01-11-2022
Module 7 Irrigation structure
Design procedure for –Canal Head works-Canal
regulators-Canal drop –Cross drainage works-
Canal Outlet-Escapes, Lining and maintenance of
canals.
Irrigation structure
Any structure or device necessary for the
proper conveyance, control, measurement,
or application of irrigation water.
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Diversion headwork/Canal Head works
Definition: A diversion head-works is a structure
constructed across a river for the purpose of raising
water level in the river so that it can be diverted into
the off taking canals. It is also known as canal head
works.
Purposes of diversion headworks:
It raises the water level on its upstream side so that
commanded area can be increased.
It regulates the supply of water into canals.
It controls the entry of silt into the canals.
It provides some storage of water for a short period.
It reduces fluctuations in the level of supply in the
river.
Diversion headwork
Canal
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Diversion headwork
Canal head works
Diversion head works Storage head works
To raise water level in river and To store water on u/s of river
divert the required quantity and divert the required
quantity
Storage headwork
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Diversion headwork
Prevent flooding
Measure discharge
Canal
River navigation
CANAL HEADWORKS
Canal head works
Diversion head works Storage head works
To raise water level in river and To store water on u/s of river
divert the required quantity and divert the required
quantity
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CANAL HEADWORKS
Canal head works
Diversion head works Storage head works
To raise water level in river and To store water on u/s of river
divert the required quantity and divert the required
quantity
Diversion headwork
The works, which are constructed at the head of the
canal, in order to divert the river water towards the
canal, so as to ensure a regulated continuous supply of
silt-free water with a certain minimum head into the
canal, are known as diversion heads works.
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TYPES OF DIVERSION HEAD WORKS
1. Temporary diversion head works
– Consists of a bund constructed across river to raise the
water level in the river and will be damaged by floods
2. Permanent diversion head works
– Consists of a permanent structure such as a weir or barrage
constructed across river to raise water level in the river
Diversion headwork
Cross regulators
Canal regulator
Prevent flooding
Measure discharge
Canal
River navigation
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Canal regulator
Cross regulators
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Cross regulators, to head up water in the parent
channel to divert some of it through an off take
canal , like a distributary.
Canal head regulator/Canal regulator, to control
the amount of water flowing in to off take canal.
Canal head regulator/Canal regulator
• Regulators Constructed at the off taking point are called head
regulators. When it is constructed at the head of main canal it is
known as canal head regulator. And when it is constructed at the
head of distributary, it is called distributary head regulator.
• Function:
1. To regulate and control supplies entering the off take channel
(distributary) from the main (parent) canal.
2. To control silt entering into the distributary.
3. To serve for measurement of discharge.
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Cross Regulator
• Cross Regulator
• A Regulator Constructed in the main canal or
parent canal downstream of an off take canal is
called cross-regulator.
• Functions:
1. Regulation of the canal system.
2. Raising the water level in the main canal in order
to feed the off take channels.
3. To facilitate communication by building a road
over the cross regulator with little extra cost.
4. To absorb the fluctuations in the canal system.
What is Canal Fall?
• Whenever the available natural ground
slope is steep than the designed bed slope
of the channel, the difference is adjusted by
constructing vertical ‘falls’ or ‘drops’ in the
canal bed at suitable intervals, as shown in
figure below. Such a drop in a natural canal
bed will not be stable and, therefore, in order
to retain this drop, a masonry structure is
constructed. Such a structure is called a
Canal Fall or a Canal drop.
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Canal Fall
Canal drop/Fall
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Canal Fall
Irrigation canals are designed for a prescribed bed slope
so that velocity becomes non silting or non scouring.
But if the ground topography is such that in order to
maintain the canal designed slope, indefinite filling
from falling ground level is to be made. This indefinite
filling is avoided by constructing a hydraulic structure
in the place of sudden bed level. This hydraulic
structure is called canal fall or drop. Beyond the canal
fall, canal again maintains its designed slope.
Canal Fall
• Thus, a canal fall or drop is an irrigation structure
constructed across a canal to lower down its bed level
to maintain the designed slope when there is a change
of ground level to maintain the designed slope when
there is change of ground level. This falling water at
the fall has some surplus energy. The fall is
constructed in such a way that it can destroy this
surplus energy.
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Necessity of Canal Falls
• When slope of ground suddenly changes to steeper
slope, permissible bed slope cannot be maintained.
• Slope of ground is more or less uniform and slope is
greater than permissible bed slope of canal.
