Venturi Flume of Minimum Space Requirements

Abstract

The flow features of a Venturi flume, constricted with sharp‐edged, thin‐plated elements are investigated. These elements, located at both side walls of a rectangular duct, as are usually found in large municipal sewers, are fixed at the bottom and at the ceiling by a simple device. Particular attention is paid to the head‐discharge equation for various constriction rates, the limit submergence, and the discussion of the internal flow mechanism. The theoretical approach accounts for the effects of fluid separation from the constriction elements and for the streamline curvature. Compared to the conventional discharge equation, the effects of the contraction geometry, and the relative energy head are thus included. The final result corresponds to an explicit equation for discharge once the contraction geometry is fixed and the upstream flow depth is recorded. Design curves allow a rapid and precise determination of discharge.