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Chapter-07
Regulating Structures
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ALIGNMENT OF OFF-TAKING CHANNEL
A channel taking off from another large channel (called parent channel)
should be properly aligned with respect to the parent channel. The
alignment should be such that the off-taking channel its able to draw its
supply without any undesirable effect. The following types of alignment
are commonly adopted in practice.
1. The best alignment of the off-taking channel is when it makes zero
angle with the parent channel initially and then separates out in
transition, as shown in Fig.13.1.
The transition will have to be properly designed so as to avoid the
accumulation of silt jetty.
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ALIGNMENT OF OFF-TAKING CHANNEL
2. As an alternative to the transition, both the channels should make an
angle with the parent channel upstream of the off-take, as shown in
figure 13.2.
3. If it is essential to keep the parent channel straight, the edge of the
channel, rather than the center line, should be considered while deciding
the angle of off-take as shown in figure 13.3.
An angle of 60 ° to 80° is quite suitable.
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Alignment of off-taking canal
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REGULATING STRUCTURES
Canal Regulation:
The water which enters into the main canal form the river has to be
distributed into different branches and distributaries, in accordance to
the relative urgency of demand on different channels. This process of
distribution is called ‘ Regulation’.
The works which are constructed in order to control and regulate the
discharges, velocities, depths etc. are known as canal regulation works.
These structures ensures the efficient functioning of a canal irrigation
system, by giving full control upon the canals.
1) Canal regulators ( Head Regulators and Cross Regulators)
2) Canal Escapes ( to allow release of excess water from the canal system)
3) Canal outlets and modules
4) Canal drop and falls ( to lower the water level of the canal)
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5) Metering flumes
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HEAD REGULATOR
(DISTRIBUTARY HEAD REGULATOR AND CROSS REGULATOR)
A distributary head regulator controls the supply of the off-taking
channel; while a cross regulator controls the supply of the parent
channel.
Main functions of head regulator:
1) To regulate the supplies entering the off-take channel.
2) To control the silt entry into the off-take channel.
3) To serve as a meter for measuring discharge.
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Main functions of cross regulators:
1) To effectively control the entire canal irrigation system.
2) When the water level in the main channel is low, it helps in heading up
water on the u/s and to feed the off-take channel to their full demand.
3) They help in absorbing fluctuations of the canal system, and in
preventing the possibilities of breaches in the tail race.
4) Bridges and communication works can be combined with it.
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DESIGN OF CROSS REGULATOR AND HEAD REGULATOR
Crest Level:
The crest level of cross regulator is generally kept at u/s bed level of
channel.
The crest level of distributary head regulator is generally kept 0.3 to 1 m
higher than crest level of cross regulator
The crest is joined to the d/s floor with a sloping glacis of 2:1.
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Knowing the discharge Q, the
width of water way B can be
calculated.
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Design of d/s floor or Cistern Level
The level and length of the d/s floor is determined under two flow conditions:
i) Full supply discharge passing through both the head regulator and cross-regulator, and ii) the
discharge in the parent channel being insufficient, the cross regulator gate is partially opened and
the off-taking channel is running full or the head regulator gate is fully open.
For both of these conditions the discharge intensity q and the head loss HL (=h) are known, Hence
the value of Ef2 (Specific energy) can be found from the Blench Curves.
q=Q/B,
HL is calculated.
From graph EF2 is obtained
Neglecting vel. Head, d/s TEL = d/s FSL
Level of d/s floor = d/s FSL - EF2 (the level at which jump would form)
If d/s floor level is higher than the d/s bed level of channel, the floor is provided at the
bed level itself.
Ef1= EF2+ HL
Hence, the depth y1 and y2 corresponding to Ef1 and Ef2 respectively are found from specific
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energy curves.
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Length of d/s floor:
L=5(y2 – y1)
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Obtain y2 & y1 from graph
However, the d/s floor should be 2/3 of the total impervious length of the floor..
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Generally slope of glacis is provided 2:1
So length of glacis = 2 * HL
Then calculate the length of u/s floor length
u/s floor length= b – d/s floor length – glacis length
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Floor thickness: d/s floor
At toe of glacis:
% pressure = ФE2 + ((ФC1 – ФE2)/b)*b2
i) Maximum unbalanced head at toe of glacis due to maximum static
head(H) = % pressure * H
ii) Head due to dynamic action
= 50%(y2 - y1) + Ф*HL
Maximum head of i) and ii) is chosen.
Thickness required = head/ (GC - 1)
GC for concrete is 2.24
Floor thickness: u/s floor
Nominal thickness of 0.5 m is provided.
