perimeter as the depth increases. To eliminate this error, increase the tailwater channel diameter. FATAL: Approach channel water level exceeds top of control section circle - The water level in the approach channel cannot be higher than the crown of a circular control section, because such a condition will likely lead to pressurized flow in the control section, or an inlet-controlled orifice flow condition rather than a critical-depth controlled open-channel flow. To eliminate this error, increase the control section diameter, or enlarge the control section (thereby reducing the upstream water level). FATAL: Submergence ratio exceeds modular limit. Flow will not be critical - If the modular limit is exceeded, the flow in the control section will not be critical and there will not be a unique relation between upstream sillreferenced head and discharge (the relation will vary as a function of tailwater). To eliminate this error message, increase the contraction of the control section. Converging section length is too short (side contraction is too abrupt) When viewed in plan, flumes that are primarily side-contracted should have a contraction angle from the approach channel to the control section that is in the range of 2.5: 1 to 4.5: 1 (longitudinal to lateral distance). WinFlume checks to see that this condition is met at two elevations, the invert of the control section and the level of the approach channel water surface. If the transition is too abrupt there will be significant flow separation in the upstream reach of the control section. To eliminate this error, increase the length of the converging section, or reduce the difference in width between the approach channel and the control section. In unusual circumstances it may be impossible to eliminate all o the errors related to converging section length (errors 10, 11, 22, and 23). In f these cases, a converging transition that is too gradual (errors I I and 23) is better than a converging transition that is too abrupt (errors 10 and 22). (See Section 8.8.9). Converging section length may be too long (side contraction is too flat) When viewed in plan, flumes that are primarily side-contracted should have a contraction angle from the approach channel to the control section that is in the range of 2.5: 1 to 4.5: 1 (longitudinal to lateral distance). WinFlume checks to

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24 -

see that this condition is met at two elevations, the invert of the control section and the level of the approach channel water surface. If the transition is too long, there will be excessive friction loss between the gaging station location and the control section, and the structure may be more expensive to construct. To eliminate this error, reduce the length of the converging section. In unusual circumstances it may be impossible to eliminate all of the errors related to converging section length (errors 10, 11, 22, and 23). In these cases, a converging transition that is too gradual (errors 11 and 23) is better than a converging transition that is too abrupt (errors 10 and 22). (See Section 8.8.9). For width-contracted flumes, L / W > 2 is recommended for throat section. Preliminary laboratory tests have shown that flumes that are solely widthcontracted (i.e., no sill to create a vertical contraction of flow entering the throat section), have the potential to not properly develop critical-depth flow across the full width of the throat section. At this time, a length-to-width ratio of 2: 1 or greater is recommended for width-contracted flumes. The length-towidth ( U W ) ratio is evaluated using the average of the throat widths at the sill elevation and at the elevation corresponding to h,. Future research may allow refinement of this criterion.

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Using the WinFlume Software