The University of Faisalabad

Mid Assignment
Irrigation and Hydraulic Structures
(CET-383)

Submitted To Engr. Ali Husnain

Submitted By Hafiz M Saqlain Mustafa

Registration No. BSETC-FA18-016

School of Civil Engineering Technology

The University of Faisalabad
(Engineering Campus)
 Table of Contents
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 2
2 Uses ......................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 Spillways in hydropower plant......................................................................................... 2
3 Types of spillway..................................................................................................................... 2
3.1 Straight Drop Spillway ..................................................................................................... 3
3.2 Ogee Spillways ................................................................................................................. 3
3.3 Shaft Spillway .................................................................................................................. 4
3.4 Chute Spillway ................................................................................................................. 5
3.5 Side Channel Spillway ..................................................................................................... 6
3.6 Siphon Spillway ............................................................................................................... 6
3.7 Labyrinth Spillway ........................................................................................................... 7
4 Explain syphon spillway.......................................................................................................... 8
4.1.1 Syphon Spillway ....................................................................................................... 8
4.1.2 Energy dissipation below spillways .......................................................................... 8
5 References ............................................................................................................................... 9
Different types of spillway
1 Introduction
The most important aspect of dams is spillways, also known as "overflow channels." Dam
spillways are the mechanisms that enable water to flow in a regulated manner from the dam to
the reservoirs. Prior to the dam's construction, the riverbed elevation was the same as the
downstream height. As the dam is filled, the water level rises, slowing the rate downstream.
Spillways prevent the dam from being breached. The dam is impacted by the leaked water due to
erosion caused by free-falling water. Spillways enable water from a water source to be drained in
a controlled manner. To comprehend the science of spillways, we must first consider hydrology.
Water's enormous ability to dominate dam-built systems must be respected. The river floods
downstream due to the continuous rain and snowfall. To meet demand during the year, we must
conserve electricity. Dams must be running all year long in order to maintain the necessary water
level. Water's hydrological effect makes storing a large amount of water hazardous. A dam's
floodwaters have the potential to be catastrophic. Floods could be fatal if a dam bursts. Spillways
are used to drain water from the dam effectively. [1].

2 Uses
2.1 Spillways in hydropower plant

A spillway is a structure that allows water from a dam or canal to be released in a regulated
manner downstream, usually onto the riverbank of the dredged river.

3 Types of spillway
Spillways can be divided into the following categories based on geography and other civil
engineering variables [2]:
 Straight Drop Spillway
 Ogee Spillway
 Shaft Spillway
 Chute Spillway
 Side Channel Spillway
 Siphon Spillway
 Labyrinth Spillway
3.1 Straight Drop Spillway

A straight drop spillway is made up of a low-height weir wall with a nearly or perfectly vertical
downstream face. The surplus water slides easily from the crest of the nozzle as the water flow in
the reservoir increases above the usual pool level, giving it the term Straight drop spillway or
free overfall spillway. To prohibit slight dumping from breaching the face of the inlets wall, an
overhanging projection is supported on the crown of the weir. Thin arch dams, earthen dams, and
bunds are often used for direct drop spillways. [2].

Figure 1 Straight drop spillway

3.2 Ogee Spillway

The Ogee spillway, as its name suggests, is shaped like the downstream face of the weir. It's a
more advanced take on the flat fall spillway. In this situation, the weir's downstream face is
designed to meet the ogee-shaped lower nappe of the freely falling water jet. The downstream
face's ogee configuration is based on projectile theory. The form achieved for the highest head is
taken into consideration when constructing an ogee spillway since the lower nappe of the water
jet would not have the same outline for all water heads. The ogee spillway, which has an ogee-
shaped crest and is often referred to as an overflow spillway, allows excess water to drain easily.
Gravity dams, arch dams, buttress dams, and other structures also utilize ogee spillways. It's
usually found inside the dam body for gravity dams. [2].
 Figure 2 Ogee Spillway