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Protection works:
The protection works are designed for scour depth (u/s water
depth/3 +0.6) on u/s and (d/s water depth/2 +0.6) on d/s. The
C.C blocks and inverted filters are provided in the length
approximately equal to 1.5 D. The quantity of stone in
launching apron is kept as 2.25 D cu.m/m.
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Canal Escapes: (Surplus water escapes)
➢ They are constructed to remove surplus water form an irrigation channel
into a natural drain.
➢ The water in irrigation channel may become surplus due to some
mistakes, or difficulty in regulation or due to heavy rainfall (reduce
demand), and sudden closure of control gates due to canal breach.
➢ The supplies shall be reduced from headworks but the effect of this
reduction may be felt only after certain time. Hence, in order to avoid
damages, canal escapes are provided.
➢ They acts as safety valves of canals and must be provided at regular
intervals depending upon the importance of the channel and availability
of a suitable drainage for the disposal of the escaped water.
➢ The minimum capacity of escape is generally kept half of the channel
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capacity at the point of escape.
Types of canal escapes:
The construction feature of an escapes allows it to be classified into two types
as described below:
(Types of escapes based on control)
1) Weir type:
➢ These are weir constructed either in the masonry or concrete with or without crest
shutters which are capable of disposing surplus water from the canal.
➢ The crest level of weir wall is kept at RL equal to canal FSL.
➢ When water level rises above FSL, it gets escaped.
➢ It is generally provided at tail end of canal for maintaining required FSL in tail
reaches so known as tail escape.
2) Regulator type (Sluice or Surplus escapes):
➢ These are gated escapes with a very low crest height.
➢ Hence, these sluices can empty the canal much below its full supply level and at a very
fast rate.
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➢ In some cases, these escapes act as scouring sluices to facilitate removal of sediment.
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Types of canal escapes:
(Types of escapes based on purpose)
1) Surplus water escapes
2) Canal scouring escapes
3) Tail escapes
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CANAL OUTLETS OR MODULES
➢ An outlet is a small structure which admits water from the
distributing channel to water course or field channel.
➢ It is a sort of head regulator for the filed channel delivering water to
irrigation field.
➢ The responsibility of maintenance of distributing channel and the
whole canal network lies with Government while that of the field
channel lies with the farmer.
➢ Thus, it acts as a connecting link between the two.
➢ These outlets play a very prominent role in controlling the flow of
water to different areas, for the equitable distribution of available
water in accordance with the needs of the whole areas.
➢ It also act as water- measuring device
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➢ Moreover, it should be simple, cheaper, efficient and easy to handle.
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Requirement of good module:
➢ It should fit well to the decided principle of water distribution.
➢ It should be simple, so that it can be easily constructed or fabricated
by local masons or technicians.
➢ It should be cheaper, since they are required in large numbers.
➢ It should be sufficiently strong and durable with no moving parts,
thus avoiding periodic maintenance.
➢ It should be worked efficiently with a small working head
➢ It should be so designed that the farmer cannot temper its
functioning and easily detectable.
➢ It should draw its fair share of silt.
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TYPES OF OUTLETS
1) Non-modular outlet:
Discharge depends upon the difference in level between the distributary
and water-course. The discharge through such outlet varies widely
with the fluctuations of water levels in distributing channel and field
channel. Eg. drowned pipe outlet, may also be open sluice instead of
pipe.
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2) Semi-modules or flexible modules:
Are those through which the discharge is independent of the water level of
the water course but depends only upon the water level of the
distributary so long as a minimum working head is available.
The discharge through such an outlet will, therefore, increase with a rise
in the distributary water surface level and vice versa.
Pipe-outlet, venturiflume etc.
3) Rigid modules or modular outlet:
Discharge is constant and fixed within limits, irrespective of fluctuations
of the water levels of either distributary or field channel. Eg. Gibb’s
module is a common example of such a module.
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1) Non-modular outlet
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1) Non-modular outlet
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2) Semi-modular outlet
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2) Semi-modular outlet
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CRITERIA FOR JUDGING THE PERFORMANCE OF MODULES:
The behavior and functioning of a module can be judged by the following terms:
Flexibility:
It is the ratio of rate of change of discharge of outlet to the rate of change of
discharge of distributing channel.
F=(m/n)*(y/H) where m=outlet index depending upon the type of outlet, n=
channel index
y=depth of water in distributary H= head acting on outlet above the sill level
Proportionality:
The outlet is said to be proportional when the rate of change of outlet discharge
equals to the rate of change of canal discharge. In other words, the outlet is
proportional when flexibility equals unity.
