Armfield Engineering Education

APPLIED HYDRAULICS AND HYDROLOGY

S6 MKII Glass Sided Tilting Flume - Issue 12
Laboratory Flumes for Hydraulic Teaching/Research Studies

S6MK2 Glass sided tilting flume for research studies

A glass sided tilting flume with fabricated all stainless steel bed. A working cross-section of 300mm wide by 450mm deep and available in standard working lengths of 5m, 7.5m, 10m and 12.5m. Longer lengths are available to special order in increments of 2.5m.

Completely self-contained and comprising the working section, moulded inlet and discharge tanks, a series of sump tanks, a pump, an electronic flow meter, a jacking system and a control console.

Order Specification |
Features |
Optional Models, Accessories and Instrumentation

Description |
Technical Specification |
Requirements |
Shipping Specification and Dimensions

ORDERING SPECIFICATION

• A self-contained glass sided tilting flume for fluid mechanics laboratory experiments, project work and research activities.

• The flume working channel is assembled from modular sections of 2.5m length. A wide choice of standard lengths are available from 5m upwards.

• The flume cross-section is 300mm wide by 450mm deep.

• A fabricated high precision stainless steel bed provides excellent strength and rigidity, eliminating the need for a separate underframe. No adjustments other than the jacking stations are necessary in order to set up and maintain the equipment, achieving typical bed deformations better than 1mm.

• Each flume incorporates a discharge tank fitted with an adjustable overshot weir and draught tube to avoid splashing and noise. An electro-magnetic flow meter is incorporated as standard.

• A comprehensive range of optional accessories and instruments is available to supplement the capabilities of the basic flume.

• Closed-loop recirculation is available as an option for sediment transport studies.

Ordering options – S6MkII

S6 MkII - 5.0m Basic self contained flume (no electrics)
S6 MkII - 7.5m Basic self contained flume (no electrics)
S6 MkII - 10m Basic self contained flume (no electrics)
S6 MkII - 12.5m Basic self contained flume (no electrics)
S6 MkII - C 415V/3ph/50Hz - Basic electrics comprising control console & pump
S6 MkII - D 208V/3ph/60Hz - Basic electrics comprising control console & pump
S6 MkII - E 380V/3ph/50Hz - Basic electrics comprising control console & pump
S6 MkII - F 220V/3ph/60Hz - Basic electrics comprising control console & pump
S6 MkII - SL Sediment loop for any of the above flumes
S6 MkII - 14 - 1 Powered jacks for 5.0m or 7.5m flumes
S6 MkII - 14 - 2 Powered jacks for 10m or 12.5m flumes

Armfield has been designing and supplying open channel facilities to hydraulic laboratories throughout the world for over 40 years.

This datasheet describes the range of channel designs available from Armfield, from which research/teaching personnel may wish to request specific quotations depending on their field of interest.

Usually channels are of rectangular prismatic section. The dimensions of the working cross-section and length are the principal features which determine both the functional suitability and the cost of a channel.

Depending on customer requirements, channels can be designed to incorporate the following alternative features:
- fixed bed or variable slope
- self-contained or laboratory supplied water
- open circuit or re-circulating sediment load
- choice of working section materials (glass, metal, wood)
- inclusion of a wave generator and beach
- instrumentation systems for flow, velocity, level, etc.
- sediment sampling

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Features

Major Design Features

There are numerous design features associated with Armfield channel facilities, many are unique. The following list is not exhaustive. Not all features are appropriate to every channel.

> Accurate for education and research
> Extremely stable design, no user adjustments required to the flume bed
> Floor space requirements reduced to a minimum
> Fabricated high precision stainless steel channel bed (optional extra)
> Can be readily converted to closed-loop recirculation for sediment transport studies

> Precision screw jacks provide accurate slope adjustment with minimum effort (powered jacks available as an option)

> Designed for ease of visibility:- toughened glass sides; slimline side supports; comfortable viewing height. etc.

