Field Flow Testing of Six Large Venturi Meters

Abstract

The St. Anthony Falls Hydraulic Laboratory (SAFHL) performed field flow measurement tests for six large Venturi meters (MI00A, MI00B, MI0IA, MI0IB, MI02A, MI02B) owned and operated by the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission (MWCC), and installed in the 1930's. The MWCC oversees the collection and treatment of sanitary wastewater discharges in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area of Minnesota. The tests were completed as a subcontract to James M. Montgomery Consulting Engineers, Inc. (JMM), of Wayzata, Minnesota, with whom the MWCC had contracted to conduct an overall evaluation of the Venturi meters. Four of the six Venturi meters (Fig. 1) were located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, just upstream from the Lake Street bridge; two of these meters had throat diameters of 42 inches, with the other two having throat diameters of 25 inches. The two remaining meters (Fig. 2), each with a throat diameter of 25 inches, were located at the Minneapolis-St. Paul border, along the east bank of the Mississippi River.