3.3 Shaft Spillway

Shaft spillways are made up of a vertical shaft attached to a lateral duct. The excess water fills
the vertical pipe first, then the horizontal channel, and finally the tube's downstream end.
Artificial or organic shafts make up the shaft. Only when the rugged, rocky crust on the upstream
side is present will the natural shaft be excavated. The lateral conduit runs across the dam or
through the base of the dam. The reservoir gap of the long tube, which is built specifically in
major projects, is known as the plum or porta john of the spillway. [2].
 Figure 3 Shaft Spillway

3.4 Chute Spillway

A chute spillway discharges waste water from upstream into a slow, steeply sloping drain
downstream. It's usually built separate from the dam, at one end, or in a natural saddle on the
river's edge. Gravity dams, granite dams, rock fill dams, and other types of dams will all benefit
from a chute spillway. When the river gorge's width is exceedingly narrow, however, it is
favoured. Water flows downstream of the canal into a steeply sloped chute, trough, or clear pipe.
A trough spillway or a clear channel spillway is another name for a chute spillway. [2].

Figure 4 Chute Spillway

3.5 Side Channel Spillway

The only difference between a side channel spillway and a chute spillway is that the crest of a
side channel spillway is on one of the edges, while the crest of a chute spillway is between the
side walls. In other words, unlike a chute spillway, the water spilling from a side channel
spillway's crest is bent 90 degrees and flows parallel to the crest. Where sufficient flanks are not
accessible, side channel spillways are favoured over chute spillways, usually to prevent heavy
cutting. The angle of turn of the water flow can be maintained between 00 and 900 degrees after
flowing through the weir crest. [2].

Figure 5 Side Channel Spillway

3.6 Siphon Spillway

A syphon spillway is a form of spillway that drains excess water downstream using an angled U-
shaped conduit. It is either placed within the frame or on the dam's crest. Air vents are provided
at the twisted section of the upper tunnel leading to both forms of syphon spillways to waterproof
them if the water level is below the usual poll level. Water joins the pipe and is discharged
downstream of the river by siphonic action as the flow reaches the regular pool amount. [2].
 Figure 6 Siphon Spillway

3.7 Labyrinth Spillway

Since the weir wall is shaped in a zigzag fashion, the internal diameter of the weir crest is
maximised in comparison to the tube diameter of a labyrinth spillway. As a result of the
expanded internal diameter, the weir's discharge capacity is increased, allowing for more water
movement at short legs to be transported downstream more rapidly. [2].

Figure 7 Labyrinth Spillway

4 Explain siphon spillway
The water from the reservoir is transported through a horizontal canal before being pumped into
the river downstream by a vertical pipe. Small shafts may be made of metal or concrete.

Figure 8 Diagram of Siphon Spillway

4.1.1 Siphon Spillway
It consists of a syphon pipe with one end holding upstream and in contact with the reservoir, and
the other end releasing water downstream.

Figure 9 Sketch of Siphon Spillway

4.1.2 Energy dissipation below spillways
Since spillways are high structures, the water flowing through them has a lot of velocity and
kinetic energy due to the conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy when it hits the river
bed, and this must be destroyed before the water is allowed to flow over the river bed, or else
there would be a lot of erosion at the toe of the spillway, jeopardising its stability as a part of the
river system. The devices used to destroy the energy of water running over spillways are known
as dissipators. The design of the device to be used, as well as the properties of the riverbed
downstream, define the energy dissipation arrangement. Energy Dissipation SelectionVarious
considerations governing the selection of energy dissipator are discussed below:
5 References

[1] “Spillways and their types - CivilEngineeringBible.com.”

https://civilengineeringbible.com/article.php?i=232 (accessed Apr. 21, 2021).
[2] “7 Different Types of Spillways.” https://theconstructor.org/water-resources/hydraulic-
structures/different-types-spillways/32484/ (accessed Apr. 21, 2021).
[3] https://www.ques10.com/p/48401/shaft-spillway-1/
[4] https://theconstructor.org/water-resources/hydraulic-structures/different-types-
spillways/32484/