If you want to obtain an Excel spreadsheet for rectangular weir flow measurement calculations, click here to visit our download page.  Read on for information about Excel spreadsheets that can be used as suppressed rectangular weir open channel flow calculators.

As shown in the diagrams and pictures below, the rectangular refers the the shape of the water cross-section as it goes over a sharp crested rectangular weir, which consists of a plate placed in an open channel so that the water is forced to flow through the rectangular open in the weir plate.  It can be used for open channel flow rate measurement, by measuring the height of water above the weir crest (the straight, level top of the weir opening), which can then be used to calculate the water flow rate over the weir.

Background on Sharp Crested Rectangular Weirs in General

The picture at the left shows a rectangular weir measuring open channel flow rate in a natural channel.  The diagram below right shows a longitudinal cross-section of a sharp crested weir, with some of the terminology and parameters often used for sharp crested weirs included on the diagram.

The weir crest is the top of the weir. For a rectangular weir it is the straight, levelbottom of the rectangular opening through which water flows over the weir. The term nappe is used for the sheet of water flowing over the weir. The equations for calculating flow rate over a weir in this article require free flow, which takes place when there is air under the nappe. The drawdown is shown in the diagram as the decrease in water level going over the weir due to the acceleration of the water.  The head over the weir is shown as H in the diagram; the height of the weir crest is shown as P; and the open channel flow rate in the open channel (and over the weir) is shown as Q.

Image Credits:  Rectangular, Sharp-Crested Weir: flowmeterdirectory.co.uk

Sharp Crested Weir Parameters:  H. H. Bengtson, Ref #2

The Francis Equation for Suppressed Rectangular Weir Flow Calculations

A suppressed rectangular weir is one for which the weir extends across the entire channel, so that the length of the weir, L, is the same as the width of the channel, B.  The picture at the left shows a suppressed rectangular weir being used to measure the flow of water in an open channel.  The diagram below right shows some of the key parameters used in suppressed rectangular weir flow rate calculations.  Specifically, theheight of the weir crest, P, the head over the weir, H, and the weir length, L (equal to channel width, B) are shown on the diagram.  The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, in their Water Measurement Manual (Ref #1 below), recommend the use of the Francis equation (shown below) for suppressed rectangular weirs, subject to the condition that  H/P < 0.33 and H/B < 0.33:

For U.S. units: Q = 3.33 B H^3/2, where

• Q is the water flow rate in ft³/sec,
• B is the length of the weir (and the channel width) in ft, and
• H is the head over the weir in ft.

For S.I. units:  Q = 1.84 B H^3/2, where

• Q is the water flow rate in m³/sec,
• B is the length of the weir (and the channel width) in m, and
• H is the head over the weir in m.

The same condition for H/P and H/B apply.

Image Credits:  Suppressed Rectangular Weir Picture - U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, 2001 revised, 1997 third edition, Water Measurement Manual.

Suppressed Rectangular Weir Diagram - Bengtson, Harlan H.

The Kindsvater-Carter Formula for Suppressed Rectangular Weirs

If either of the requirements in the previous section (H/P < 0.33 and H/B < 0.33) are not met the the more general Kindsvater- Carter Equation, shown below should be used.

U.S. units: Q = [0.075(H/P) + 0.602](2/3)[(2g)^1/2](L - 0.003)(H + 0.003)^3/2

S.I. units: Q = [0.075(H/P) + 0.602](2/3)[(2g)^1/2](L - 0.001)(H + 0.001)^3/2

Note that if H/P < 0.33 and H/B < 0.33, then the Francis Equation and the Kindsvater-Carter Equation will give nearly the same value for Q.  As H/P and/or H/B increase more and more above the 0.33 limit the calculations from the two equations will diverge more and more.  In these cases the value calculated by the Kindsvater-Carter formula should be used.

An Excel Spreadsheet as a Suppressed Rectangular Weir Flow Calculator

The Excel spreadsheet template shown below can be used to calculate the water flow rate over a suppressed rectangular weir, using both the Francis equation and the Kindsvater-Carter equation.  Only three input values are needed.  They are the height of the weir crest above the channel invert, P; the width of the channel, B (which equals the weir length L); and the measured head over the weir, H. With these three input values, the Excel formulas will calculate H/P and H/B. If both of these are less than 0.33, then the value of Q calculated with the Francis equation can be used.  If either of the conditions aren't met, then the value of Q calculated with the Kindsvater-Carter formula should be chosen.  This Excel spreadsheet and others for suppressed and contracted rectangular weir calculations are available in either U.S. or S.I. units at a very low cost from our download page.

References

1. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, 2001 revised, 1997, 3rd ed,  Water Measurement Manual 

2. Bengtson, H. H., Sharp-Crested Weirs for Open Channel Flow Measurement, An online course for PDH credit for Professional Engineers.

3. Merkley, Gary P., Weirs for Flow Measurement Open Course Ware, Utah State University.

4. Bengtson, Harlan H., "Sharp Crested Weirs for Open Channel Flow Measurement," an Amazon Kindle ebook.