UNIT 9 CANAL REGULATORS

Structure
9.1 Introduction
Objecuves
9.2 Canal Head Regulators
9.3 Distributary Head Regulators
9.4 Cross Regulator
9.5 Design Criteria for Cross Regulator and Distributary Head Regulator
9.5.1 Design of Cross Regulator
9.5.2 Design of Distributary Head Regulator
9.6 Simple Distributary Head Regulator
9.7 Venturi Head (Regulator)
9.8 Summary
9.9 Key Words
9.10 Answers to SAQs

9.1 INTRODUCTION
The discharge released from a barrage into an irrigation canal has to be regulated
according to the demand and the available supply. The regulation of supplies as available
from the parent canal, to the different distributary canals has to be made as per the
rotation that is set out for the equitable distribution of water to the cultivators. For
effecting control, for this purpose, on the irrigation system some structures are required to
be constructed at the barrage and also on the offtaking distributary canals.
Objectives
By the end of this unit you should be able to know about the basic composition, and
fundamental design parameters of the following hydraulic structures :
canal head regulators,
distributary head regulators, and
cross regulators.

9.2 CANAL HEAD REGULATORS

A canal head regulator which is located just upstream of a barrage (or placed
appropriately near about a reservoir) is provided to help,
(a) regulate the discharge flowing into the offtaking channel, and
(b) control the entry of sediment into the channel.
A head regulator is generally aligned at an angle of 90' to 110' to the axis of the barrage
(Figure 9.1) in order to rninimise the entry of sediment entering into the channel, besides
preventing backflow and stagnant pools in the undersluice pocket that lies in the vicinity
of the regulator. Steel gates of spans usually in the range of 6 to 8 m, for manual
operation, are provided in the regulator to control the discharge. Larger spans can be
adopted for gates which are operated by electric winches.
To the designed full supply level of the canal, a working head of 1.0 to 1.2 m is added to
obtain the pond level in the undersluice pocket, upstream of the canal head regulator. The
head over the crest required to pass the full supply discharge in the canal at the specified
pond level is subtracted from the pond level to obtain the crest level of the head regulator.
To prevent the entry of sediment into the canal, the crest of the head regulator is always
kept higher than the sill level of the undersluices. Wherever a sediment excluder is
provided in the undersluice portion of the barrage, the crest level of the head regulator is
decided considering the design requirements of the sediment excluder besides the
requirements of waterway of the regulator, and the working head that is available.

Figurr 9.1 :Plau of a Canal Head Regulator

The width of the waterway in the head regulator is so determined that the full supply
discharge can be fed into the canal with about 50% of the working head. Should the
required waterway at the head regulator work out to be more than the bed width of the
canal, a converging transition is provided downstream of the regulator to obtain the
desired canal width. The following relation is used to determine the required head over
the crest, H (m) :

where, Q = discharge(cumec),
C = a coefficient that depends on various factors like, head over the crest, shape
and size of the crest, height of the crest over the upstream floor and the
roughness of the crest surface. Model studies are suggested to determine
the value of C. Bul in the absence of such studies, it may be taken as 1.71.
L = overall (i.e, gross) waterway (m),
K = a coefficient ranging from 0.01 to 0.10 depending on the shape of the
abutment and the pier nose, and
n = number of end contractions.
The difference between the p m H e v e M the crest level of the regulator is taken as the
height of the gates. But during periods of high floods, the water level in the river would
rise to a level much higher than the pond level in which case the flood water may spill
over the gates. Providing gates up to the HFL would obviously be uneconomical besides
the cost of the heavier gates and the machinery required to operate them under high water
pressures would also be more expensive. Such spilling of the flood water into the canal is
prevented by providing an RCC breast wall (Figure 9.2) between the pond level and the
HFL. The breast wall spans between adjacent piers. With this arrangement, the gate
opening between the crest level and the pond level is fully open when the gate is raised
up fully, i.e., to the pond level. When the gate is lowered to the crest of the regulator, the
opening is fully closed.
 SPACE FOR GATE
AXIS OF W O
BREAST WALL REGULATOR
BAFFLE BU)CK