• In cross drainage work, when difference between
level of canal and that of drainage is small or when
F.S.L of canal is above bed level.
Cross drainage works
A “cross drainage work” is a hydraulic structure which needs to be
constructed at the crossing of a natural drainage and an irrigation
canal flowing normally at right angles underneath or over the
natural stream.
It is generally a very costly item and should be avoided by
Necessity of cross drainage work
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Types of Cross-Drainage Works:
Depending upon the relative bed levels, maximum water levels and
relative discharges of canals and drainages the cross drainage works
may be of following types,
(1) Type I (Irrigation canal passes over the drainage)
(a) Aqueduct
(b) Siphon aqueduct
(2) Type II (Drainage passes over the irrigation canal)
(a) Super passage
(b) Siphon super passage
(3) Type III (Drainage and canal intersection each other of the same level)
(a) Level Crossing
(b) Inlet and outlet
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Advantages of Type1:
1.The canal running perennially is above ground and is open
to inspection.
2.Damage done by floods is rare.
Disadvantages of Type1:
1.During high floods, the foundation can be scoured or
the water way of the drain may be chocked with trees.
Advantages of Type2:
1. C.D works are less liable to damage then the
earthwork of canal.
Disadvantages of Type2:
1. Perennial canal is not open to inspection.
2. It is difficult to clear the silt deposited in the
barrels of the C.D. work.
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Advantages of Type3:
1. Low initial cost
Disadvantages of Type3:
1. Regulation of such work is difficult & requires additional
staff
2.The canal has to be designed to carry the increased flood
discharge of drain.
3. The faulty regulation of the gates may damage the canal.
4. There is additional expenditure of silt clearance.
Necessity of Cross- Drainage Works:
1. The water shed canals do not cross natural drainages. But in actual
orientation of the canal network, this ideal condition may not be
available and the obstacles like natural drainages may be present across
the canal. So, the cross drainage works must be provided for running the
irrigation system.
2. At the crossing point, the water of the canal and the drainage get
intermixed. So, for the smooth running of the canal with its design
discharge the cross drainage works are required.
3. The site condition of the crossing point may be such that without any
suitable structure, the water of the canal and drainage cannot be diverted
to their natural directions. So, the cross drainage works must be provided
to maintain their natural direction of flow.
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Canal Escape
It is the structure required to dispose of surplus or excess
water from canal from time to time. Thus, a canal escape
serves as safety valve for canal system. It provides
protection to the canal from possible damage due to excess
supply which may be due to mistake in releasing water at
head regulator or heavy rainfall that makes sudden regular
demand of water. The excess supply makes the canal banks
vulnerable to failure due to overtopping or dangerous
leaks. Therefore, provision for disposing this surplus water
in form of canal escapes at suitable intervals along the
canal is essential. Moreover emptying canal for repair and
maintenance and removal of sediment deposited in the
canal can also be achieved with the help of canal escapes.
Canal Escape
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Canal Outlet/modules
• A canal outlet or a module is a small
structure built at the head of the water
course so as to connect it with a minor or a
distributary channel.
• It acts as a connecting link between the
system manager and the farmers.
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Lining of canals
Canal lining is the process of reducing seepage loss
of irrigation water by adding an impermeable layer
to the edges of the trench.
Lining of canals: Necessity
1. Reduce seepage losses
2. Increase discharge in canal by increasing the velocity
3. Prevent erosion of bed and side
4. Reduce maintenance cost
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Lining of canals: Advantages
1. Reduction in seepage losses
2. Low maintenance cost
3. Minimizes the possibility of breaching of canals
4. Prevents weed growth
5. Improved hydraulic efficiency of canals
6. Reduces cross sectional dimensions of canal
7. Improvement in command
Lining of canals: Disadvantages
1. Higher initial investment
2. Repair is costly
3. Shifting of outlet is costly because it involve dismantling and
relaying of lining.
4. Longer construction period
5. Sophisticated construction equipment and labor is needed.
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Lining of canals: Types of Canal Lining
1. Reinforced Concrete Lining
2. Plain Cement Concrete Lining
3. Prefabricated Cement Concrete Lining
4. Brick or Tile Lining
5. Asphalt Concrete Lining
6. Stone Lining
7. Soil Cement Lining
8. Compacted / Stabilized Earth Lining
9. Membrane Lining
Module 7 Irrigation structure
Design procedure for –Canal Head works-Canal
regulators-Canal drop –Cross drainage works-
Canal Outlet-Escapes, Lining and maintenance of
canals.
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