~ Pergamon Wat. Sci. Tt'ch. Vol. 33. No.3, pp. 195-210, 1996.

Copyright e> 1996 1AWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd

Pnnted in Creat Britain. All rights reserved.
0273-1223/96 $15-00 + 0·00
PH: 8.0273-1223(96)00313-7

DESIGN OF GRIT CHANNELS

CONTROLLED BY PARSHALL FLUMES

Gerrit v. R. Marais* and Adrianus C. van Haandel**

* Department o/Civil En~ineering. University o/Cape Town. 7700 Rondebosch.
South Africa
** Federal University of Paraiba. R. Aprigio Veloso 882. 58.100 Campina Grande
Pb. Brazil

Abstract

Grit removal is a necessary pre treatment step in sewage treatment. Grit can be
separated from the liquid phase by gravity settling in a channel. For an adequate performance
of the pre treatment unit, it is necessary that the liquid velocity in the channel is kept
approximately constant, even when the flow rate varies. This can be accomplished by coupling
a channel with a rectangular cross section to a Parshall flume, provided the channel bottom level
is placed at a higher level than the flu~e base. The height of the step between the two devices
depends on the magnitude and variation of the sewage flow. At low flow rates the step will start
to act as a weir and can take over the function of the Parshall flume as the liqUid velocity
controlling device, thereby extending significantly the range of flow rates that can be degritted
in the pre treatment unit. Copyright @ 1996 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Key words

Waste water pre treatment - Grit removal - Grit channel Parshall flume -

INTRODUCTION

The objective of pre treatment of waste waters in a grit channel is to retain

the settleable inorganic solids (grit), so as to avoid that these enter and accumulate in the
biological treatment unit. In most waste water treatment plants there is a unit for grit separation,
but in many cases the inorganic solids end up in the biological reactor, due to inadequate design
or operation of the pre treatment unit. There are dozens of examples of waste water treatment
plants, that are partially or totally unutilized due to grit accumulation.

195
196 G. V. R. MARIAS and A. C. VAN HAANDEL

The process used to effect separation of grit from the waste water is
gravity settling, based on the fact that the density of inorganic solids (typically around 2,65
g.cm-3) is much higher that of organic solids (usually little more than 1,00 g.cm-3). Two types
of separators are used in practice: In the first type moderate bubble aeration is applied, thus
creating enough turbulence in the separation unit to maintain the organic material in suspension,
whereas the inorganic suspended solids settle out. In the second type the liquid flows through
a channel, in which a high liquid velocity is maintained, so that only the inorganic suspended
solids can settle out, whereas the orgal1ics pass. In the present paper only a representant of the
second type of separator is discussed: the grit channel coupled to a Parshall flume.
The Parshall flume is a simple and robust flow rate measurement device
with a very low construction cost and a small size. In this paper it is shown that there is a great
advantage in using the Parshall flume in combination with a grit channel: the grit channel can
be constructed with a rectangular section. Other flow rate control devices require channels with
a curve section (parabolic, hyperbolic), that are much more difficult to construct and only will
work well, when little grit has accumulated. The combination of a rectangular grit channel and
a Parshall flume results in a practically constant liquid velocity in the channel for very widely
varying flow rates. However, it is necessary to construct the bottom of the channel at precisely
the right level with respect to the Parshall flume, otherwise the capacity of velocity control of
the Parshall flume is almost lost.
The quantity of grit in sewage depends upon many factors. The most
important ones are the nature (combined or separated) of the sewerage network and its state of
conservation and the presence of individual septic tanks before sewage discharge into the
network, as well as habits of the contributing population (for example, using sand for scouring
pots and pans). Also the climate may i'nfluence (spreading of sand on streets after snow). Full
scale measurements indicate that a fraction of 30 to 100 I of inorganic suspended solids is to be
expected per !Ooo m-3 of raw sewage in a sewerage system with a separate system for storm
water. (Meiring ~ ii, 1968, JWPCF, 1979; Marais 1971; Steel & McGee, 1979), but in special
cases the ratio may be well outside this range.

