Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2 Irrigation Structures
2 Irrigation Structures
Structures
Irrigation Headworks
Irrigation Headworks
1. Diversion headworks Weirs/
1. Diversion headworks Weirs/
Barrages
2. Storage headworks Dams and storage
reservoirs
1. Canal Intake
Flow regulators and flow measurement
Sluice Gates: Control the flow rate and
Penstocks: Control water flow (an
water level in canals
pp )
enclosed pipe)
2. Canals
Main canal:
Carry water for irrigation from the water source.
Branch canals:
Canals branches from main canal Use to feed the distribution canals
Canals branches from main canal. Use to feed the distribution canals.
Distribution canals:
Smaller canals which take water from branch canals and distribute to the
fields.
Main canal Lined
Lined with impermeable materials to prevent excessive seepage and growth of weeds
Control canal bottom and bank
erosion
Materials
concrete / brick or
/
rock masonry/ asphaltic concrete
The construction cost is much
h h h f
higher than for earthen canals
h l
Maintenance is reduced skilled
labour is required.
Branch and distribution canals Earthen
Disadvantages of earthen canals:
Risk of the side slopes collapsing and the
water loss due to seepage.
Continuous maintenance (in order to
control weed growth and to repair damage
done by livestock and rodents).
3. Canal Regulators
i. Regulate water level (cross regulator)
g ( g )
ii. Regulate discharge (head regulator)
g y( p )
iii. Regulate velocity (drop structures)
Cross regulators and head regulators
Gated structures
Functions of cross regulators:
Functions of cross regulators:
Regulates the canal system
Raising the water level in the main canal in order to feed the branch canal
To absorb the fluctuations in the canal system
Functions of head regulators:
Regulate and control supplies entering the branch/ d‐ canals
To control the silt entering the canal
To control the silt entering the canal
Can use for measuring the discharge
Drop structures
Water flowing in steep canals can reach very high velocities
Soil particles along the bottom and banks of an earthen canal
are then lifted, carried away by the water flow, and deposited
downstream block the canal and silt up structures
downstream block the canal and silt up structures
The canal is said to be under erosion the banks might
eventually collapse
Drop structures are required to reduce the bottom slope of canals lying
on steeply sloping land
t l l i l d
They reduces the high velocity of the flow and risk of erosion
These structures permit the canal to be constructed as a series of
These structures permit the canal to be constructed as a series of
relatively flat sections, each at a different elevation
Drop structures take the water abruptly from a higher section of the
canal to a lower one
In a chute, the water does not drop freely but is carried through a
steep, lined canal section
Chutes are used where there are big differences in the elevation of the
canal
Types of Drop Structures
4. Cross Drainage Structures
Crossing structures are used to pass over or under obstacles in the
field.
Aqueducts
Aqueducts are self‐supporting canal
sections used to carry water across
drainage canals gullies
drainage canals, gullies
or depressions
Culverts
Used to carry the water across roads.
The structure consists of masonry or concrete headwalls at
y pp
the inlet and outlet connected by a buried pipeline
Inverted siphons
p
When water has to be carried across a road/natural stream
which is at the same level as or below the canal bottom, an
inverted siphon is used instead of a culvert
The structure consists of an inlet and outlet connected by a
pipeline
pipeline
Inverted siphons are also used to carry water across wide
depressions
Inlet to an inverted siphon
Level Crossingg
When the bed level and
water quality of canal and a
natural stream are
approximately the same,
level crossings are
level crossings are
constructed.
Here, water of canal and
stream are allowed to be
stream are allowed to be
mixed
With the help of
regulators both in canal and
regulators both in canal and
stream, water is disposed
through canal and stream in
required quantity
5. Flow measuring evices
5. Flow measuring Devices
Objective of measuring irrigation water is to permit efficient
distribution and application
By measuring the flow of water, a farmer knows how much water
is applied during each irrigation
In irrigation schemes where water costs are charged to the farmer,
i i i h h h d h f
water measurement provides a basis for estimating water charges.
The most commonly used water measuring structures are weirs
and flumes
In these structures, the water depth is read on a scale which is
part of the structure.
part of the structure.
Using this reading, the flow‐rate is then computed from standard
formulas or obtained from standard tables prepared specially for
th t t
the structure
Weirs
In its simplest form, a weir consists of a wall of timber, metal or
concrete with an opening with fixed dimensions cut in its edge
ih i i h fi d di i i i d
The opening, called a notch, may be rectangular, trapezoidal or
triangular
Parshall flumes
The Parshall flume consists of a metal or concrete channel structure
with three main sections:
with three main sections:
converging section at the upstream end constricted or throat section
diverging section at the downstream end
Depending on the flow condition (free flow or submerged flow), the
water depth readings are taken on one scale only (the upstream one) or
on both scales simultaneously
Cut‐throat flume
No throat section
Unlike the Parshall flume, the cut‐throat flume has a flat
bottom
Because it is easier to construct and install, the cut‐throat
flume is often preferred to the Parshall flume
6. Water iversion
6. Water Diversion
For easy and accurate water distribution within the irrigation system
and on the farm
Division boxes
To divide or direct the flow of water between two or more canals or
ditches.
Water enters the box through an opening on one side and flows out
through openings on the other sides
These openings are equipped with gates
These openings are equipped with gates
Turnouts
Turnouts are constructed in the bank of a canal
They divert part of the water from the canal to a smaller one
Turnouts can be concrete structures or pipe structures
Checks
To divert water from the field ditch to the field it is often
necessary to raise the water level in the ditch
Checks are structures placed across the ditch to block it
Checks are structures placed across the ditch to block it
temporarily and to raise the upstream water level
Checks can be permanent structures or portable
7. Canal spills (canal escapes)
7. Canal spills (canal escapes)
Canals escapes are to release excess water from a canal (main/
branch or D canal)
branch or D‐
Reasons for excess water:
‐Wrong
Wrong operation of head works (when trying to regulate flow in a
operation of head works (when trying to regulate flow in a
long canal)
‐ Excessive rainfall
‐ Sudden closure of control gates due to canal bank breach
Weir or surface escapes
Weir or surface escapes
Constructed in form of weirs
Constructed in form of weirs
No gates
Spills when the water level of the canal goes above its crest level
Sluice or surplus escapes
Sluice or surplus escapes
Gated escapes with a
very low crest height
These sluices can
h l i
empty the canal much
below its full supply
level at a very fast rate
level at a very fast rate
These escapes may
act as scouring sluices to
remove sediment
Location of escapes:
• Availability of suitable drains/ depressions/ rivers (with bed
Availability of suitable drains/ depressions/ rivers (with bed
levels at or below the canal bed level)
• Canal escapes may be provided at intervals of 15‐20 km for main
canal and at 10 15 km for other canals
canal and at 10‐15 km for other canals
Capacity of an escape canal should be large enough to carry
maximum escape discharge
Proper energy dissipation arrangements should be provided