ASTM D5390-21

Standard Test Method for Open-Channel Flow Measurement of Water with Palmer-Bowlus Flumes

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Although Palmer-Bowlus flumes can be used in many types of open channels, they are particularly adaptable for permanent or temporary installation in circular sewers. Commercial flumes are available for use in sewers from 4 in. to 6 ft (0.1 to 1.8 m) in diameter.  
5.2 A properly designed and operated Palmer-Bowlus is capable of providing accurate flow measurements while introducing a relatively small head loss and exhibiting good sediment and debris-passing characteristics.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the volumetric flow rate of water and wastewater in sewers and other open channels with Palmer-Bowlus flumes.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2021
• ICS: 17.120.20 - Flow in open channels
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.07 - Sediments, Geomorphology, and Open-Channel Flow

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D5390 − 21
Standard Test Method for
Open-Channel Flow Measurement of Water with Palmer-
1
Bowlus Flumes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5390; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
3
1. Scope 2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 4359 Liquid Flow Measurement in Open Channels—
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the volumetric
Rectangular, Trapezoidal and U-Shaped Flumes
flow rate of water and wastewater in sewers and other open
ISO 555 Liquid Flow Measurements in Open Channels—
channels with Palmer-Bowlus flumes.
Dilution Methods for Measurement of Steady Flow—
3
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
Constant Rate Injection Method
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
4
2.3 ASME Standard:
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
Fluid Meters Their Theory and Application
and are not considered standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3. Terminology
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1 Definitions:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
Terminology D1129.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.2.1 boundary layer displacement thickness, n—a layer of
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
fluid flow adjacent to a solid surface (in this case, the flume
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
throat) in which, owing to viscous friction, the velocity
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
increases from zero at the stationary surface to an essentially
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
frictionless-flow value at the edge of the layer. The displace-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ment thickness is a distance normal to the solid surface that the
surface and flow streamlines can be considered to have been
2. Referenced Documents
displaced by virtue of the boundary-layer formation.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.2 critical flow, n—the energy in open channel flow
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
expressed in terms of depth plus velocity head and is a
D1941 Test Method for Open Channel Flow Measurement
minimum for a given flow rate and channel. The Froude
of Water with the Parshall Flume
number is unity at critical flow.
D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
3.2.3 Froude number, n—a dimensionless number express-
Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
ing the ratio of inertial to gravity forces in free-surface flow. It
D3858 Test Method for Open-Channel Flow Measurement
is equal to the average velocity divided by the square root of
of Water by Velocity-Area Method
the product of the average depth and the acceleration due to
D5242 Test Method for Open-Channel Flow Measurement
gravity.
of Water with Thin-Plate Weirs
3.2.4 head, n—the depth of flow referenced to the floor of
the throat measured at an appropriate location upstream of the
1 flume;thisdepthplusthevelocityheadisoftentermedthetotal
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.07 on Sediments, head or total energy head.
Geomorphology, and Open-Channel Flow.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2021. Published January 2022. Originally
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D5390 – 93 (2013).
3
DOI: 10.1520/D5390-21. Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
4
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on International Headquarters, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990, http://
the ASTM website. www.asme.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D5390 − 21
3.2.5 hydraulic jump, n—an abrupt transition from
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D5390 − 93 (Reapproved 2013) D5390 − 21
Standard Test Method for
Open-Channel Flow Measurement of Water with Palmer-
1
Bowlus Flumes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5390; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the volumetric flowrate flow rate of water and wastewater in sewers and other open
channels with Palmer-Bowlus flumes.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The SI units values given in parentheses are for
information only.mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D1941 Test Method for Open Channel Flow Measurement of Water with the Parshall Flume
D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
D3858 Test Method for Open-Channel Flow Measurement of Water by Velocity-Area Method
D5242 Test Method for Open-Channel Flow Measurement of Water with Thin-Plate Weirs
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 4359 Liquid Flow Measurement in Open Channels—Rectangular, Trapezoidal and U-Shaped Flumes
ISO 555 Liquid Flow Measurements in Open Channels—Dilution Methods for Measurement of Steady Flow—Constant Rate
3
Injection Method
4
2.3 ASME Standard:
Fluid Meters Their Theory and Application
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.07 on Sediments, Geomorphology,
and Open-Channel Flow.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2013Nov. 1, 2021. Published January 2013January 2022. Originally approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 20072013 as
D5390 – 93 (2007).(2013). DOI: 10.1520/D5390-93R13.10.1520/D5390-21.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
4
Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME International Headquarters, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990, http://
www.asme.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5390 − 21
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Definitions: For definitions of terms used in this test method refer to Terminology D1129.
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to Terminology D1129.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 boundary layer displacement thickness—thickness, n—the boundary layer is a layer of fluid flow adjacent to a solid surface
(in this case, the flume throat) in which, owing to viscous friction, the velocity increases from zero at the stationary surface to an
essentially frictionless-flow value at the edge of the layer. The displacement thickness is a distance normal to the solid surface that
the surface and flow streamlines can be considered to have been displaced by virtue of the boundary-layer formation.
3.2.2 critical flow—flow, n—the energy in open channel flow in which the energy expressed in terms of depth plus velocity head,
head and is a minimum for a given flowrate flow rate and channel. The Froude number is unity at critical flow.
3.2.3 Froude number—number, n—a dimensionless number expressing the ratio of inertial to gravity force
...