The ratio (H/y) is called setting.
Sensitivity:
It is the ratio of rate of change of outlet discharge to rate of change of the level of
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distributing channel.
S=n*F
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CANAL FALLS / CANAL DROP
➢ A drop (or fall) structure is a regulating structure which lowers the water level
along its course.
➢ A canal has a designed longitudinal slope but has to pass through an
undulating terrain. When a canal crosses an area that has a larger natural
surface slope, a canal drop, also called fall, has to be provided suitably at
certain intervals.
➢ Canals are constructed with permissible bed slopes so that the velocity of
water in the canal will neither produce scouring of the bed nor silting of
the canal.
➢ But it is not always possible to carry canal along ground slope unless heavy
earthwork is done.
➢ Canal slope 1: 4000 for Q=1 cumecs
1: 8000 for Q=300 cumecs
➢ Average ground slope 1:200 to 1:50
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➢ This difference is adjusted by constructing vertical falls in canal bed at
suitable interval.
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Proper location of falls:
➢ The location of a fall in a canal depends upon the topography of the
country through which the canal is passing.
➢ The location of a fall has to be judiciously worked out such that there
should be a balance between the quantities of excavation and filling.
(equalized as much as possible)
➢ Further the height of the fall has to be decided. A relative economy of
providing large no of small falls vs small no of large falls must be
considered.
➢ A small number of large falls may result in unbalanced earthwork but, on
the other hand, some savings in the overall cost of the drop structures
can be achieved.
➢ For branch and distributary channels, the falls are located with
consideration of command area.
➢ The location may also be decided from the consideration of possibility of
combining it with a regulator or a bridge.
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❖ There are various types of fall structures, some of which are no more provided
these days.
❖ However, there are many irrigation projects in which have these structures in the
canal network, as they were designed many years ago.
❖ Many of these structures used boulder masonry as their construction material,
whereas now brick masonry is being used commonly in modern irrigation
projects.
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TYPES OF FALLS:
1) Ogee Falls:
➢ Constructed in olden days on projects like Ganga canal.
➢ Heavy drawdown on u/s side, resulting in lower depths, higher
velocities and consequent bed erosion. Further, drawdown would also
affect the supply in a distributary, situated just upstream of fall.
➢ Due to smooth transition, kinetic energy of flow was not dissipated,
causing erosion of d/s bed and banks.
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2) Rapids:
Sloping long rapids at a slopes about 1:10 to 1:20 with boulder facing.
The rapid-fall was tried in some of the north-Indian canals which were
constructed with boulders cemented together by lime concrete
These were quite effective but, were very expensive due to their long
length, was gradually phased out.
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4) Stepped fall (Cascade):
The stepped falls were the modified form of rapid falls in this respect that the long glacis of
the rapid falls were replaced by floor in steps in the stepped falls as shown in figure.
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3) Trapezoidal notch fall: (video)
❖ It consists of one or more notches in a high crested wall across the channel with a
smooth entrance and a flat circular lip projecting downstream from each notch to
disperse water.
❖ It can maintain a constant depth-discharge relationship, i.e. there would neither be
drawdown nor heading up of water, as the channel approaches the fall. These falls,
remained quite popular, till simpler, economical, and better modern falls were developed.
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4)Simple Vertical Drop Type and Sarada Type Falls:
These are falls with impact type energy dissipaters.
The vertical-drop fall uses a raised crest to head up water on the upstream of the
canal section and allows it to fall with an impact in a pool of water on a depressed
floor which acts like a cushion to dissipate the excess energy of the fall.
This type of fall was tried in the Sarda canal of Uttar Pradesh, which came to be
commonly called as the Sarda-type fall. Sarada type fall is a high crested vertical
drop type fall.
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Usually, two different crests for the fall are adopted, as shown in Figure . For
canals conveying discharges less that 14 m3 /s, crest with rectangular cross
section is adopted, and for discharges more than that, trapezoidal crest with
sloping upstream and downstream faces is chosen.
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5) Straight Glacis type:
Hydraulic jump is made to occur on the glacis, causing sufficient energy
dissipation.
They are suitable up to 60 cumecs discharge and 1.5 m drop.
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Englis Falls or Baffle Falls
• A straight glacis type fall when added with a baffle platform and a baffle wall as
shown in figure was developed by Englis, and is called ‘Englis Fall’ or ‘Baffle
Fall’.
• They are quite suitable for all discharges and for drops of more than 1.5 m.
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