iTE FLOOR - -
I
BLOCK
PROTECTION
BLOCK
anr
rnr
n y
TOE WALL -J
//
LOOSE APRON

Figure 9.2 :Section of Canal Head Regulator

After fixing the crest level, waterway, number of spans and thickness of piers, the head
regulator is designed on the same principles as a weir. The canal is generally kept closed
when the highest flood passes down the river. This situation would lead to the worst static
condition and the floor thickness must be such as to withstand the uplift pressure under
this condition. The exit gradient for this situation should also be within safe limits. The
floor is designed so as to counter the uplift pressure by its self weight, and also to
develop the necessary bending strength. For economic reasons, it may be necessary to
extend the piers upto the end of the floor to provide the required support to the upward
bending slab; thus, reducing the thickness of the slab.
In the trough portion where the jump would form, it is seen that the worst uplift situation
occurs when some water is passing into the banal. Hence, the safety of this part of the
floor should be checked for varying discharges inclusive of the maximum. Extending the
concrete floor upstream of the undersluices upto the end of the head regulator also
reduces the uplift pressures on the downstream floor of the regulator.
Access across the canal head regulator is provided by a bridge and for operating the gates
a working platform is incorporated in this arrangement.

The distributary head regulator is distinguished from a canal head regulator in that the
former is located in a main canal for feeding the water into a distributary canal while the
latter is located at the barrage at the head of the offtaking canal. The location of a
clistributary head regulator is at the entry point of the distributary where it takes off from
the main carnal (Figure 9.3).
The purpose of the distributary head regulator is to :
(a) divert (and control the supplies offtaking from the main canal and entering the
distributary,
(b) restrict the silt entering the distributary canal from the main canal, and
(c) measure the discharge being carried by the distributary.
Regulation

Figure 9.3 : Cross Regulator and Distributary Head Regulator

The supplies entering the distributary from the main canal are regulated by means of the
regulator crest which has piers, placed along the length of the crest, at suitable intervals
and abutments at either end. The piers and abutments are provided with grooves in which
gates or wooden planks (needles) can be lowered and raised to vary the discharge
(Figure 9.4). The gates are for large channels, while needles are for smaller spans. Gates
of spans of upto 8 m can be operated by hand while larger gates, say, 20 m wide, have to
be operated by mechanical means. Wooden planks are obviously used in smaller channels
The quantity of silt drawn into the distributary channel may be unduly heavy on account
of the following reasons :
(a) Lower layers of water (carrying major siltlsediment load) are more easily
diverted into Ule offtaking channel as compared to the upper layers, because
the lesser velocities ate confined to the lower layers.
(b) Due to the difference in the central and near-bank velocities of flow, it has
been seen that the bottom water has a tendency to move toward the banks at
the regulator site, and so the concentration of sediment is generally higher
near the banks (and the regulator is situated on the bank line itself).
Thus, if suitable measures'are not taken to control the entry of sediments into the
distributary, the offtaking channel will draw in and deposit more sediment than permitted,
requiring repeated desilting operations.
It is obvious that by causing the sediment to concentrate in the lower layers of the
flowing water (that is, near the bed of the main canal upstream of the offtaking point),
and allowing only silt free upper layers of water to enter the distributary channel,
sediment entry into the offtaking channel can be minimised. Providing a smooth bed in
the main canal upstream of the offtaking channel will help in concentrating the sediment
in the lower layers because the smooth bed will reduce the turbulence which is
responsible in keeping the sediment in suspension. Further, steps to increase the velocity
near the banks will also be helpful. The sediment withdrawal by the offtaking channel is c d~ q n l a t m
also being affected by the alignment of the offtaking channel. The alignment of the
offtaking canal should be kept such that its centre line is at an angle of 60' to 80' to the
centre line of the main canal in the direction of flow to prevent excess sediment being
drawn into the offtaking canal. On important works, the alignment is finalised after model
studies.

Figure 9.4 r SectSon at B-Bthrough Mshibotary Head Regulator (See Figurr 9.3)
The distributary can be used as a metering structure for which suitable head on crest
versus discharge relationship can be determined for use by the field staff. This
relationship will help in monitoring and regulating the discharge in the distributary.