THE COMBINATION GRIT CHANNEL + PARSHALL FLUME.

The Parshall flume is a flow rate measuring device in the form of an open
channel, where the liquid (sewage) is forced though a relatively narrow throat. The level
upstream is indicative for the flow rate through the device and is independent of the liquid level
downstream. Table I shows the standardized values of the throat widths as well as other
dimensions of Parshall flumes for different flow rates. Figure 1 is a schematic representation of
a grit channel with Parshall flume.

Grit retention in the channel

A suspended particle in the sewage will be retained in the channel if (1)

its settling velocity is sufficient to attain the channel floor and (2) the horizontal liquid velocity
is insufficient to remove the settling particle by bottom scour. The settling velocity of a
(discrete) particle is given by «Steel & McGee, 1979):
 Grit channels 197

Table 1: Standardized dimensions or the Parshall flume in rom (The letters refer to
Fig 1 (Conform Azevedo Netto and Alvarez, 1973)

W(mm) A B C 0 F G K N
76 (3") 466 457 178 259 152 305 25 57
IS2W) 621 610 294 393 305 610 76 114
229 (9") 880 864 380 575 305 457 76 114
305 (I") 1370 1440 610 845 610 915 76 229
457 (iih') 1449 1420 762 1026 610 915 76 229
610 (2') 1525 1496 915 1207 610 915 76 229
915 (3') 1677 1645 1220 1572 610 915 76 229
1220 (4') 1830 1795 1525 1938 610 915 76 229
1525 (5') 1983 1941 1830 2303 610 915 76 229
1830 (6') 2135 2090 2135 2667 610 915 76 229
2135 (7') 2288 2240 2440 2020 610 915 76 229
2440 (8') 2440 2392 2745 2400 610 915 76 229
3050(10') 2745 2470 3660 4579 915 1830 152 343

Wg We

Dc
N

.
PARSHALL FLUME DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

Fig 1 : Schematic representation or a grit channel coupled to a Parshall flume.

198 G. V.R. MARIAS andA. C. VANHAANDEL

v. = [4g(d.-dJDp/(3C.pJ]'" (1)

where:

v. = settling velocity in cm.s·1

g = gravitational acceleration = 980 cm.s· 2
3
d. = suspended solids density (g.cm· )
d. = sewage density (g.cm·3)
Dv = particle diameter (em)
Cd = drag coefficient (depends on the Reynolds number)

The liquid velocity causing loss of settled particles by bottom scour is given by (JWPCF, 1982):

v. = [(88g(d.-dJD/(fdJ]'" (2)

where

v. = critical velocity for bottom scour (cm.s· l )

8 = constant (0,06 for sewage) ,
f = Darcy Weisbach fraction factor (0,03 for sewage)

In grit channels, normally bottom scour will determine if a particle can be

retained or not. This can be seen by evaluating equations (1) and (2) for normal operational
conditions. In Fig (2) the critical velocity for bottom scour has been plotted as a function of the
particle diameter for different particle densities (a water density of 1,000 g.cm·3 has been
assumed). It can be noted that for liquid velocities below 0,2 m.s· l , there is undesired retention
of large organic particles (density in the range of 1,01 to 1,05 g.cm·3), because the scour drag
force of the liquid flow is insufficient to remove these, when they attain the channel bottom.
On the other hand, if the liquid velocity is high (for example more than
0,3 m.s· I ), there is a tendency that even relatively large inorganic particles are scoured out and
end up in the biological treatment unit. Hence, a condition for a proper performance of the grit
channel is that the liquid velocity in it be between 0,2 & 0,3 m.s· l , permitting retention of even
small inorganic particles (>0,2 mm) and avoiding deposition of particles of organic material,
as indicated in Fig 2.
In Fig 3. it can 'be seen that a particle originally present at the liquid
surface in the channel can settle out on the channel bottom (i.e a distance equal to the height of
the liquid layer in the channel), if the settling velocity is high enough to cover this distance in
vertical direction during the retention time of the liquid. Hence:

where:
 Grit channels 199

100 ...--------;:---'7--....-,

50

In Out
Lg(> 10m)
I' '1
Watersurl1lce

b~
~.va
V. ~
~~.?-
d(waler) • 1.00
Scour oJ,.sedlm!!!ls
3 7 17
b.1 0,2 0,5 1 2 5 10 20
Channel bottom
particle diaml .-er (mm)

