TYROLEAN WEIR INTAKES TO COPE WITH PERUVIAN

HAZARDOUS WATERSHEDS
J. Arbolí*, C. Polimanti **
*
Lombardi Group (**Formerly Lombardi Group)
Av. Javier Prado Oeste, 390, San Isidro, Lima, Peru
e-mail: info@lombardi.group, webpage: www.lombardi.group

Keywords: Small Dams, Concrete, Tyrolean Weir, Hazardous site conditions

Abstract. The Hydropower Project is located in the Peruvian region, in a complicated

environment that merges both Andean and jungle conditions. In these rainy areas,
geologic and geotechnical conditions, combined with a strong seismic activity, lead to
many constraints for the design of hydropower projects. Steep boulder-bed rivers,
occurrence of debris-flow events and poorly characterized soil conditions along the
conveyance system require that the design of the project perfectly combines feasibility
and proper scheme performance, while keeping in mind the difficult operation and
maintenance of a project located a several-hour drive from the next big inhabited center.

The project consists of two water intakes located in two different rivers that convey the
flow to the forebay and the penstock by means of two large box culverts. The starting
point for both intakes is a Tyrolean weir, which safely provides the water intake point
while minimizing the harmful debris normally occurring in the catchment areas. Flow
debris events, referred to as “huaicos” by locals, represent a breakpoint in which a
Tyrolean weir is a good option to cope with the presence of a strong flow of mud and
boulders that may damage and leave out of operation the hydro-mechanical equipment of
a classic gated weir.

This paper introduces the main aspects considered for the design of the intake works,
explaining the final solution adopted for construction and its main key component s.

1 INTRODUCTION
Currently under construction, this Hydropower Project is located in a remote valley, a
3-hour drive away from the closest city. As a result of the transition between the
Amazonian Jungle and the Andes, the valley appears in the Peruvian orography. The area
presents heavy rains during the wet season, from December to May, which can also
originate landslides and debris flows. These circumstances combined with the seismic
activity of the area define the main challenges of the Project.
The Project is composed of two water intakes, located in two different rivers. Both
intakes consist of a bottom intake and a desander. Further on, a reinforced concrete box
culvert conveys the water flow from the intake to the forebay. A PRFV penstock
connects it with the powerhouse, which is equipped with two Francis units of 10 MW
each.

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2 GEOMORPHOLOGY
The Project is located on a highly mountainous semi-jungle environment with
elevations ranging from 1’100 to 1’400 m asl, upstream the confluence of the valleys
eroded by the flow of each river, whose directions are W-SW and N-S, respectively.
The valleys are divided by a promontory that reaches an elevation of 2’300 m asl on
its peak in the SE sector that creates V-shaped valleys with slopes between 20° and 70°,
see Figure 1. The valleys are characterized by steep rock slopes on the proximities of the
river beds. Close to the axis of the headrace canals, cultivated terrains by local
inhabitants are mainly observed, while the highest part of the mountains is predominantly
covered by dense vegetation.

Figure 1: General layout and slope characterization of the Project area.

The existing streams, aligned with the maximum gradient, cut the valley slopes and
are fed by direct rainfalls and temporal natural springs, such that during summer most of
them present a dry condition. Some of the streams show cone-shaped deposits mainly
formed by “huaicos” (meaning debris flows in local terminology), which represent the
greatest geodynamic activity in the area and the highest risk for water intakes on both
rivers.
The morphology of the bottom of the valleys is characterized by the activity of the two
rivers, whose riverbeds are covered by big grain deposits and boulders reaching
diameters greater than several meters. This is a clear sign of the torrential flow of both
rivers, see Figure 2.

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Figure 2: Views of both the riverbeds at their respective Tyrolean weir locations.

At some points, the main river widens in low slope stretches, created by the
accumulation of recent alluvium material. On the other hand, the other river does not
present meanders, having an almost rectilinear trajectory with greater slopes than the
main river. Both rivers merge immediately downstream the Powerhouse on an area
primarily characterized by boulders, alluvium terraces reaching heights of 25 m above the
actual riverbed and rock outcrops. It is important to highlight that the bedrock is mostly
covered by superficial deposits, mainly from colluvium and old landslide deposits.
The geological and geotechnical characteristics of the valleys encountered along the
project have to be carefully studied in order to understand the main risks that any
structure located over the riverbed will need to cope and overcome while its operation.
Figure 3 shows a simple sample of typical roads and patterns presented on the project
area.

Figure 3: a) Existing access road to the project; b) Main access path to one of the intakes.

Even though the geological and geomorphological characteristics introduced before

are not usually well suited for the design of run-off river water intakes, several
engineering solutions, such as gated spillways, fixed spillways and Tyrolean weirs, were
studied in order to fulfil the client´s requirements for safety and operation.

3 HYDROLOGY
Figures 4 and 5 showcase the daily flow discharge and the flood statistics as a function
of the return periods for both the rivers of the Project. These statistics have been

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calculated based on existing daily flow measurements from the hydrometric station
closest to the project location for a period of 21 years (1978-1998).

Figure 4: Daily water discharge of the rivers, extrapolated at the water intake of both rivers.

Figure 5: Flow statistics at the water intakes, blue and orange respectively.