It is a control structure constructed across a canal (Figure 9.3) to regulate the level of the
water upstream of the cross regulator (while the required discharge is allowed to pass
downstream) for any of the following purposes :
(a) To allow the desired discharge in the offtaking canal that is situated upstream
of the cross regulator,
(b) To release water from the canals by operating along with escapes,
(c) To maintain the water surface slopes in appropriate conjunction with the flow
control over falls so the canals may attain thelr regime slopes and cross
sections,
(d) To control the discharge released by one canal into another canal or lake.

.I

Figure 9 5 :Section at A-A through a Cross Regulator (See Figure 9.3)

It is general practice to provide a cross regulator in the main canal downstream of the
offtaking canal. This permits the water level to be raised in the main canal, by means of
gates provided in the structure for which suitable grooves are provided (Figure 9.5), when
the supplies are low, to such a level that the offtaking canal can draw the desired
discharge. A cross regulator is necessary on all irrigaiion systems, because the
distributaries and field channels are required to be supplied with water according to a set
roster even when the parent canal is carrying low supplir
Regulation Economic and other special considerations dictate the provision of a bridge or fall along
with the cross regulator.
?hQ2 .
i:rj How is a distributary laead :egul,~tor dil'frrcnt frt;ln ;lcanai head rcg!llal!.~r'!
Explain in cletail.
c b) What causes heavy silt lo b;: tlr;r<,'n it110 a dis!ribul:lry ~;1?1al?
!cj I-Trow c;ui you niiuinlisc Lhe entry of sill into offtaking caliirls? Give dc!ails
ahout Ulese measures. Collect some actual field examples.

SAQ 3
What is a cross regulalor and what 'w: its fur~clions'!Give one f~eldexample
:dong with a sketch.

9.5 DESIGN CRITERIA FOR CROSS REGULATOR AND

DISTRIBUTARY HEAD REGULATOR
The design criteria for the canal head regulator have already been discussed in Hydraulic
Structure-I (under Section 8.3 of Headworks-11). And, as an extension, the design criteria
for cross and distributary head regulators are discussed in the following sub-sections.
9.5.1 Design of Cross Regulator
The waterway of a cross regulator adopted should be such that the resulting afflux is less
than 0.15 m.
The full supply level in the main canal is maintained by the cross regulator so as to feed
the distributary canal even when the supply in the main canal is (2/3)rd of the actual
capacity of the main canal.
The crest level of the cross regulator should be kept 0.15 m (minimum) above the bed of
the canal but in no case higher than 40% of the normal depth of the canal on the
upstream. The width of the crest should be more than (2/3)rd of the head, and adequate
enough to accommodate the gate sill. The raised crest may be provided with upstream
and downstream slopes of 2 (H) : 1 (V). The length of impervious floor and depths of
cutoffs at the upstream and downstream ends of the floor are designed with regard to the
considerations of hydraulic jump, uplift pressures, safe exit gradient and maximum scour
depth. Block protection, inverted filters and launching aprons are provided on the
upstream and downstream ends of the impervious floors.
9.5.2 Design of Distributary Head Regulator
The overall waterway should be kept at least 70% of the normal canal width (at mid
depth) of the offtaking canal d/s of the head regulator, while the effective waterway
should be kept at least 60% of the width of the offtaking canal; the objective of this
criterion being that the mean velocity at full supply should be within 2.5 rnls.
The crest level of the distributary head regulator is fixed such that the full supply
discharge of the offtaking canal can be drawn even when the parent canal is carrying low
supplies which may be (2/3)rd of the full supply discharge of the parent canal. The water
level at the offtaking canal should be worked out by backwater calculations. The crest
level of the head regulator is calculated by deducting the head (H) required to causethe
desired discharge from the computed water surface level at the offtake. However, the
crest level should not be lower than the bed level of the offtaking canal. It is usual to keep
the crest level of the head regulator 0.3 to 0.6 m higher than the crest level of the cross
regulator.
The discharge through the head regulator is given by the following relation :
where, Cd = coefficient of discharge,
= 1.84 for sharpcrested weus (when the crest width < 2 Et/3)
= 1.705 for broad crested weir (when the crest width > 2.5 H
for free flow conditions),
BE = effective waterway,
= BT - 2 (n K p + KA) H . . . (9.3)
Br = overall waterway, which is the same as the clear crest length,
K p = coefficient of contraction for pies, ranging from 0.005 to 0.02,
depending on the pier geometry,
KA = coefficient of contraction for abutments, ranging from 0.1 to 0.2
depending on the geometry of the abutment,
n = number of piers.
Note : For submerged condition suitable alterations in the relevant parameters are to be