Fig 2 Fig 3
Critical velocity for bottom scour as a Schematic representation of particle
function of particle diameter for sedimentation in a grit channel
different densities

v. = settling velocity of particles '

VI = liquid velocity
D, = depth of the grit channel
L, = length of the grit channel
In practice almost invariable the length will be more than 10 m and rarely
the depth of the channel will exceed 0,6 m, so that typically D,IL, < 0,06. Hence for a liquid
velocity of 0,23 m.s·\ an estimate of the settling velocity for particles to reach the bottom is
given by:

v, > vl.(D,IL,) = 0,23*0,06 = 0,014 m.s· l

•

By using Eq (1) in an iterative process (Barnes and Wilson, 1983), it is calculated

that the diameter of a particle with this settling velocity is approximately 0,15 mm, (density =
2,65 g.cm·'). However, even though settling of this small particle is feasible, it will not be
retained in the channel, because the critical velocity for bottom scour for this particle is less than
0,2 m.s·· (See Fig 2) . Therefore, for particles up to a diameter of 0,2 mm, the liquid velocity
will be always higher than the critical velocity. These particles have a settling velocity of 0,02
m.s·\ (density = 2,65 g.cm"), which is much more than the the minimum settling velocity of
a particle to settle out in the channel (. 0,014 m.s'\). It is concluded that bottom scour rather
than particle settling is the factor that determines if grit particles can be retained or not.
200 G. V. R. MARIAS and A. C. VAN HAANDEL
The condition that the settling time must be sufficient for particles with a diameter
of 0,2 mm to travel from the liquid surface to the bottom of the channel ( a distance of at most
0,6 m) can be used to make an estimate of the required length of the channel. By using again
Eq(l) and knowing now that the settling velocity of the smallest retained particles (0,2 mm
diameter) is about 0,02 m.s·I,the minimum length is:

I..p,;. = D,v/v, ,. 0,6*0,23/0,02 =7 m

The minimum retention time of the liquid is calculated at 30 s. In practice often the retention
time is somewhat longer and the length correspondingly greater due to turbulence at the ends
of the channel. Marais (1971) suggested a retention time of not less than 45 seconds for the
highest liquid velocity and not more than 1 min for the lowest velocity. Depending on the
desired average liquid velocity and the average flow rate the length is then between 10 (VI =
0,22 mos· l ) and 18 m (VI = 0,3 m.s· I).

VEWCITY CONTROL OF THE LIQUID BY THE PARSHALL FLUME

The horizontal base of the Parshall flume ( see Fig 1) constitutes a

reference level of the level upstream of it. Often the measuring point of the head upstream is at
213 of the approximation channel to the throat (Point A in Fig 1). Empirically the following
relationship has been established between the flow and the head at point A:

(3a)

Further away from the throat the level of the water is higher than in point A and the following
relationship is valid (Marais 1971):

Q. = 1,97WW12 (3b)

where:

HA = head at point A (relative to the flume) (m)

H = head at a point away from the flume throat (m)
W = throat width (m)
(0. in m'.s·l)
The empiric relationship between flow rate and head is valid for a range
of values that depends on the throat width. Figure 4 shows the relationships between the heads
and the flow rates for different throat widths (Azevedo Netto & Alvarez, 1973). The minimum
and maximum flow rates are also indicated.
An important condition for a proper performance the Parshall flume is that
the level downstream must be low enough to avoid "drowning", a term indicating that the
downstream level influences the upstream water level. It has been established experimentally
that, taking the flume base as a reference level, the head downstream must not be more than 60
 Grit channels 201

Flow rate (m3s· l ) 10.000 . - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,

