Research Flow Chamber
Alpha Flow Chamber
Research-grade recirculating flume built to your test-section geometry, flow range and water chemistry.
A fully customizable large-scale flow chamber for hydrodynamic, behavioral and engineering research. Specify the test section, flow range and water type, then add velocity mapping, thermal control, corrosion upgrades, sensors and lighting. Every system includes integrated electronics, an operator console and Aquafab Control software.
Designed, fabricated and tested in Cincinnati, Ohio
Runs on Aquafab Workbench — programming, calibration and data logging built in
Lifetime technical support, plus optional installation and training
System builder
Configure your system
Enter the test-section dimensions you need, choose your flow range, then add the packages your protocol needs. An Aquafab engineer reviews every configuration, confirms pump sizing and utilities, and returns an itemized quote.
The Alpha Flow Chamber is Aquafab's research-grade recirculating flume, engineered for large-scale hydrodynamic studies where flow quality, repeatability and observation matter. Every Alpha system is built to your experimental geometry — from compact benchtop test sections to flumes more than 50 feet long — and ships with integrated electronics and an operator console running Aquafab Workbench.
Engineered for clean, repeatable flow
Honeycomb flow straighteners and custom collimators condition the flow before it enters the working section, producing a uniform velocity profile for laminar studies, while pump configuration and programmable control let you step into turbulent regimes on demand. Aquafab Workbench stores flow profiles so a trial can be repeated exactly — the same ramp, the same set-points, week after week.
What it's used for
- Fish swimming performance, kinematics and biomechanics
- Larval dispersal and settlement under controlled currents
- Bivalve and benthic community studies, including large aggregations
- Sediment transport and flow around stationary structures
- Testing hulls, turbines, sensors and autonomous instruments
Built around your protocol
Choose the test-section dimensions, flow range and water type, then add the packages your work needs: velocity mapping from turbine sensors to research-grade Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry, thermal control with rapid cycling up to 5 °C/min, 316 stainless or full titanium wetted hardware for seawater, multi-parameter sensor suites with automated logging and remote alerts, and research lighting with programmable photoperiods.
Proven in the field
A 108 × 24 × 24 in Alpha Flow Chamber built for Carleton College's bivalve research runs from a standard 120 V / 20 A circuit, uses a bank of brushless pumps for ±0.01 cm/s flow resolution, and integrates filtration for water clarity during long-term trials.
What's included
- High-transparency acrylic viewing section
- Honeycomb flow straighteners and flow conditioning
- Pump system sized to your target velocity
- Powder-coated steel or aluminum stand
- Integrated electronics, operator console and Aquafab Workbench software
- Documentation, calibration records and lifetime technical support
| Geometry | |
| Test-section length | Fully customizable, 1 ft to 50+ ft |
| Cross-section | Up to 8 ft × 8 ft |
| Viewing section | High-transparency acrylic |
| Stand | Powder-coated steel or aluminum |
| Flow | |
| Velocity range | 0–300+ cm/s (depends on pump configuration) |
| Flow conditioning | Honeycomb straighteners and collimators |
| Control | Aquafab Control with programmable, repeatable profiles |
| Resolution (reference build) | ±0.01 cm/s — Carleton College 108 × 24 × 24 in system |
| Environment | |
| Water compatibility | Freshwater, saltwater and brackish |
| Thermal control (optional) | 0–50 °C; rapid cycling up to 5 °C/min |
| Wetted hardware | 316 stainless steel standard; full titanium optional |
| Electrical | |
| Supply | Many configurations run on a standard 120 V / 20 A circuit |
| Electronics | Integrated control electronics and operator console |
Specifications describe standard builds. Every Aquafab system can be adapted — ask us about dimensions, materials or performance outside these ranges.
| Option | Choice | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum flow velocity | Up to 50 cm/s | Gentle, highly stable flow for behavior, larval and benthic work. |
| Up to 150 cm/s | Headroom for swimming performance and stronger currents. | |
| Up to 300 cm/s+ | High-velocity capability for demanding hydrodynamic and engineering tests. | |
| Not sure — advise me | Tell us your organisms and protocol and we will size it. | |
| Water type | Freshwater | |
| Saltwater | ||
| Brackish | ||
| Velocity mapping & calibration | None | Flow set from calibrated pump control only. |
| Basic | Turbine/paddlewheel sensors providing entry-level flow data for general observation. | |
| Intermediate | Ultrasonic flow sensors — mid-range precision with non-invasive measurement. | |
| Advanced | Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry (ADV) probes for high-resolution, research-grade 3D flow analysis. | |
| PIV flow calibration | Factory particle-image-velocimetry calibration so trials are programmed in true cm/s. | |
| Thermal control | Ambient | No active temperature control; temperature is monitored and logged. |
| Basic | 0–50 °C with standard monitoring and a stable set-point. | |
| Advanced | Rapid-cycling 0–50 °C at up to 5 °C/min for tidal shifts, mixing currents and thermal-stress studies. | |
| Corrosion package | Standard | 316 stainless steel components for freshwater and low-salinity work. |
| Advanced | Full titanium construction for maximum saltwater corrosion resistance and lifelong durability. | |
| Integrated sensor suite | None | |
| Basic | pH, temperature and salinity. | |
| Advanced | pH, temperature, DO, ORP, turbidity and conductivity with multi-channel automated logging and remote alerts. | |
| Custom | Pick individual sensors from the full list. | |
| Choose your sensors | Dissolved oxygen | Optical DO for respirometry and hypoxia work. |
| Temperature | ||
| pH | ||
| Conductivity / salinity | ||
| ORP | Oxidation-reduction potential. | |
| Turbidity | ||
| Ammonia | NH₃/NH₄⁺ monitoring for husbandry. | |
| Nitrate | ||
| Chlorophyll-a / fluorescence | Algal and phytoplankton studies. | |
| Light (PAR) | Photosynthetically active radiation. | |
| Pressure / depth | Water level and depth logging. | |
| Flow velocity | In-line or in-channel velocity sensing. | |
| Other — tell us in the notes | ||
| Lighting | None | |
| Freshwater | Warm white with on/off, ramping and programmable sunrise/sunset. | |
| Plants + Algae | Full-spectrum white with red and violet accents; programmable brightness and timers. | |
| Coral + Reef | 12-channel full-spectrum reef lighting for soft to SPS corals. | |
| Construction | Acrylic viewing section, steel stand | High-transparency acrylic with powder-coated welded steel. |
| Acrylic viewing section, aluminum stand | Lighter frame for rooms with load or mobility constraints. | |
| Services | Installation & commissioning | On-site setup, leak testing and flow calibration. |
| On-site training | Hands-on training for researchers, students and technical staff. | |
| Extended warranty | Extend coverage beyond the standard warranty. |
- Fish swimming performance, kinematics and biomechanics
- Larval dispersal and settlement under controlled currents
- Bivalve aggregations and benthic community studies
- Sediment transport and scour around structures
- Hull, turbine and sensor testing
- Boundary-layer and flow-visualization research
Every Aquafab system is backed by the people who designed and built it.
- Warranty: standard systems include a 2-year warranty on Aquafab-fabricated components and electronics.
- Lifetime support: phone, email and remote support for as long as you own the system.
- Installation & training: optional on-site installation, commissioning and hands-on training for your lab or teaching staff.
- Maintenance: on-site maintenance visits and replacement parts on request.
Questions?
Talk it through with an engineer.
Not sure which options fit your protocol? We're happy to help you specify the right system — no obligation.