open channel
Free-flowing water route
An open channel is a waterway where liquid flows with a free surface exposed to air—rivers, canals, irrigation ditches, and drainage systems all qualify: Open channel flow differs from pipe flow because pressure comes only from gravity.
In communications, an open channel is an unencrypted or publicly accessible frequency or pathway: They discussed it on an open channel where anyone could listen.
- waterwayNavigable route for vessels
- canalDug water passage
- streamSteady continuous flow
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- free flowUnhindered continuous movement
broadcast · live broadcast · frequency · radio · radio waves · communication · conduit · ditch · irrigation · current · public · airwaves · transmission · duct · gutter · trough · passage · clear path
- fluid systemspumps, valves, pipes, hydraulic systems, fluid flow
- flow measurementflowmeter, flow meter, flow rate, volumetric flow, water meter
- water systemswater pipes, water pipe, water storage, water line, irrigation ditches
- drainagedrain, drains, drainage ditch, drain pipe, floor drains
- hydraulicshydraulic cylinder, hydraulic fluid, hydraulic press, pump, laminar flow