W
min. max
76 (3") 0,0008 0,0538 1.000
152 (6") 0,0015 0,1104
229 (9") 0,0025 0,2519
305 (l") 0,0031 0,4556 10.000 e-
457 (11h') 0,0042 0,6962 l
610 (2')
915 (3')
0,0119 0,9367
1.000
:
~
1,0176 1,4263
1220 (4') 0,0368 1,9215 J
1525 (5') 0,0628 2,422 100
1830 (6') 0,0744 2,929
2135 (7') 0,1154 3,440
2440 (8') 0,1307 3,950 0,1 ~=-=-~_:":____::'~~'--....J
3050(10') 0,2000 5,660 0,020,03 0,05 0.1 0,2 0,3 0,5
helghl above llume bIlee (m)

Fig 4: Empiric relationship between the flow rate and the head in Parshall flumes for
different throat widths.

per cent in small flumes 3, 6 or 9" (Le. W ~ 229 mm). For larger flumes the maximum
downstream head is 70 per cento of the upstream head. Of course drowning must be avoided for
the entire range of sewage flow rates to be expected.
When the flume is working properly, the water level upstream (i.e. in the
grit channel) does not depend on the level of the grit channel bottom, nor its width. It will now
be shown that a substantially constant velocity in a channel with a rectangular section can be
maintained for varying flow rates. by choosing adequately the bottom level and the width. For
this it is necessary to place the bottom of the channel at a higher level than the flume base, so
that a step Y exists (see Fig 1). Under these conditions the liquid velocity in the channel can be
expressed as:

V. = Q,/(W•.O.) = Q,/(W,(H-Y» (4)

where:

V. = sewage velocity (m.s· l )

W. = grit channel width (m)
O. = grit channel depth(m)
Y = step between channel and flume base (m)

For any particular values of W. and Y, the value of V. can be expressed

as a function of Q. by using Eq (3b) to calculate H and hence 0 •. As an example, the
relationship between V. and Q. (curve ABC) is presented in Fig 5 for W. = 0,3 and Y = 0,033
m (throat width = 0,076 m). The curve has a minimum (point B), whereas there are two values
202 G. V.R. MARIAS and A. C. VANHAANDEL

flow rate In m3/d flow rate In m3/d

100 200 400 000 1000 2000 100 200 400 800 1000 2000
1.0 1
Qrnln-180 QmlX-1800

I
I
i
.&
i
r'
8
~

~ 1
~
0 01
• Tranalllon:
QIr- 181 rn3Id

0.10
01",·,12 0--111
0.001
II Parah~1 ftume
datarml.. laval

.a -2.5 -2.0 .1.5 oS -2.5 2.0 .1.5

Log(flow rate) In m31s Log(flow rate) In m3/s

Fig 5 Liquid velocity, V. (left) and water level H (right) of sewage in a grit channel as a
function of the flow rate for W = 3"; W. = 0,3 m e Y = 0,033 m The water depth
in the channel,D., is also indicated.

of the flow rate where the liquid velOCity corresponds to its maximum value (Points A and C
with flows Q,..,. and Q".,. respectively. For flow rates outside the range Q,..,-Q..... the velocity
of the liquid is too high and part of the grit will not be retained. The maximum velocity is
obtained when:

(5)

where:

v_ = maximum permissible velocity (for example 0.3 m.s· l )

Q.... = higher flow corresponding to Vamu
Q",. = lower flow corresponding to V.mu
Damu = water depth in the channel for Q".,.
Dpnin = water depth in the channel for QIIIIIl

In order to calculate the minimum velocity of the sewage at point B. it is

convenient to introduce the parameter R. being the ratio between the maximum and minimum
flows, Q".,. and Q,.., in the channel:
R = Q".,./Q,.., = D_lDpnlD = (Hmu- Y)/(H min- Y) (6)
 Grit channels 203

Now the minimum velocity can be calculated by the following steps:

(a) Calculate the ratio between Hmo e HlIliII :

(7)

(b) From the definition of R (Eq(6» one has:

Y = (RHmia-Hmul/(R-l) = H....(R J13

-1)/(R-l) = Cr.H.... (8)

In Eq (8) the constant Cr depends only on the ratio R = Q..../Q.u. and not on the depth
Hmo. Fig 6a shows Cr as a function of R.

