2.

3DAM OUTLET WORKS

In order to draw water from the reservoir and when needed for some purposes; it is necessary
that “outlets” are provided either through the body of the dam or adjacent to it through some
hillside at the end of the embankment. This water may be discharged into the d/s channel
below the dam or may be transported at distances where required through pipes or canals.
An outlet work serves to “regulate” and “release” water impounded by the dam. It provides a
controlled release of water from the reservoir in such quantities and at such times as may be
needed.
Outlets may be required for several purposes such as:-
 Feeding water turbines;
 Discharging heavily laden silty water;
 Supplying water to irrigation channel, for domestic and other uses; and
 Combination of multi-purpose requirements.
In certain instances, the outlet works may be used in lieu of services of surplus escape weirs (or
spillways), it may also act as a flood control storage space or evacuate storage in anticipation of
flood inflows.
An outlet may consist of the following components:-
 Sluiceway (or Waterway);
 Control device (e.g. gates, valves, etc.); and
 Intake structure.

2.3.1 SLUICEWAY (or WATERWAY)

A “sluice”: - is an opening in the form of a culvert (or tunnel), or pipe running directly through
or under the dam; and supplying water from the reservoir to the distributary channel below, so
as to meet irrigation, or other requirements as and when needed. Suitable wing walls and
other bank connections are also provided as required at the head and tail ends of the outlet.

(1.) DESCRIPTION OF SLUICEWAY CONSTRUCTION

In earthfill embankment the sluiceway is generally placed outside the limits of the
embankments. However, in case it is essential to place it through the body of the
embankment, it should have “projecting collars (cutoff collars)” at regular intervals. These
collars increase the path of water seeping along the boundary of the sluiceway. The length of
the seepage path should be more so that no damage is done to the embankment.

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 L
The seepage path length must be greater than ; i.e. if L= total length of the sluiceway; x =
4
projection of each collar; and n = number of collars; then
2 nx >0.25 L……………………………………………….2.3(i)

Figure 2.18 (a) Tank Outlet Structure through Earthen Embankment; and (b) Types of Sluiceway Entrances: (i)
Square-Edge type, and (ii) Bellmouth type.

The inlet of the sluiceway must be at minimum reservoir level. But note that: - “in big
reservoirs, outlets may be at different levels”.
The interior of the sluiceway tunnel or pipe must be smooth without any projections or cavities.
The projections, cavities, etc. if at all present may cause separation of flow from the boundary
of the conduit; and may result in development of negative pressure and consequent danger of
cavitation.
A “bellmouth entrance”[ref: - fig. 2.18b(ii)].is much better and superior to any other types; and
the extra cost involved in shaping this entrance is usually justified except for small projects
under low heads. The shape of the bellmouth is generally “elliptical; and as per “Douma” the
following equations are usefull.
2 2 2
4 X +44.4 Y =d …………………………………………2.3(i).
Where; X , and Y , are the coordinates of any point on the curve; and

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 d is the conduit diameter for “CIRCULAR” conduits, or the width or height of the
conduit for “RECTANGULAR” conduit (depending on whether the sides or top and
bottom are being designed.

(2.) TYPES OF SLUICEWAYS

(a) Ordinary Medium-Sized Tank Sluices:-

“Masonry culverts” with or without arch roofs are generally constructed. The size of the
culvert depends on the maximum quantity of water (i.e. Q ) it is required to convey. But in no
case should be less than “0.6m wide x 0.75m high” so as to allow a man to enter it for
inspection and repair or removal of obstructions.

Figure 2.19 Masonry Sluice for a Medium –sized Tank

The size of the barrel should also be such as to limit the velocity through the sluice barrel to a
maximum of 4.5 m/s, under the condition of “plug hole” being “fully open” and with the water
at F.T.L.
Discharge ,Q
v= =c √2 gH …………………………………………2.3(ii)
Barrel c /s area , a d
Where; H = height of the F.T.L. above the sill level of the sluice;
c d = coefficient of discharge (= 0.63 for free fall)

(b) Very Small-Sized Tank Sluices:-

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Figure 2.20 Earthenware Pipe-sluice for a Very Small-sized Tank

“Earthenware pipe” or “cement concrete pipe” or “cast-iron pipes pipe” may be used to take
place of masonry culverts. Such sluices are called “pipe sluices”.
These sluices are generally not adopted in tank embankments where the depth below F.T.L.
exceeds 2.5m, since the earthenware pipes may get fractured or leakage through their joints
may take place resulting in a breach. This is because the pipes can neither be examined nor
repaired easily without cutting open the embankment. Moreover, these pipes and especially
the C.I. pipes are rarely found to be economical compared to masonry sluices.

