The flow within the channel is driven by three pumps, (1 HP, 3/4 HP and 1/3 HP) this method allowing flow control by changing the speed of each pump and minimizing any heating of the water. Also used to control the flow speed are three valves in the piping, two on the inlet side, one on the outlet side of the test section.

Two water filters were used to remove impurities from the water channel down to the micron level (particles larger than 30 microns were filtered). Two valves are located fore and aft of the filters to allow them to be isolated for changing the filter element. While the experiments were being conducted, the filters were by-passed to avoid removing the seeding particles for the SLDV system.

To insure a uniform flow entering the settling chamber, an inlet manifold was constructed. The inlet manifold consisted of four small manifolds installed between the PVC pipe and the settling chamber. Each manifold has an inner diameter of 15.2 cm and is 17.8 cm long. Each of the four manifolds are connected to the settling chamber through 90 pieces of 1.9 cm diameter by 63.5 cm long Tygon tubing. The purpose of these manifolds was to make the flow uniform, and to isolate the test section from vibration transmitted from the pumps through the flexible piping.

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