(c) The minimum of the curve ABC is given by:

(dV,IdQJv._vm =0 for Q. = Q....

or

(d[Q./(W.(H-Y»]/dQJQa_Qm=O
or:

Q. = l,97W(3y)311 (9)

where:

VJm = minimum liquid velocity in the grit channel

Q. = flow rate corresponding to VIrA

When Eqs(3b and 9) are compared, it is concluded that:

Hm = 3Y (10)

where:

H. = water depth in the channel for the minimum liquid velocity

Now. by using (8 & 9) the values of Q. e Q.... can be related as follows:

(11)

The above equations allow an evaluation of the Parshall flume as a device

for liquid velocity control. For this the ratio is calculated between the minimum velocity (at
Point B) and the maximum velocity (at Point C):
204 G. V. R. MARIAS and A. C. VAN HAANDEL

0.5rr--------,

P2
0.4
· .
o
0,3
(50.5
~i-~1
0,2 ,
,,, ..
,,

0.1 ····,
,
...
· .,
15

Fig 6 Factors C, Oeft) and C. (right) as functions of the ratio between maximum and
minimum flow rates, R.

(12)

After substituting from Eqs( 10 and 8) for HOI and Y respectively, one has:

(13)

Equation (13) shows that there is a direct relationship between the

maximum and minimum flow rates in the grit channel (the ratio R) and the ratio c., of the
maximum and minimum velocities in it:
C. = 2,6(RI13_1)II2(R_R I13)/[(R_l)312] (14)

Equation 14 clearly shows that the variation of the liquid velocity in the
channel is larger as the ratio between the maximum and minimum flow increases.In Fig 6b the
relationship is depicted graphically. If, for example, the value of the ratio is S ( which would
be typical for a large sewerage system), the variation between the minimum and maximum
velocity is 10 per cent (Point PI: C. = 0,9). For a larger value of R the variation of the liquid
is also larger. For R = 11 one has c., ..., 0,8 (Point PJ, which means that the minimum velocity
is now 80 per cent of the maximum velocity.

Behaviour at small flows

It can be noted in Fig 5, that under the specific conditions chosen in the
example, the liquid velocity in the channel in reality will not attain the maximum value V_for
the flow rate Q.w. (corresponding to point A). The reason for this is, that for small flows the step
 Grit channels 205

y starts to function as a weir, determining the level in the grit channel and hence the liquid
velocity. The transition point where the flume ceases to be the velocity determining device, is
given by the condition that the expressions for the flow of the flume and the weir give the same
numerical result. The possibility of the step assuming the role of the velocity controlling device
increases the range of flow rates for which the combination grit channel + Parshall flume can
be used. If it is to be avoided that the velocity increases beyond V_at small flow rates, the
width of the step must be such that the head due to the weir does not exceed the value of Hu
for 0-. Hence:

<l.u. = 1,97WHmm312 (flume)

= 1,71W,(H.m.-y)312 (weir)

or

(15)

Where W, is the minimum required width at the step to avoid that the liquid velocity becomes
higher than the set maximum of V...... for flow rates below Qu. The ratio between the required
width at the step and the width of the grit channel can be expressed with the aid of Eq (5) as:

(16)

If the calculatesl ratio W/W. < I, the step width necessary to maintain the liquid velocity below
its maximum value V...... is greater than the width of the channel, so that in this case it can not
be avoided that a too high velocity is established at low flows. Normally however, the calculated
ratio W/W. > 1 and velocity control by the weir formed by the step is possible. When the weir
formed by the step rather than the flume is the liquid velocity determining device, this velocity
is given by:

V. = Q./(W.D,> = 1,71W,D.31l/(W.D.) (17)

If W, = W. (which will often be the case), Eq(17) can be simplified to:

V. = 1.71D,v2 (18)

Equation (18) is also plotted in Fig 5. It can be noted that the liquid
velocity decreases with decreasing flow rate when the step is the velocity determining device.
For a particular flow rate, the liquid velocity becomes equal to the minimum value at point B.
This flow rate can be calculated with the aid of Eq (18):

(19)

where:
206 G. V. R. MARIAS and A. C. VAN HAANDEL

o.s.--------------,
Flume: W • 3"(7llmm) Flume: W • 3"(7llmm)
WIdth eIlenne!: Wg • 0.3 m WIdlh channel: Wg • 0,3 m
0.4 0,5

t
j
0.3

0,2

.i
8 0.1

i
:z: O.ll'

.~:~..~./ Y·-o.033
0,03

0,02
.'
t.:.1~,3._/~~-~e,=-e -:,:~1e,-:,::-,22,,:. -0
0.1 1 2:S 5 10 2O:SO 0.01
1 20 :so
Flow .... (1/')

Fig 7: Liquid velocity Oeft) and water depth in the channel (right) as functions of the flow
rate for different step heights Y.

QliIIl = smallest flow to maintain a liquid velocity of at least VsmiD in the channel
DpuI water depth in the channel for Q.=QliIIl
Under the specific conditions of Fig 5 one has Dpd =0,02 m and QliIIl =
1,41.10,3 m3.s'l or 122 m3d'l. This means that when the flow rate falls below a factor 122/600
= 0,20 or 20 per cent of its average value, the velocity will become insufficient to avoid
deposition of organic material in the grit channel. In practice, this may occur in very small
sewerage systems where the flow is low in the early hours before sunrise. However, during the
following hours of larger flow rates,. the settled organic material will be scoured into the
biological reactor.
It is important to note that the Parshall flume only functions as an efficient
velocity controller if the step in the channel has an adequate value. In Fig 7 the liquid velocity
and the water depth in the channel are shown plotted as functions of the flow rate for the same
conditions as previously (W, = 0,3 m, W = 0,075 m), but for different values of the step
height: Y =0,05: Y=O,033; Y=O,OO (i.e. the channel bottom is at the same level as the flume
base) and Y=-O,033 m (i.e. the channel bottom is lower than the flume base, as can be seen
often in practice). It can clearly be seen that the performance of the flume as a velocity
controller depends on the value chosen for the step height, Y. In the example of Fig 7, for Y
= 0,033 m the velocity maintains a value of O,27m.s·1 ± 10% for a range of flow rates
between 1,3 to 221.s·1 (122 to 2000 m3.d'I). For other Y values this range is much narrower:
Figure 7 shows a range of 5,5 a 15 I.s·1 for Y = 0,05, whereas for Y = 0,00 and Y = -0,033
the Parshall flume practically does not perform as a velocity controller.
 Grit channels '21)7

£
'0

/~/

.rfIj
" I
0,1
w.,,11 •••• /
Eo.a
~;
0
1:
W.0,l11··

U 0,1
E w.~.;:;::':w.-
I' ',',',l/ , it': E ,. ..-,w-o_
•
/
I
,I
I I,,.
'//':
•
i t, w. 0.417 "'",...
, ..../ ' "

;/W._
.Ii 0,' 0,'
I I 'i ,.' "''''........•/W_.,'II

~O,I
,.' "

J !
I I / / ..
....
•

::. ~I /~.I./ .'

• ~'1J'If~' 'I
.'
,

j 0",'0'

~'''/~~.r
,.: ,'/ ~/./,·
" ...
0,01

0'" 0,'
,. ' I I J ..
.. . I I
,'''.,' ,/
0,01 0,'
• I

0,' U 0,1 , • I '0 10

O,GI
'DO
0"
0,' 0,1 0,1 , I '0 • 10 '00
Average ftow (1000 m3/d) Averag. ftow (1000 m3/d)
10

ao

•••••• g,l1

..../~w.o, ..
.-' ",""" 0.110

,-~';".w.o ...
,.;."', ,'. w-e.
'.-:····.·w...,.
.... Iml1lng
ftowI

...... '--"'--"'--''--
0,' U,............-'''--''--...........
ao lO,ao 1'0
• '--......- ' - - - ' _ ' -......- ' - - - ' _..........J
0,' 0,1 0,1 , • 1'0 • IO'DO
A_ago ftow (1000 m31d) A_ago ftow (1000 m3/d)

