This document describes several types of spillways used in dam engineering:
- Free overfall spillways allow water to fall straight over the dam crest. Overflow spillways have an S-shaped crest to control the falling water. Chute spillways convey water through an open channel. Side channel spillways have the control weir parallel to the discharge channel. Shaft spillways drop water vertically through a shaft. Tunnel spillways convey water through closed conduits. Siphon spillways use inverted U-shaped conduits to spill water through siphonic action. Special types include saddle, fuse plug, sluice, and duck-bill spillways.
This document describes several types of spillways used in dam engineering:
- Free overfall spillways allow water to fall straight over the dam crest. Overflow spillways have an S-shaped crest to control the falling water. Chute spillways convey water through an open channel. Side channel spillways have the control weir parallel to the discharge channel. Shaft spillways drop water vertically through a shaft. Tunnel spillways convey water through closed conduits. Siphon spillways use inverted U-shaped conduits to spill water through siphonic action. Special types include saddle, fuse plug, sluice, and duck-bill spillways.
This document describes several types of spillways used in dam engineering:
- Free overfall spillways allow water to fall straight over the dam crest. Overflow spillways have an S-shaped crest to control the falling water. Chute spillways convey water through an open channel. Side channel spillways have the control weir parallel to the discharge channel. Shaft spillways drop water vertically through a shaft. Tunnel spillways convey water through closed conduits. Siphon spillways use inverted U-shaped conduits to spill water through siphonic action. Special types include saddle, fuse plug, sluice, and duck-bill spillways.
This document describes several types of spillways used in dam engineering:
- Free overfall spillways allow water to fall straight over the dam crest. Overflow spillways have an S-shaped crest to control the falling water. Chute spillways convey water through an open channel. Side channel spillways have the control weir parallel to the discharge channel. Shaft spillways drop water vertically through a shaft. Tunnel spillways convey water through closed conduits. Siphon spillways use inverted U-shaped conduits to spill water through siphonic action. Special types include saddle, fuse plug, sluice, and duck-bill spillways.
Short lip provided for overall spilling of an arch dam
Free overfall spillway for a decked embankment dam Scour below Kariba Dam Spillway, Zimbabwe OVERFLOW SPILLWAY
Typical overflow (ogee) spillway. Example of Panchet Dam on River Damodar
The overflow type spillway has a crest shaped in the form of an ogee or S- shape. The upper curve of the ogee is made to conform closely to the profile of the lower nappe of a ventilated sheet of water falling from a sharp crested weir.
Overflow from a free-falling weir, property ventilated from below
Ogee spillway & apron of Sardar Sarovar Dam spillway Ogee spillway for controlling flow into a chute-type spillway CHUTE SPILLWAY
A chute spillway, variously called as open channel or trough spillway, is one
whose discharge is conveyed from the reservoir to the downstream river level through an open channel, placed either along a dam abutment or through a saddle. The control structure for the chute spillway need not necessarily be an overflow crest, and may be of the side-channel type. However, the name is most often applied when the spillway control is placed normal or nearly normal to the axis of the open channel, and where the streamlines of flow both above and below the control crest follow in the direction of the axis. Saddle spillway Side channel entry to a chute spillway SIDE CHANNEL SPILLWAY
A side channel spillway is one in which the control weir is placed approximately parallel to the upper portion of the discharge channel.
Plan of a embankment dam showing side channel spillway and chute channel Magnified sectional view X-X through side channel spillway SHAFT SPILLWAY
A Shaft Spillway is one where water enters over a horizontally positioned lip, drops through a vertical or sloping shaft, and then flows to the downstream river channel through a horizontal or nearly horizontal conduit or tunnel. The structure may be considered as being made up of three elements, namely, an overflow control weir, a vertical transition, and a closed discharge channel. When the inlet is funnel shaped, the structure is called a Morning Glory Spillway.
Sectional through a shaft spillway
A drop inlet spillway can be used advantageously at dam sites that are located in narrow gorges where the abutments rise steeply. It may also be installed at projects where a diversion tunnel or conduit is available for use.
Where a closed channel is used to convey the discharge around a dam through the adjoining hill sides, the spillway is often called a tunnel or conduit spillway. The closed channel may take the form of a vertical or inclined shaft, a horizontal tunnel through earth or rock, or a conduit constructed in open cut and backfilled with earth materials. Most forms of control structures, including overflow crests, vertical or inclined orifice entrances, drop inlet entrances, and side channel crests, can be used with tunnel spillways.
Tunnel spillways are advantageous for dam sites in narrow gorges with steep abutments or at sites where there is danger to open channels from rock slides from the hills adjoining the reservoir.
Conduit spillways are generally most suited to dams in wide valleys as in such cases the use of this types of spillway would enable the spillway to be located under the dam very close to the stream bed. Tunnel spillway with a morning glory entrance. Bell mouth entry to a tunnel spillway (Gate control at entrance not shown) SIPHON SPILLWAY
A siphon spillway is a closed conduit system formed in the shape of an inverted
U, positioned so that the inside of the bend of the upper passageway is at normal reservoir storage level. This type of siphon is also called a Saddle siphon spillway. The initial discharges of the spillway, as the reservoir level rises above normal, are similar to flow over a weir. Siphonic action takes place after the air in the bend over the crest has been exhausted. Continuous flow is maintained by the suction effect due to the gravity pull of the water in the lower leg of the siphon.
Siphon spillways comprise usually of five components, which include an inlet, an
upper leg, a throat or control section, a lower leg and an outlet. A siphon breaker air vent is also provided to control the siphonic action of the spillway Hooded Type Siphon
Siphon spillway, Genil-Cabra Canal, Spain
Volute of siphon spillway components SPECIAL TYPES OF SPILLWAYS
Saddle Spillway
In some basins formed by a dam, there may be one or more natural
depressions for providing spillway. They are sometimes preferred for locating main spillway or emergency or auxiliary spillways. A site which has a saddle is very desirable and economical, if the saddle is suitable for locating the spillway.
Fuse plug
It may be a simple earth bank, flash
board or other device designed to fail when overtopped. Such plugs may be used where the sudden release of a considerable volume of water is both safe and not over destructive to the environment. Sluice Spillway
The use of large bottom openings as spillways is a relatively modern
innovation following the greater reliance on the safety and operation of modern control gates under high pressure. A distinct advantage of this type of spillway is that provision can usually be made for its use for the passage of floods during construction.
Sluice spillway Duck-bill Spillway
This is a spillway with a
rectangular layout projections into the reservoir comprising three straight overflow lengths intersecting at right angles.
