18
feature
product focus KC200
looking beyond head and flow: why the curve matters
A well-designed drainage system relies on many elements, but one component sits at the centre of its performance: the flow control. Acting as the keystone of the design, the flow control determines how stormwater is released from site, how storage fills and how the system behaves during rainfall events.
Flow controls are typically specified using head and flow, but these values represent only a single point on their performance. What matters just as much is how the unit behaves across the full discharge curve.
Flow Control: It’s not just head and flow, it’s the curve that gets you there Two flow controls can meet the same design point on paper, but respond very differently as flows increase during a storm. This directly affects storage levels, flow control and overall system behaviour.
Same numbers... different curves... different outcomes... For contractors and groundworkers, this distinction is important. Installing the specified flow control ensures the system performs as intended. Changing it, even to what appears to be a similar alternative, can alter the curve and affect performance.
This is particularly relevant when considering stormwater storage and flood risk management. A Hydro-Brake® Optimum can deliver savings in storage volume and construction costs by managing flows more efficiently. However, switching to a different vortex flow control can mean the original storage allowance is no longer sufficient, increasing the risk of flooding.
In practice, small changes to a flow control can have wider impacts across the system, from affecting flood risk and associated costly rework and damages.
Check your curve Before installing a flow control, it is worth understanding how it performs across the full range of conditions. Because when the curve changes, the system changes. Getting it right first time helps keep projects on track and ensures drainage performs as intended.
Find out more about your flow control curves at
hydro-int.com/flow-control-curve
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