Fig 8: Maximum head and step height (8a), channel width (8b), range of applicable
flows (8e) and effective ratio of maximum to minlmum flow rate (8d) as
functions of the average flow rate for R=S and a maximum liquid velocity
of 0,3 m.s·1 (different throat widths)
208 G. V. R. MARIAS and A. C. VAN HAANDEL
In Fig 8 the maximum head and the step height (Fig 8a) and the channel
width are presented as functions of the average flow rate and for different throat widths. It has
been assumed that the ratio Q"../o- = 5 (Le. C. = 0,9, meaning that the minimum velocity
is only 10 per cent smaller than the maximum velocity in the flume), so that the liquid velocity
in the channel will not deviate more than 5 per cent from the chosen average value. It is
assumed that the average flow is the geometric mean of the Q.... and 0-. The extreme values
for each throat width have been determined such, that always Q.... is smaller than the maximum
value and 0- is greater than the minimum values of Fig 4. It can be seen that even for very
large flows the maximum head is smaller than 0,8 m. Since the maximum head downstream
must be at least 60 per cent, the head loss need not be more than 40 per cent of 0,8 m or 0,3
m. In Fig 8b the channel width is calculated as a function of the average flow for the same
conditions as in Fig 8a. For large flows the channel is wide and instead of manual cleaning it
may become more convenient to apply an alternative solution with mechanized grit removal. In
Fig 8c the influence of the step as a velocity controlling device is evaluated. The maximum and
minimum flows Q.... and 0- as well as the limiting flow QIim have been plotted as functions of
the average flow rate. The inclusion of the step allows an extension of the range of flow rates:
While the Parshall flume controls the velocity between V_ =0,3 and Vsmia = 0,9*0,3 = 0,27
m.s·\ for flow rates between 0- and Q".., the step assures the same range of velocities for
flows between QIim and 0-. Hence the effective ratio of maximum to minimum flow that can
be controlled in the pre treatment unit is greatly increased. This is shown in Fig 8d where the
ratio Qbm/Qmu has been plotted as a function of the average flow rate.

DESIGN PROCEDURE FOR A THE GRIT CHANNEL WITH PARSHALL FLUME

With the aid of the concepts presented above, the following procedure for
the design of a pre treatment unit composed of a rectangular grit channel and a Parshall flume
can be presented:
(1) Determine or estimate the maximum and minimum flow rates to be treated in the system
and calculate the ratio R = Q..../o-
(2) With the aid of Fig 4 determine the minimum Parshall flume throat width for Q....
(3) Determine the water level above the flume base in the grit channel (Eq (3b»:
Hmu = [Q"../(W*1,97)]213
(4) Determine the values of C, and C. (Eqs(8 and 14)
C, = (R\I3-1)/(R-l)
C. = 2,6C,II1(I-C,)
(5) Determine the step height between the channel bottom and the flume bases
y = C,Hmu
(6) Determine the channel width
W. = Q..../[D...... V,...J (usually V..... = 0,25 to 0,3 m.s·\)
(7) Determine the length of the grit channel by using the criterion that the retention time
must not exceed 60 seconds for the lowest velocity and must not be shorter than 45
seconds when the velocity is maximum (Marais, 1971). Hence:
 Grit clk'Ulnels

0,$ r------------------,
"....,.. ......:w. a'(7emm)

0,4

I 0,3

---•
~~

J 0,2

....
........._I0Il
~~
(wtdlh • 0,3 m)
0.1
.. -
_loll
tMnguIar•
(10 unItI)

0,01 0,02 0,03 0.04 0,08

low rate (m3/a)

