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Kantipur City College: Purbanchal University

This field report summarizes a stream discharge measurement conducted by students at Malekhu on the Trishuli River. During the field visit, students learned two methods for measuring stream discharge: the current meter method and float method. The current meter method directly measures stream velocity at different points across a cross-section, while the float method times floats traveling a known distance to indirectly calculate velocity. The objectives of the visit were to gain hands-on experience in streamflow measurement techniques and calculating discharge, an important parameter in fields like hydroelectricity and irrigation engineering.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
357 views13 pages

Kantipur City College: Purbanchal University

This field report summarizes a stream discharge measurement conducted by students at Malekhu on the Trishuli River. During the field visit, students learned two methods for measuring stream discharge: the current meter method and float method. The current meter method directly measures stream velocity at different points across a cross-section, while the float method times floats traveling a known distance to indirectly calculate velocity. The objectives of the visit were to gain hands-on experience in streamflow measurement techniques and calculating discharge, an important parameter in fields like hydroelectricity and irrigation engineering.

Uploaded by

MAHESH KC
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© © All Rights Reserved
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You are on page 1/ 13

PURBANCHAL UNIVERSITY

KANTIPUR CITY COLLEGE


PUTALISADAK, KATHMANDU

A
FIELD REPORT
ON

ENGINEERING HYDROLOGY FIELD VISIT

STREAM DISCHARGE MEASUREMENT

LOCATION: MALEKHU (SECTION OF TRISHULI RIVER)

SUBMITTED BY SUBMITTED TO
MAHESH KC; MANISHA BIST Er. KUSUM DEO
MD SHAHID; NIKESH KUMAR SINGH DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
MD IRPHAN HAQUE; MONIKA BAJAGAIN ENGINEERING
NIRANJAN KUMAR MANDAL

APRIL 16, 2022


ABSTRACT

This report present the result gathered from one day field visit of engineering hydrology
organized by Department of Civil Engineering, Kantipur City College for the student of 019-
BCE Batches as per the Syllabus. The field visit was at Malekhu (halfway
between Kathmandu and Narayangadh) on 5th April 2022.

This Academic report has been prepared as per the work carried out under guidance by Er.
Kusum Deo and Dr. Deepak Bikram Thapa Chhetri. During field visit, we got oppurtinity to
learn to measure the discharge of a particular stream by using two different methods through
measuring the velocity of stream at distinct sections by Current Meter and Float Measurement
method

Estimation of discharge of a river is very important in different fields likes in hydropower for
estimating capacity of electricity that can be produced, in irrigation for distributing, in Drinking
water supply for a village\town, and many more places. So, discharge measurement plays a very
important role in different sectors.

The report has definitely been a great deal of hard work and perseverance which has resulted in a
fruitful journey and a wonderful experience as a whole. We have gained a lot not only in the
field of knowledge on the subject matter but also in relation to leadership, sense of responsibility
and many more such virtue.

Keywords: Current Meter, Hydrology, Discharge Measurement, Stream Gauging, Discharge

a
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to express our sincere gratitude towards the Department of Civil Engineering,
Kantipur City College for organizing the Hydrology field visit to Malekhu. We put our sincere
thanks to our teachers Er. Kusum Deo and Dr. Deepak Bikram Thapa Chhetri for guiding us
throughout the field visit and for providing us with an opportunity to prepare this report.

The trip was really fruitful to us and certainly we got a lot of knowledge about the measurement
of discharge of river by different techniques. We are also indebted to the college administration
for providing us with the facility of transportation, for providing instrument and giving this
opportunity to us.

Lastly, we would like to thank every character that shows the contribution as assistance directly
or indirectly in the duration of field visit. Their efforts and sincerity on the field are always
memorable to us.

b
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) Abstract ……………………………………………………………………...a
2) Keywords ……………………………………………………………………a
3) Acknowledgement …………………………………………………………..b
4) Introduction ………………………………………………………………....1
a) Hydrology and its scope ………………………………………………....1
b) Background ………………………………………………………………1
c) Location and Topography …………………………………………….....1
d) Objective …………………………………………………………………1
5) Literature Review and theory ……………………………………………….2
a) Stream flow measurement ……………………………………………….2
b) Importance of stream flow measurement ……………………………….2
c) Site selection for stream flow measurement …………………………….2
d) Current meter method …………………………………………………...3
e) Float method …………………………………………………………….4
6) Methodology ………………………………………………………………..5
7) Observation and calculation ………………………………………………..6
8) Result and Discussion ……………………………………………………...7
9) Conclusion ………………………………………………………………….8
10) References …………………………………………………………………9

