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Palmer-Bowlus

The Palmer-Bowlus flume takes its name from its inventors, Harold Palmer and Fred Bowlus. The flume was developed for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Department in the mid-1930’s. The flume was specifically designed to be a simple and effective wastewater flow-measuring device. The flume is essentially a restriction in the channel and is sized according to the width of the flume (typically, but not always, the width of the pipe it is connected to).

Palmer-Bowlus flumes are available from TRACOM in three different styles:

4D+1”

  Permanent Style

  • 2” top and end flanges
  • Integral approach section
  • Point of measurement inside of flume
  • Available with inlet and outlet end bulkheads to connect to existing pipe



6” 4D+1” Style with Stainless Steel
Ultrasonic Mounting Bracket

2D+1”

   Portable Style

  • 2” top and end flanges
  • Shorter lay length than 4D+1” style
  • Point of measurement upstream (outside) of flume
    • Cannot be provided with bubble or sample tubes, submerged probe or Drexelbrook cavities, or staff gauges
  • Available with outlet bulkhead to connect to existing pipe



4” 4D+1” Style (top)
4” 2D+1” Style (bottom) Comparison

Insert

   Insert Style

  • 2D+1” length
  • No top or end flanges
  • No support ribs
  • Intended to install into the lower half of an existing pipe
  • Point of measurement upstream (outside) of flume
    • Cannot be provided with bubble or sample tubes, submerged probe or Drexelbrook cavities, or staff gauges
  • Not available with inlet or outlet bulkheads



6”, 8”, and 10” Insert Flumes

For new construction the 4D+1” style is preferable due to the integral approach section. The 2D+1” style is more common in retrofit constructions where space is a concern, although problems can occur in that the head measurement is made upstream from the flume itself.

Unlike the 4D+1” and 2D+1” styles, the Insert style does not have inlet or outlet flanges and is intended to fit into existing pipe.

Options and Accessories

  • Ultrasonic mounting brackets
  • Bubble tubes
  • Sample tubes
  • Submerged probe cavities
  • Stilling wells (attached and detached)
  • Staff gauges
  • Removable probe holders
  • Inlet and outlet bulkheads
  • Pipe stubs
  • Flanged end connections
  • FRP grating
  • Riser boxes
  • Transition entrances
  • Nesting
  • Multi-piece construction
  • Chemically resistant gel coat

Listed below are various Palmer-Bowlus flume sizes and their recommended flow ranges.

Specifications - Installation Instructions - Typical Drawing

If you would like additional information, pricing, or assistance in sizing and specifying a flume, please fill out and submit our flume application form.


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Toll-Free: 1.877.4FLUMES (1.877.435.8637)
Phone: 1.770.664.6513 · Fax: 1.770.664.6565
sales@tracom.us
6575-A Industrial Way
Alpharetta, Georgia 30004 USA