Fig 9: Upstream and limiting downstream beads of a ParsbaU flume and bead losses
for a rectangular weir (width 0,3m) (a) and 10 triangular weirs (b)

V......·45 ~ L ~ V...·6O = c"V.....·6O

For V_ = 0.3 m.s· 1 one has:
13,5 m ~ L ~ 18C. m
(8) Determine the space needed to accumulate the grit during the period of operation. For
an average flow Q. and a fraction f. of grit per unit volume of sewage there is an
accumulation of Top*Q:f. m' of grit during the period of operation Top and this grit is
deposited on an area of W. *L m2 , hence forming a layer with an average thickness of:

(20)

D. = depth of the chamber reserved for accumulation of deposited grit. In practice it is

common to provide space for ~e grit under the grit channel. In that case a ladder of
removable obstacles of a height D. is placed as indicated in Fig I. (The distance between
obstacles is of the order of 1 m). To choose the optimal depth D. the inconveniences of
very low and very high values must be pondered. In the first case the space for grit
retention is small and frequent cleaning is necessary. If the grit is not removed it will
accumulate above D. and be washed into the treatment unit. When the depth D. is
considerable. a space is created. where organic solids may settle. Thus an unstable sludge
of mixed inorganic and organic solids is formed, that may start to decompose and cause
bad odours.
(9) Determine the maximum level of the discharge point(s) of the sewage downstream the
flume to avoid drowning. As mentioned before this level is 60 per cent of the level
upstream for small flumes (up to 305 mm throat width) and 70 per cent for larger
flumes. In Fig 8 the level of the water in the grit channel and the maximum level to
avoid drowning are plotted as a function of the sewage flow rate for a throat width of 3".
210 G. V. R. MARIAS and A. C. VAN HAANDEL

In the same figure the head losses of possible sewage discharge devices has been plotted.
A rectangular weir with a width of 0,3 m as well as 10 triangular weirs (right angle) for
a system with multiple inlets (for example UASB). It can be noted that the head loss in
the discharge devices increases less with increasing flow rates than the level upstream
and the drowning limit. In this case it is permissible to construct the sewage discharge
device at the same level as the flume base.
(10) For convenience of operation, usually two parallel channels are constructed. Either one
can be closed for draining and cleaning while the other is in operation.

CONCLUSIONS

One of the main reasons for unsatisfactory performance of many sewage treatment plants
is the accumulation of inorganic solids in the biological reactor due to poor design and/or
operation of the pre treatment unit.
2 The combination of a grit channel with a rectangular section coupled to a Parshall flume
constitutes an efficient, simple and economic device for retention of inorganic solids.
3 For proper control of the liquid velocity in the grit channel its bottom must be
constructed above the flume base level. This can be done by introducing a step at the end
of the channel.
4 The introduction of the step inc~eases greatly the range of flow rates for which the liquid
velocity can be controlled because the step can take over control from the flume for smaIl
flow rates.
5 The head loss in the grit channel + Parshall flume is very small. In many cases the level
of the discharge of the sewage in the biological reactor may be at the same level as the
flume base
6 In cases where exceptionally large flow rates occur occasionally, the grit channel can
function as a protection device against hydraulic overloading by constructing the vertical
walls with a height such, that the excess influent overflows and by passes the biological
treatment unit.

REFERENCES

Azevedo Neto J.M. and Acosta Alvarez G. (1977) MinJW. ~ hidraulica, Ed. Edgard
Blucher, Slio Paulo, Vol II
Barnes D. and Wilson F. (1983): Chemjstry allillUlit m>eratjons in ~ treatment, Ed.
Applied Science Publishers, Batking, UK.
Marais G.v.R. (1971): Design of small grit channels. ~ ~ In~enieur in Sllli1
Afl:ib
Steel E.W. & McGee T.J (1979), Ylitg: ~ iill1 serwera~e, McGraw Hill Eds. New
York. USA
Water Pollution Control Federation (1982): Wastewater treatment plant design - Manual
of Practice n° 8 Lancaster Press, Lancaster Pa - USA