(c) Tank Sluices With a Tower Head:-

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 Figure 2.21 Tank Sluice with a Tower Head
This is sometimes found more economical than the above two types owing to the saving
obtained by avoiding the heavy wing walls of the previous types. Moreover, it has lesser
danger of failure by cracking and bulging which frequently occurs in the wings of the other
types. However, with such a sluice, an additional length of the barrel is required.
“Tower heads” (or wells) are generally placed in the water slope of the embankment, as
thereby, the expense of a bridge or causeway leading from the bank to the regulation platform
is saved. But this has the disadvantage of making it impossible to have access to the portion of
the barrel u/s of the well when the tank has water.

2.3.2 CONTROL DEVICES

The sluiceway must have simple gates or valves at its entry. Cast iron “slide gates” are
commercially available both for rectangular and circular openings and for design heads up to
15m. However, simple “radial gates” may also be used for ordinary surface installation where
the sluiceway is in the form on open channel. These gates may be operated by a hoisting
arrangement through a “gate well”.

Method of Regulation of Tank Sluices:-

The generally used vents for medium-sized tank sluices consists of one or more circular orifices
of suitable size made in a horizontal stone. The area of the opening is regulated by a “long

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coned plug”, the wider end of which is of the same diameter (allowing clearance) as the vent
(ref:- fig. 2.22). The vent is termed as the “plug-hole”.

Figure 2.22 Typical Standard Sized Plugs for Tank Sluices

(a) Construction Details of plugs:(ref: -fig.2.22)

The standard sizes are 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300mm, being the size of the hole in the plug
stone, the largest size of the cone part of the plug being about 6mm less; the width of the
seating should be from 25 to 30mm. The cones should have a taper of one to four, and be
made of hard wood; the smaller end of the cone and the biggest diameter of the plug should be
cut cylindrical to take countersunk iron straps which should be shrunk on to prevent the plug
from splitting.
The lifting rod should be round iron, and secured by a split-cottar-pin at each end of the plug.
When the rod is long, it should be passed through holes in guide beams fixed at intervals. The
top end of the rod passes through a hole in the regulation platform; it should be flat with holes
at about 75 mm interval through which an iron pin is passed to keep the plug suspended at
whatever height it gives suitable elevation.

(b) Operation of the Plug:-

As the plug is raised, the hole or orifice is opened more and more, and when the plug is fully
raised (i.e., clear of the plug hole by an amount not less than the diameter of the hole ), the full
discharge from the orifice will be released. This arrangement is both simple and economical,
and affords an easily adjustable means of regulation to suit the varying conditions of water level
which are inseparable from the tank. Also this arrangement is thus more suitable for tank
sluices than flat shutters which are generally used for canal sluices.

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(c) Design Considerations:-
When the computed size of a tank sluice or plug hole is more than 250 to 300mm in diameter,
then it is generally advisable to provide two or more holes and plugs in the plug platform stone.
Again in the case of deep sluices ( say over 7.5m depth), two or more plug stones at different
levels, each with separate plug holes provide greater facility for easy regulation, and hence
adopted.
The size of the orifices (i.e., plug-holes) in the plug stone are generally calculated so as to pass
the full supply with vent fully open and with 0.3m of water standing over the plug stone
platform. For regulation below this level, a vertical vent is provided which is closed by a shutter
that may be wooden, but is generally a slab of stone. This vent is made of sufficient size to pass
full supply with 0.15m head. This shutter is brought into use only when the water in the tank is
less than 1.2m over the floor of the sluice; and at other times, the shutter is kept completely
covering the orifice, and leakage past it should be stopped by filling of silt against its u/s face.
The vent will be regulated by men standing on the plug stone.
In case of large tanks, where the quantity of water to be released is large, and where adequate
establishment is maintained, flat shutters working in grooves and regulated by screw spears
may be installed. However, for heads over 9m or so, special shutters moving on rollers are
generally installed.

2.3.3 INTAKE STRUCTURE

Figure 2.23 Tank Sluice with a Trash Rack

This forms the entrance into the outlet works. It supports trash-racks, fish-screens, and by-pass
devices; and also may accommodate the control devices (gates and valves). An intake structure
may either be submerged or extended as a tower to some height above the maximum water
level (M.W.L.).

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  “Submerged intake structure” is used when trash cleaning is ordinarily not required. In
that case, it only serves as entrance to the outlet conduit.
 A “tower intake” is provided if an operating platform is needed for “trash-racking”,
maintaining, and cleaning of fish screens, or installing stop logs.
 Trashrack: - is a structure which is provided at the entrance to the intake and sluiceway
to prevent entry of debris.
Trash-racks are made in the form of “semi-polygonal grid” of iron or steel bars. Steel flats or
bars are spaced at 5 – 15cm depending on the maximum size of debris which can be permitted
in the sluiceway. A velocity of 0.5 m/s is generally allowed when trash-racks are inaccessible for
cleaning, but it may be increased to 1.5 m/s if it accessible for cleaning purpose. The debris
which is collected on the trash-rack may be removed either manually or with the help of
automatic power driven racks. Steam or electrically heated racks are preferred in cold regions
to prevent ice formation on the trash-racks.

END