c
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Hydrology and its scope


The science of water which deals with the occurrence and movement of water on earth
including that in atmosphere and below the surface of the earth is called Hydrology. As a
branch of earth science, it is concerned with the water in stream and lake, rainfall and
snowfall, snow and ice on the land and water occurring below the earth’s surface in the
pores of soil and rocks. (Dr. K.N. Dulal, 2012)
Scope of Hydrology:
1. Estimation of water resources.
2. Study of proces like precipitation, evaporation, infiltration and runoff and their
interaction.
3. Study of problems like floods and droughts.
4. Understanding the properties of water in nature.
1.2 Background
The hydrology field visit to Malekhu was organized by the Department of Civil
Engineering under Purbanchal University, Kantipur City College in order to acquire the
knowledge about the stream flow measurement. We went to Malekhu (halfway
between Kathmandu and Narayangadh) on 5th April 2022.
1.3 Location and Topography
Malekhu is a small town situated in Dhading district, halfway
between Kathmandu and Narayangadh. It is situated in the bank of Trishuli River The
main attraction of Malekhu also includes the geological researches and geological
minerals present there. International as well as national Geology students get to there for
geological studies, the availability of different minerals is also gathered in small area in
there. Its geographical coordinates are 27°48′35″N and 84°49′44″E.
1.4 Objectives
The hydrological trip was to learn the basic skills in civil engineering regarding stream
flow and various methods of its computation.

The main objectives of our field visit were: -


Study of stream flow measurement.
Handling of device called Current meter and its use.
Measurement of area, velocity and discharge of the river.
Correct selection of site for discharge measurement.

1
Literature Review and theory

2.1 Stream flow Measurement


Streamflow represents the runoff phase of the hydrological cycle which is the most
important basic data for hydrological studies. Precipitation, evaporation and
evapotranspiration are all difficult to measure accurately and presently adopted methods
have some limitations. In contrast the measurement of stream flow is amenable to fairly
accurate assessment. A stream can be defined as a flow channel into which the surface
runoff from a specified basin drains. Generally, there is considerable exchange of water
between a stream and the underground water. Streamflow is measured in terms of
discharge (m3/s) occurring at a specified time. (K.Subramanya, 2011)
It can be broadly classified into two categories as:-
Direct Determination
Area-Velocity Method
Current Meter Method
Dilution Techniques
Electromagnetic Method and Ultrasonic Method
Indirect Determination
Hydraulic Structure
Slope Area Method
Discharge is the volume of water moving down a stream or river per unit of time,
commonly expressed in cubic meter per second or gallons per day. In general, river
discharge is computed by multiplying the area of water in a channel cross section by the
average velocity of the water in that cross section: Discharge = Area * Velocity

Most qualitative analyses of hydrological problem require basic information on the


quantity of water flowing in river and stream. Current meter gauging and area velocity
method provides the most convenient, accurate and economical means of measuring river
discharge.

2.2 Current meter method

The most commonly used instrument in hydrology to measure the velocity at a point in
flow cross section is the current meter. It consists of essentially of a rotating element
which rotates due to reaction of the stream current with an angular velocity proportional
to the stream velocity. (K.Subramanya, 2011)

There are mainly two types of current meter they are:

2
Vertical-axis current meter:

It consists of a series of conical cups mounted around a


vertical axis. The cups rotate in horizontal plane. The
revolutions of cup assembly for a certain time is recorded and
converted to stream velocity. The normal range of velocity
measured by such current meter is 0.15m/s to 4m/s.This type
of current meter cannot be used if the vertical component of
Figure: Vertical-axis current meter
the velocity is significant.

Horizontal axis current meter

It consists of a propeller mounted at the end of


horizontal shaft. The revolutions of propeller for a
certain time is recorded and converted to stream
velocity. The current meter can measure velocity
from 0.15m/s to 4m/s. This type of current meter is
Figure: Horizontal axis current meter
fairly rugged and is not affected by oblique flows of as much
as 150.

Relationship between current meter rotation speed and stream velocity


A current meter is so designed that its speed of rotation varies linearly with stream velocity (V).
The relationship is V= a Ns + b
Where V= stream velocity (m/s)
Ns = revolutions per second of current meter
a, b = constants Calibration of current meter.
Determination of constants a and b is known as calibration of current meter

3
2.3 Float method

This involves the measurement of velocity at the gauging site and the corresponding discharge
to obtain river discharge. The velocity is zero at the periphery and changes rapidly as we move
from the bank. So a single area-velocity measurement for the entire cross-section will give
highly erroneous results. Therefore, the cross-section of a river is divided into a three subsections
by imaginary verticals. Then, orange is floated in each section over known distance to obtain the
total time of travel by orange in certain distance which gives velocity of the river sections.
(K.Subramanya, 2011) Measurement procedure :

1. Divide the cross-section of the river into n number of verticals.


2. At each vertical, measure the horizontal distance from the reference bank, the depth of
water.
3. Compute width and cross-sectional area at each sub-section.
4. For average velocity, measure time in stream at certain section by certain body at
known distance and determine the velocity by float method and take their average.
5. Velocity=distance/time.

