Headwork
Headwork
Headwork
Raises the water level in the river so that the commanded area
is increased.
Regulates the supply of water into the canal.
Controls the entry of silt into the canal.
Provide some storage of water for a short period.
Controls the vagaries of river.
components of diversion head works
Weir or Barrage.
Divide wall or divide groyne.
Fish ladder.
Under-sluices or scouring sluices.
Silt excluder.
Canal head regulator.
River training works such as Marginal bunds and
Guide bunds.
Weir
A weir or low head dam is a barrier or the crest wall of concrete
or masonry across the width of a river that alters the flow
characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the
height of the river level.
Used to control the flow of water for outlets of lakes, ponds,
and reservoirs.
Weir alignment should be at right angles to the direction of
flow.
Barrage
A barrage is a type of low-head, diversion dam, consists of a
number of large gates that can be opened or closed to
control the amount of water passing through.
This allows the structure to regulate and stabilize river water
elevation upstream for use in irrigation and other systems.
Barrage provides a better control over river flow by a suitable
manipulation of gates.
Current trend is to construct a barrage.
Difference between barrage & weir
Barrage Weir
Low set crest High set crest
Ponding by gates Ponding against raised crest
Gated over entire length Shutters in part length
Perfect control on river flow No control
Gates of greater height Shutters of small height, 2m
High floods can be passed with Excessive afflux in high floods
min afflux
Less silting U/S due to set crest Raised crest causes silting U/S
Longer construction period Shorter construction period
Costly structure Cheaper structure
Silt removal through under- No means of silt disposal
sluices
Site selection for diversion head work
Silt ejectors, also called silt extractors, are those devices which
extract the silt from the canal water after the silted water has
travelled a certain distance in the off-take canal.
These works are, therefore, constructed on the bed of the
canal, and little distance downstream from the head regulator.
Silt ejector
1. Mountainous Stage:
The first length of the river originating from hills is known as mountainous stage of
the river.
The longitudinal slope in this stage is very steep and velocity of flow of water, very
fast.
The width of the river in this region is generally very small.
This region is found most suitable for the construction of storage works like high
dams.
Large storages are possible as very deep valleys are easily available here. Moreover
the length of the dam is also relatively small. Materials of construction are locally
available.
This stage is however not suitable for diversion works.
2. Sub-Mountainous Stage:
The bed and banks of the river in this stage are made of gravel.
The velocity of flow is considerable though smaller than first
stage.
The river water contains lot of silt load. The river generally
does not flow in a single channel, but is form of small several
channels.
Longitudinal slope is less than first stage but still considerable.
Diversion works can be located in this region of the river.
3. Alluvial or Trough Stage.
This is the last length of the river before it falls into the sea.
This length of river is only a few kilometres long. Here velocity of flow
is very small and silting rate very high. Because of high rate of silting,
the rivers frequently change their course.
No diversion work is constructed in this region. Secondly available
command area near this region is also small.
(ii) In order to keep the length of the canal minimum, diversion head works should be
located as near the area to be irrigated as possible.
(iii) The elevation of the water in the river should be such that water may flow to the area
under gravity. If level of water is low, the position of the head works should be shifted a few
kilometres upstream so that increased elevation of water is available.
(iv) The canal should run in such a way that canal is partly in cutting and partly in filling.
(v) The river at site of diversion, should be neither too wide nor too narrow. The river
should neither be scouring nor silting.
(vi) The river should be straight and flowing in one channel. Its bed and banks should be
stable.
(vii) The canal alignment should be such that minimum streams cross it. This will reduce the
number of cross-drainage works to be constructed.
(viii) The canal should take off, either at 90° or greater than 90° with the river. Canal should
not run parallel to the river. In such circumstances the canal may be eroded during floods.
Diversion head works
These gates are opened and closed to directly control the amount of water that
passes through it. Having a barrage instead of a dam means that the flow of
water can be kept stable for its intended purpose, such as irrigation to nearby
cities, towns, or farmlands. Unlike a dam, the water stored behind a barrage
depends on the height of its gates and not the height of the entire wall. The
flow and level of water are easily monitored because the gates can be easily
manipulated.