> Adjustable instrument rails with positioning scales are fitted over the whole working length

> Fully profiled inlet tank fitted with stilling and smoothing devices
> Discharge tank with adjustable overshot weir and draft tube to avoid splashing and reduce noise

> Modular construction - supplied in pre-glazed sections for rapid and easy assembly on site

> Wave generation options, both regular and random - the end tanks acting as basins extending the working length

> Standard flumes have a comprehensive range of accessories, instruments and models available > Standard flumes have non-corroding durable GRP tanks throughout

> Transverse members have been eliminated throughout the working length
> Transparent sides are of toughened glass, which is extremely strong, abrasion resistant, dimensionally stable, does not discolour or scratch and is inherently safe

> Working section is fully adjustable, enabling extremely accurate setting
> Substantial underframes reduce load deflections to a minimum
> Close tolerances specified and achieved.

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Description

Standard Flumes

Armfield offer a design, manufacture and installation service for special channel facilities of all types and sizes. Their reputation and expertise has developed through the evolution of standard products. By this we mean high quality flumes offered to a standard design.

History and experience has shown that there is an optimum cross-section that will fill a great majority of educational and research needs. Those dimensions are a width of 300mm and a depth of 450mm (these are internal working dimensions).

The length of a flume is dictated by many factors. Common amongst them are experimental requirements, space availability and cost. Standard Armfield flumes are therefore available as modular units.

The channel section is fully glazed with large clear panels of toughened glass. This is coupled with careful design of the side support profiles to provide excellent visibility and allow flow visualisation of the full working height of the flume. The glass panels are sealed using a rubber "U" section compressed by an aluminium alloy clamping strip.

The flume bed is manufactured to high tolerances and designed with an integral web support frame to give the flume a high degree of rigidity and stability. Rigid dowelled joints are used to connect the sections. The overall strength and rigidity of the design allows excellent stability figures to be achieved and eliminates the need to provide adjusting screws or to perform periodic setting up of the flume to maintain its specification. No underframe or support structure other than jacks is necessary.

Instrument rails are provided along the entire working length of the flume and a continuous scale calibrated in millimetres is provided along the length of one of the rails. Adjustable screws allow the track to be set level and true.

Excellent velocity profiles are achieved in the working section by careful shaping of the inlet tank and by the incorporation of stilling and smoothing devices. Operating water levels are maintained by an overshot tilting weir located in the discharge tank. Both end tanks are made from tough non-corroding GRP.

Water circulation is by a centrifugal pump mounted beneath the flume channel, drawing water from a series of interconnected non-corroding sump tanks mounted on the floor and running alongside the flow channel. All interconnecting pipes and fittings are made of non-corroding materials.

The flow is regulated using a manually adjusted valve. Flow rate is measured using an electro-magnetic flow meter and displayed on a digital readout located on the control console. An isolation valve is included.
The control console is mounted on a pedestal and located in a convenient position for the installation, such that it is easily accessible and the flow rate can be read whilst adjusting the valve. Also located on the console the emergency stop button and the pump controls. An additional emergency stop button is provided on longer flumes.

The flume is tilted using a jacking system - a single jacking station on 5m flumes. Flumes up to 12.5m have two jacks interconnected by a geared drive. A slope indicator is provided.

Electrical jacking is available as an optional extra, including a control box with up/down inch buttons plus an additional emergency stop button. Electronic limit switches disable the electrical device at the maximum and minimum extent of travel.

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Experimental Models & Instrumentation

A comprehensive range of experimental models and measuring instruments is available for selection. These provide the basis for a large number of practical experiments in open channel flow including the use and operation of regulating and gauging structures.

Wherever possible non-corroding materials have been used to reduce maintenance time and increase the working life of the models.

S6-20: Plate Weirs - (Stainless steel)

`V´ notch weir

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> screw operated adjustable undershot weir
> rectangular overshot weir plate
>`V´ notch weir

S6-21: Broad Crested Weirs - (GRP)

> rectangular sharp cornered weir
> rectangular streamlined weir

S6-22 Venturi Flume - (GRP)

A set of GRP mouldings for installation in the channel section to form a venturi flume.

