Name: MALADIAN, PATRICK S. Yr.

/Course/Section: BSABE_3C
Instructor: RYAN ART M. TULING, ABE, EnP Date submitted: December 23, 2023

Lessons 2-3
Laboratory No. 5
MEASURING STREAM FLOW USING THE CURRENT METER METHOD
Introduction:
Measuring streamflow using a current meter is a common method for determining the flow
rate of a river or stream. This method is based on the principle that the velocity of a liquid
flowing through an open channel is proportional to the cross-sectional area of the channel. By
measuring the velocity of the flow at a specific point, it is possible to calculate the discharge,
or the volume of water flowing past that point in a certain amount of time. There are several
different methods that can be used to measure streamflow using a current meter, including the
Point-velocity method: In this method, the current meter is placed at a fixed point in the flow
and the velocity of the flow is measured at that point.

Further, The velocity of water in a stream or river may be measured directly with a
current met,er and the discharge estimated by multiplying the mean velocity of water by the
area of a cross-section of the stream. The current meter is a small instrument containing a
revolving wheel or vane that is turned by the movement of water. It may be suspended by
cable for measurements in deep streams or attached to a rod in shallow streams. The number
of revolutions of the wheel in a given time interval is obtained and the corresponding
velocity is reckoned from the calibration table or graph of the instrument.

Q=A*V
Where,
Q = Discharge of water (m3/s)
A = Cross sectional area (m2)
V = Flow velocity (m/s)

Objectives:
To calculate the discharge or flow rate by velocity area method (Current meter
method).

Materials Used:
This activity utilized the following instruments and materials
 ➢ Current meter
➢ Tape measure or steel tape
➢ Stadia rod
➢ Range pole
Methodology:
➢ Divide the stream channel cross-section into multiple sections, determining the
location where each velocity reading will be taken at every 1 ft intervals (point A and
B).
➢ Need to determine ‘flow area’ and ‘mean velocity’.
➢ Flow (or discharge) = mean velocity x flow area (Q=AV).
➢ Current meters measure velocity by revolution per second.
➢ Determine based on depth and distance.
➢ Average velocity is estimated by the typical velocity profile of a stream.
➢ And calculate the total area, velocity and the discharge

Data Analysis and Discussions:

[POINT A TO B] WIDTH = 17ft.
INTERVAL = 1ft.
DEPTH DEPTH DEPTH MEAN DEPTH
(cm-m) 0.2d(cm-m) 0.8d(cm-m) (cm – m)
0 36.5-.365 7.3-.073 29.2-.292 (7.3+29.2)/2= 18.25-.1825
1 56.5-.565 11.3-.113 45.2-.452 (11.3+45.2)/2= 28.25-.2825
2 53-.530 10.6-.106 42.4-.424 (10.6+42.4)/2= 26.5-.265
3 41-.410 8.2-.082 32.8-.32.8 (8.2+32.8)/2= 20.5
4 62.5-.625 12.5-.125 50-.50 (12.5+50)/2= 31.25-.3125
5 49.5-.495 9.9-.099 39.6-.396 (9.9+39.6)/2= 24.75
6 42-.420 8.4-.084 33.6-.336 (8.4+33.6)/2= 21-.21
7 42.5-.425 8.5-.085 34-.34 (8.5+34)/2= 21.25-.2125
8 34-.340 6.8-.068 27.2-.272 (6.8+27.2)/2= 17-.17
9 36.5-.365 7.3-.073 29.2-.292 (7.3+29.2)/2= 18.25-.1825
10 34.5-.345 6.9-.069 27.6-.276 (6.9+27.6)/2= 17.25-.1725
11 29.5-295 5.9-.059 23.6-.236 (5.9+23.6)/2= 14.75-.1475
12 25-.250 5-.05 20-.20 (5+20)/2= 12.50-.125
13 17.2-.172 3.44-.0344 13.8-.138 (3.44+13.8)/2= 8.62-.0862
14 14.8-.148 2.96-.0296 11.8-.118 (3.96+11.8)/2= 7.88-.0788
15 23-.230 4.6-.046 18.4-.184 (4.6+18.4)/2= 11.5-.115
16 12-.120 2.4-.024 9.6-.096 (2.6+9.6)/2= 6.1-.061
17 8.5-.085 1.7-.017 6.8-.068 (1.7+6.8)/2= 4.25-.0425
SOLVE FOR CROSS SECTIONAL AREA:
An=1/2(d0+d1)(i)
WHERE (i) = 1ft. OR 0.3048m

VELOCITY VELOCITY VELOCITY AREA (m^2)

0.2d(m/s) 0.8d(m/s) 0.8d(m/s)
0 1.2 1.0 (1.2+1.0)/2= 1.1
1 1.6 1.0 (1.6+1.0)/2= 1.3 0.412
2 1.0 1.2 (1.0+1.2)/2= 1.1 0.167
3 1.4 2.0 (1.4+2.0)/2= 1.13 0.143
4 1.6 1.2 (1.6+1.2)/2= 1.4 0.158
5 1.4 0.8 (1.4+0.8)/2= 1.1 0.171
6 1.8 1.4 (1.8+1.4)/2= 1.6 0.139
7 1.8 1.0 (1.8+1.0)/2= 1.4 0.129
8 1.6 1.2 (1.6+1.2)/2= 1.4 0.117
9 1.2 0.6 (1.2+0.6)/2= 0.9 0.107
10 0.8 0.6 (0.8+0.6)/2= 0.7 0.108
11 0.6 0.2 (0.6+0.2)/2= 0.4 0.098
12 0.4 0.6 (0.4+0.6)/2= 0.5 0.083
13 0.0 0.0 (0.0+0.0)/2= 0.0 0.064
14 0.0 0.0 (0.0+0.0)/2= 0.0 0.049
15 0.0 0.0 (0.0+0.0)/2= 0.0 0.058
16 0.0 0.0 (0.0+0.0)/2= 0.0 0.053
17 0.0 0.0 (0.0+0.0)/2= 0.0 0.031
TOTAL 14.03 2.087
MEAN 0.779

Q = AV
Q = (2.087m^2)(0.779m/s) = 0.163m^3/s
Conclusion
A popular technique for calculating a river’s flow rate is using a current meter to measure
streamflow. This technique is based on the idea that a liquid's flow rate through an open channel
is inversely correlated with the cross-sectional area of the channel.
The discharge, or the amount of water flowing past a location in a given amount of time, can
be determined by measuring the flow velocity at a certain site specifically on streams.
In addition, this activity gives an intellectual capacity and understanding to students about the
importance of measuring stream flow by using the current meter method. Precisely, students
will be able to calculate the flow rate and velocity of a certain stream by applying those methods
and processes to gain the accurate data
By these, we can conclude that the current meter is one of the eminent ways that you will be
able to know the flow of a certain stream or river by considering some methods. Such as to
calculate the discharge. Based on the data gathered, our total area
 is 2.087m2 and our total velocity is o.779m/s and that would come to the flow of a stream for
a certain time which is 0.163m^3/s. this implies that a stream has a discharge of 0.163m^3/s.
hence, this will serve as a basis for some scientists or project contractors to build hydraulic
projects that would help people to be equipped in life and for the safety of everyone at any
natural calamities that may come to us as well.
Literature cited
Photo Documentation: