Which device is typically used to monitor the head on a wastewater flow measuring flume?

The device typically used to monitor the head on a wastewater flow measuring flume is a pressure transducer. A pressure transducer measures the pressure exerted by the fluid column above it, which directly correlates with the hydraulic head in the flume. This measurement is crucial because in a flow measuring flume, the height of the water (or head) above a certain point is used to determine the flow rate passing through the flume according to established flow equations.

The pressure reading from the transducer is often converted to an electrical signal that can be easily monitored and logged for analysis. This kind of measurement is vital for effective flow regulation and ensuring that wastewater treatment processes operate within their design parameters.

While a Bourdon tube is a device that measures pressure and could theoretically be used for this purpose, it is not the most common choice for real-time monitoring in wastewater applications due to its mechanical nature and limited data logging capabilities. Flow meters, while crucial for measuring the actual flow rate, do not directly measure head and instead measure flow volume or velocity. A pneumatic gauge could also measure pressure in some contexts, but it is less prevalent in modern wastewater treatment settings compared to electronic pressure transducers.