S6-23: Ogee Weir & Manometer Board - (GRP)

Eight pressure tappings (2 upstream, 5 downstream, 1 at apex) complete with multi-tube piezometer board.

S6-24: Dam Spillway Models - (GRP)

Dam Spillway

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Complete with the following interchangeable
downstream sections:
> spillway toe
> roller bucket toe
> apron with removeable energy dissipator

S6-25: Syphon Spillway - (Acrylic)

Complete with adjustable breather tube.

S6-26: Self-regulating Syphon -(Acrylic)

S6-27: Roughened Beds - (GRP)

Two sections of different roughness. Each consists of three modules arranged to cover a 2.5m length.

S6-28: Vibrating Pile

For the study of vortex shedding by piles and tall structures.

S6-29: Lift & Drag Balance & Models - (GRP)

Three models - large and small diameter cylinders and an aerofoil section.

S6-30: Pitot Tube & Manometer Board - (GRP)

Complete with traversing carriage and vernier height adjustment, and an inverted paraffin water manometer for magnification of small pressure differences.

S6-31: Crump Weir - (GRP)

Single pressure tapping at apex, complete with piezometer tube.

S6-32: Parshall Flume - (GRP)

One of the most widely used standing wave flumes; allows comparison of head-flow characteristics with those published in the literature.

S6-33: WSC Flume - (GRP)

Developed by Washington State College, this trapezoidal flume conforms more closely to natural channel sections and passes sediment even more freely than the Parshall Flume.

S6-35: Wave Generator

Simple, regular, flap-type generator designed to be mounted on the flume discharge tank.

S6-36: Beach

S6-37: Zagni Flow Monitoring

System Consists of a free standing manometer board and instrument carriage fitted with Pitot tube and interconnecting tubing. This system may be used to establish the basic parameters of fluid flow in the channel including, invert slope, surface profiles, pressure profiles and velocity profiles.

S6-40: Instrument Carrier

Both longitudinal and transverse movement and position lock.

S6-42: Velocity Meter and Mountings

Velocity probe and digital meter, complete with mounting attachments to channel. Range 0.6 to 3m/sec.

H-1: Hook & Point Gauge

Designed to be mounted on S6-40.

S6-45 Random Wave Maker

This machine utilises the base hinge weir in the discharge tank of the Armfield S6 Flume as the paddle. The S6-45 Control box interfaces with a personal computer (not supplied by Armfield) via a serial interface.

Wave generation software

> Regular waves
> Irregular waves - filtered white noise
> Irregular waves - Fourier series
> User defined wave generation techniques

This is an advanced software package designed to simulate long crested sea conditions. It can generate Regular, Irregular and Solitary waves.
It is capable of running on any Windows compatible-PC with a free serial interface.

Installation is by means of an installation program. Following installation it allows all the relevant dimensional details of the paddle to be entered and saved in a file.

The experimental transfer function can be entered and saved for a range of water depths.

Wave height and period requirements are entered at full (prototype) scale together with the model scale being used.

When it is running, the parameters of the generated sea state and a real time graphical display of the paddle movement are shown on screen.

For more information on S6-45 request data sheet S6-45 provisional

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Technical specification

Width: 300mm
Depth: 450mm
Length: As ordered (multiples of 2.5m)
Note: length overall is 3.25m longer than the working section defined

Walls: Toughened glass Bed Exclusively fabricated from stainless steel
End Tanks: GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic)
Sump Tanks: and Pipework PVC (Polyvinylchloride)
Pump: Close-coupled centrifugal
Isolation: Valve Lever-operated butterfly
Flow Regulation Valve: Hand wheel operated wedge
+ve Slope: 1:40 max (1.4ß)
-ve Slope: 1:200 max (0.28ß)
Flow Meter: Electro-magnetic
Bed Stability: <0.8mm (typical) at 400mm water depth
Side Wall Stability: <0.5mm (typical) at 400mm water depth

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requirements

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Shipping specification

Volume: Available on request
Gross weight: Available on request

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Overall dimensions