(a) Whal are the deb;pn iritc!i,k IOC dist.ribut:ary liead regulators') Ciivt
justifications.
i b ) I ) ~ Y L T ~tl~e
\ P design
~ criteria for cross re&!l.~lators
givinlg the reasons Lor cac1.r
c~iicr~on.

9.6 SIMPLE DISTRIBUTARY HEAD REGULATOR

A simple distributary head regulator (Figure 9.6) serves the purpose of regulating the
supplies. The wings are laid out to link the parent canal with the offtaking canal. The
length of waterway or crest is obtained by the drowned weir formula, such as :

Q= cd L m - [ ( m )HL '"+ hd m] . . . (9.4)

Cd = average coefficient of discharge = 0.65,
L = length of crest,
HL = upstreamwater surface level - downstream water surface level, and
hd = downstreamwater surface level - crest level.
The wings have grooves for inserting and removing stoplogs. The road is taken across the
parent canal and the offtake by means of a bridge. The floor is designed on the basis of
Bligh's theory for the extreme condition which occurs when the offtaking canal is closed
while the parent canal is running full.

DISTRIBUTARY
L - SECTION
Figure 9.6 :Simple Distributary Head Regalator
Regulation
9.7 VENTURI HEAD REGULATOR
The venturi head regulator consists of a flumed throat with suitable wings to attain the
1
normal bed width of the offtake downstream (Figure 9.7). Theoretically, the maximum
discharge passing through an open venturi flume occurs when critical flow is obtained;
this flow is given by the expression :

where, W = width of the throat, and

d = depth of water upsueamof the throat (ignoringthe approach velocity head).
Design Criteria
(i) Angle of offtake may be kept between from 60" to YU", in the direction of !
flow.
(ii) Bed width may vary upto 6 m
(iii) Width of throat should be more than one-third the bed width of the offtaking
canal and not less than the value given by the expression :

where, d = depth of the sill below the FSL, and

Q = discharge.
(iv) If there is a regulator in the parent canal downstream of the head of the
offtaking canal or if there is a large drop, the width of the throat may be kept
1/4 of bed width or Q /(1.4 cl'n) whichever is greater, but with a minimum of
0.6 m.
(v) The drop in water surface through the head regulator should be assumed as
d /8 (minimum). The width of the throat and the sill level are interdependent
and may be kept within the limits as outlined above.

DISTRIBUTARY
ROAD

LJ-"-'
PLAN

- .- ... -
PARENT CHLVJN.EL

SECTION A - A

Figure 9.7 :Venturi Head

 (vi) The ulroat is set-back (1.4 W + 0.6) m from the FSL of the parent canal. The Canal Regulators
side slope of the parent canal should be kept as 0.5 (H) : 1 (V).
(vii) The length of the throat is kept 2.5 d, measured from the FSL of the parent
canal. Since the grooves create some eddies, the grooves for installing planks
to raise the head of the offtaking canal should be set as far down the throat as
possible. In case of narrow flumes, the grooves are fixed below the flume
wherever possible.
(viii)The throat sill is given a batter of 0.5 : 1 on the u/s face to fit with the side
rlope of the parent channel, and is given a rounded surface at the top.
Downstream of the throat, the masonry floor should be extended to the start of
1 : 3 splay of the wing walls.
(ix) Where the bed of the offtaking canal at the head is lower than the sill of the
throat, the difference in level is provided with a glacis having a slope of 1 :
10. A minimum floor length of 1.5 m should be provided below the glacis. If
the drop is more than 0.15 m, a vertical drop should be provided immediately
below the throat.
(x) The upstream wings walls are warped and curved. But, the d/s wings are kept
vertical above the sill and turned sharply and stepped down to 1 : 1. The side
walls of the flume are splayed out from the end of the throat at 1 : 10 over a
length of 4.5 m or till the width of the flume becomes 2/3rd the bed width of
the offtaking canal. Thereafter the splay should be increased to 1 : 3 till the
full bed width is attained.'lhe side walls are simultaneously stepped down to
the bed level.
(xi) Both the parent canal and the offtaking canal are provided with a pitching.
It has been observed that if the above mentioned principles are followed, the head loss is
H / 9 or less and the discharge slightly over the theoretical value because of the
streamlined approach and the velocity of approach.

