Rating Rectangular Farm Delivery Meter Gates for Flow Measurement
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 1
Abstract
Traditional meter gates for farm delivery flow measurement from an open channel conveyance have traditionally incorporated round canal gates (Armco type) for control. In recent years, some irrigation water agencies (i.e., irrigation districts) have replaced deteriorating round gates with lower-cost rectangular gates that cover round holes. Similar to the situation described in a companion paper, where round gates were examined, there have been no investigations into flow measurement uncertainty using the existing rating tables for these gates. In this study, two commonly used rectangular gate sizes, 0.46 m (18-in.) and 0.61 m (24-in.), were tested under scenarios of various gate openings, upstream heads, and head differences. Coefficient of discharge () values were computed based on actual gate open areas. These improved values were used to generate new discharge rating tables for 0.46 m (18-in.) and 0.61 m (24-in.) rectangular meter gates. Limitations for these rectangular gates are discussed. If guidelines presented in this paper and in the companion paper are followed, the average instantaneous flow measurement uncertainty that could be expected is better than . However, uncertainty is higher (up to approximately ) at the lower end of the recommended gate openings [0.10 m (4 in.)] for these rectangular gates.
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Acknowledgments
This work was funded by a grant (13-01-005) from the California State University Agricultural Research Institute (CSU ARI). The authors would also like to acknowledge the support provided by San Luis Canal Company, including the donation of the rectangular gates. This work could not have been completed without the hours of work provided by Cal Poly water engineering and irrigation graduate students and construction efforts by ITRC student employees from the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department.
References
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Summers, J. B. (1951). “Flow characteristics and limitations of Armco meter gates; August 5, 1951.”, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver.
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© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 8, 2015
Accepted: Jun 4, 2015
Published online: Jul 10, 2015
Discussion open until: Dec 10, 2015
Published in print: Jan 1, 2016
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