Flow Pro has a new and improved interface that makes solving common hydraulic problems fun and easy. Here are some of the improvements:
Multiple Document Interface (MDI):
Flow Pro now uses three separate windows for the required inputs, the computed results, and the water surface profile grid. This allows you to position them however you like for the best viewing results. The grid may be resized by clicking and dragging the edge to the size you want; and the columns will automatically resize.
Last Files Used Menu:
The File menu now includes a list of the last four flow profiles you have used, so you can quickly refer to them without searching for them. To clear this list select Clear Last Used File Menu from the View menu.
More Toolbar Shortcut Buttons:
Most of Flow ProÆs many new features can be accessed quickly using the graphical toolbar buttons. For a description of each button, briefly hold the mouse cursor over the button. A tool tip will pop up that describes the buttonÆs function.
Context-Sensitive Help:
Just click F1 anywhere in Flow Pro for the help topic that describes exactly what you need to know for the task you are attempting.
Customized Graphing:
Flow Pro allows you to choose which columns of water surface profile data you want plotted. This allows you to isolate each value, like the depth or velocity, and view it in the full scale of the plot. This is helpful when the value you want to analyze is less or greater than the other values.
Automatic Units: When you select a system of units from the Units menu, Flow Pro automatically changes the input labels to reflect the new unit system. For example, if you select SI units Flow Pro will change the Channel Length label units to m for meters, and the Flowrate label units to m^3/s for cubic meters per second. This makes it much easier to keep track of which unit system you are using. Flow Pro also automatically changes the units for each of the utilities selected from the Tools menu.
Critical Depth and Slope:
Find out exactly what the critical depth and slope is in your channel. If the channel you desire has a milder slope, then it will contain subcritical flow. If, however, your slope is steeper than the critical slope, then it will contain supercritical flow.
Depth, Flowrate, Slope and Roughness:
Compute the normal depth, flowrate, slope or roughness for several different channel cross-sections. In addition to computing these useful parameters, Flow Pro will also compute the velocity, area of flow, hydraulic radius, and wetted perimeter. This gives you the important input parameters you need, and tells you what to expect from your channel.
Orifices:
Calculate the discharge through an orifice, whether itÆs circular or square. All you need to enter is the head on the orifice, its diameter or width, and a discharge coefficient that corresponds to the shape of the orifice.
Underflow Gates:
Calculate the discharge under a vertical, radial (tainter), or drum gate. As long as the head above your gate is less than 80 feet, you can use a contraction coefficient to account for the vena contracta effect as the water runs under the gate.
Weirs:
Compute exactly what size weir you need to control the flowrate in your channel. Flow Pro will handle both free-flowing and submerged weirs, as well as rectangular, triangular, and Cipolleti (trapezoidal) weir shapes. You can also use this tool to compute how much water will flow past your weir, which can be used as the flowrate in a water surface profile computation.