Example 9.1
Design a venturi head (regulator) given that:
(i) Discharge in parent canal = 12 cumec,
Bed width = 15 m,
Water depth = 1.5 m, and
Bed level = 100.00 m
(ii) Discharge in offtaking canal = 1 cumec,
Bed width = 3 m, and
Water depth = 0.6 m

Solution
FSL of parent canal = 100.00 + 1.5 = 101.5 m
Allowing for a drop in head equal to 0.2 m, and thus, keep the FSL of the
offtaking distributary at an RL of 101.5 - 0.2 = 101.3 m.
Bed level of offtaking canal = 101.3 - 0.6 = 100.7 m.
The width of the throat should at least not be less than the least of the following
values ;
($1 (1/3)rd bed width of offtake, i.e., 1 m.
[b) As determined by
Regulation The following values of d corresponding to various values of Ware obtained as
shown below :

w (Ill) 1.O 1.2 1.4 1.6

d (m) 0.885 0.784 0.707 0.647

sill level = 101.5 - d 100.615 100.716 100.793 100.853

Any one of the above combination may be adopted. Say, the first one is adopted,
that is a throat width of 1.4 m and a head over the sill as 0.707 m. The sill level
will be 100.793 - 100.7 = 0.093 m above the bed of the offtake.
Set back of throat = 1.4 W + 0.6 = 1.4 x 1.4 + 0.6 = 2.56 m from FSL line of the
parent canal.
Length of the throat = 2.5 d = 2.5 x 0.707 = 1.768 m.
The floor should be designed by Bligh's theory with FSL acting in the main
canal, and with the offtake closed.

.
' t
,.
p .>
, ,

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s.: >,; ,:;: !,<::{,I (l~g~::;itt;;~)Cos !.!I.:
;I .?~;~~i!,~lii ~ ~ ~ I ~ I . : v JcI ~I -)I~~ ~ d i l i:o ~ l s
P ; ~ l c ~ii;rr i ~ ; : i .<? :1 1 1 ~ctu!nc<:,
; h c i i wiilill = ! 2 in slid water ilc.pt11= E.2 m,
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i.)l'r'!;!k:l!~: inn:~l!Q =: (i.8 cullicc. bed ~-vicl(!!=. 7 m, and watei depLt1 -I: 0.5 111

9.8 SUMMARY
Canal head regulators situated at the barrage or weir site regulate the water entering the
main canal. The cross regulator assists in raising the water level in the parent channel to
feed the distributary canal when the supplies are low in the parent canal. The distributary
head regulator controls the discharge entering the offtaking canal from the parent canal.
Besides controlling the djscharge, these regulators also control the sediment entering the
main canal and the distributary canal.

9.9 KEY WORDS

Canal Head Regulator : A structure provided at a barrage or any reservoir to
regulate the discharge flowing into the offtaking channel,
and control the entry of sediment into the channel.
Cross Regulator : A structure constructed across a canal to regulate the level
of the water upstream of the cross regulator while the
discharge is allowed to pass downstream.
Distributary Head : Regulator located at the entry point of the distributary
Regulator where it takes off from the main canal.
 Simple Distributary Head : A distributary head regulator that serves only one Canal Regulators

I Regulator purpose, that is, to regulate the supplies.

I Venturi Head : A head regulator consisting of a flumed throat with
suitable iings to attain thenormal bed width of the
offtake downstream.

9.10 ANSWERS TO SAOs

Read through the relevant sections and reference material.