Figure: Float method

4
METHODOLOGY

The geological field study of the ascertained area was carried out in the following ways

 Selection of the site.


 Photography of field topography and river.
 Measurement of discharge by area-velocity method.
 Measurement of discharge by Current meter method.

5
OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION

4.1 Float Method:

Floating Distance Time Velocity Average Final Velocity


object Covered Taken (V=d/t) Velocity (m/s)
(d) (t) (m/s)
15 23.20 0.646 0.521
15 29.98 0.500
White Foam 15 36.20 0.414 0.521
15 32.12 0.467
15 24.25 0.619
15 31.23 0.480
15 24.25 0.618 (V=0.85*Vavg)
15 23.78 0.630
Quarterly 15 24.24 0.618 0.554 0.4709
filled bottle 15 24.00 0.625
15 31.42 0.477
15 25.27 0.593

S. Dist. Width of Avg. Depth Cross No of Time Rev Avg. Segment


N. from section Width (m) section Revolution (sec) per Vel. discharge
left (m) (m) Area (N’) Sec (m/s)
bank (m2) (N)
(m)
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 1 1 2 0.334 0.668 8 30 0.267 0.263 0.394
3 3 2 2 0.301 0.602 9 30 0.3 0.286 0.475
4 5 2 2 0.311 0.622 8 30 0.267 0.263 0.423
5 7 2 2.199 0.321 0.706 6 30 0.2 0.218 0.308
6 8.86 1.86 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
So, Discharge = Final avg. velocity *(depth * width) = 0.496*(0.352*8.86) =1.547 m3/s

4.2 Current Meter Method (Cup Type Current Meter):

So, Total discharge is given by (Q) = (0.394+0.475+0.423+0.308) = 1.6 m3/s

6
RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The most common approach to determining discharge is the so called conventional current-meter
method. The method is based on determining the mean stream flow velocity and flow cross
sectional area; the product of these variables determines the stream discharge. The hydrographer
measures stream depth and velocity at selected intervals across a stream's cross section. The
hydrographer may be wading, or supported by a cableway, bridge, ice cover, or a boat. Depth
and position measurements are made with simple surveying or sounding equipment. A device
known as a current meter measures the stream velocity. In this method the data is record at the
interval of 2m.

We measured different value of discharge by different methods of river which may be due to
various factors during the measurement by flow of White Foam and Quarterly filled bottle
between two sections, length between the sections and time travelled as well as cross-sectional
area affected on velocity and then the discharge. The test was done near the bank of the river.
Generally, the test is to be done at center and but the section of the river was difficult and pattern
was not uniform so, it may have brought inconsiderable error. Due the asymmetricity of the
stream cross-section, we performed the experiment in three parts of the section i.e. right, center
and left bank of the river and the average result was calculated in order to minimize the errors.
The discharge by this method was found to be 1.547m3/s.

Similarly, by using current meter we determined the discharge by dividing section into small
segment. So, result obtained by this method is more accurate than previous one. we placed the
current meter at the depth of about 0.6 times the real depth assuming that it resembles the
average velocity in the Profile. This method calculates the discharge by dividing the stream into
small segments and number of revolutions made by the propeller was measured. The discharge
by this method was found to be 1.6m3/s.

7
CONCLUSION

Finally, in such a way we completed our Hydrology tour at Delegate meeting all our objectives
in a fruitful way. We learned various method of measuring the discharge of the river along with
the knowledge of using the instrument like current meter.
With rare exception, stream discharge is not measured directly, but is computed indirectly from
velocity and water depth (stage) measurements. Determining the mean stream velocity is a labor-
intensive activity, and usually only performed to establish or refine a relationship between stage
and discharge. Discharge measurements are made at each gaging station to determine the
discharge rating for that site.

This lesson reviewed the techniques and instruments used to measure stream velocity and to
calculate stream discharge. The lesson emphasized discharge measurement via current meters
and tracer dilution. The lesson also presented the methods used for determining the vertically
averaged velocity at a point and the factors affecting the accuracy of discharge measurement.

8
References
1. www.google.com
2. Engineering Hydrology [Book] / auth. Dr. K.N. Dulal Er. Sanjeeb Baral. - Nepal: Apex Educational
Academy, 2012.
3. K.Subramanya. (2011). Engineering Hydrology (Vol. Third Edition.). New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill
Ducation P.Limited.
4. Google photoes

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