4 PRECEDENTS

4.1 Gated Spillway

The feasibility study carried out during 2015 considered for the main water intake a
classical gated spillway scheme, equipped with three radial gates (6.50 x 6.20 m) and a
small ripper channel, also equipped with another radial gate (3.00 x 6.20 m) in order to
purge the small reservoir created upstream the weir. The smaller intake had a similar
scheme, having two main radial gates of 6.50 x 6.20 m and a smaller one of
3.00 x 6.20 m.
Both weirs controlled and conveyed the water flow, through a lateral water intake
equipped with a trashrack, into a desander. Further on, the flow was conveyed into the
culvert box that served as the main adduction system until both canals reached the
forebay.

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4.2 Tyrolean Weir

During the first site visit in June 2016, Lombardi´s team of specialists observed that
major flood events normally occur along both rivers. Riverbeds were found full of
boulders, up to diameters of 5 m, as well as remnants of an intense geodynamic activity
along the valleys, such as scarps and landslides. It is also important to mention that the
information gathered from local inhabitants showed that intense debris flows events
occur yearly in the area during the rainy season, which lasts normally for more than four
months.
These events, called “huaicos”, are very destructive for a typical gated spillway
scheme; thus, it was discarded after the design team understood the harmful geodynamic
activity present along the rivers. Figure 6 shows the remains of a gated weir and a
desander located a hundred meters downstream of the powerhouse location.
Lombardi and the owner of the hydropower scheme, agreed that the optimal type of
water intake for rivers with these dangerous characteristics was closer to a Tyrolean weir
intake than a gated spillway.

Figure 6: Remains of a damaged water intake located downstream of the Project after experiencing a
“huaico” event during March 2016.

As part of the scope of the final design stage, a final geotechnical exploration
campaign was designed and carried out in order to better understand the geology and the
geotechnics of the construction area along the whole project. As a result, the main intake
was moved upstream in order to avoid a major landslide that had not been characterized
during the feasibility stage.

5 TYROLEAN WEIR

5.1 Main Considerations

The Tyrolean weir was firstly developed in the Alps, specifically in South Tyrol, as a
water intake for mountainous streams, where peasants had to take water from brooks with
heavy bed load movement for the irrigation of their meadows 1.
Nowadays, Tyrolean weirs play an important role regarding the intake structures that
are normally developed, not only for irrigation, but also for hydropower projects.
Within the scope of hydropower projects, a typical Tyrolean weir scheme is mainly
composed of a massive concrete weir partially submerged along the riverbed and
equipped with an inclined trashrack that protects and isolates the collection canal located

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inside the weir body. The bars of the rack are laid in the direction of the current and
inclined in the direction of the tail water so that coarse bed load is kept out of the
collection canal and transported further downstream. Particles smaller than the opening
between the rack bars will enter into the collection canal together with the water. Due to
the latter, a flushing device downstream, such as desander, is required in order to
guarantee the constraints of the power generation equipment.

5.2 Selection Criteria

Many factors need to be taken into consideration while studying the implementation of
a Tyrolean weir, especially within the scope of a hydropower project water intake. Its
design and location are mainly based on geological, hydraulic and sediment flushing
considerations, whilst structural and economic considerations should also be addressed.
The main river characteristics 2 that should be considered prior to the concept phase of
said structures include the gradient of the riverbed, the ground-plan of the riverbed and
sediment carried by the river.
Tyrolean weirs shall be implemented in areas where the gradient of the riverbed is
either very steep (i>10%) or steep (2.5%>i>10%), in order to make use of its benefits
regarding maintenance-free operation and to avoid the clean-up of boulders or trunks
stuck over the rack. Rivers with a straight ground-plan riverbed are better suited for the
Tyrolean Weir because its rack becomes uniformly loaded with the stream flow.
Additionally, this kind of intake is effective in the case of coarse bed loads that will pass
over the intake and will not pour into the collection canal.
For the Project, Tyrolean weir intakes were considered optimal due to the
aforementioned characteristics. Both the rivers of the Project properly responded to the
previously mentioned recommendations. Considering the riverbeds had gradients around
5% along the intake areas, the majority of the material transported by the rivers was
classified as coarse, and the expected flood events during the rainy season, the Tyrolean
intake was deemed better suitable for the project under discussion.

5.3 Hydraulic Design

A Tyrolean Weir intake must be dimensioned well enough in order to be able to take
the nominal flow required for energy production by the hydropower plant. The main
design is normally based on the general formulae of Frank 3, varying the coefficients
according to the final shape of the rack and its bars.

Figure 7: Tyrolean weir conceptual profile and typical discharge coefficients depending on bar shape.

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(1)

(2)
where,
c: rack shape coefficient, (2)
μ: discharge coefficient for the rack based on the shape of the bars, see Figure 6
B: width of the rack
L: length of the rack
h: initial water depth at the beginning of the rack, (3)
a: interior width between bars
b: distance between internal axes of the bars
β: slope angle of the rack with respect to the horizontal
In order to characterize the initial water depth, h, measured orthogonally to the rack at its
base, as shown in Figure 7, the LCH of the EPFL4 has proposed the following relationship
with respect to the critical water depth, hcr,

(3)

(4)

(5)
where kc is a correction factor (5) for slope angles of racks greater than 30°, as it is the case
for both the water intakes of the Project.

6 WATER INTAKE N°1

6.1 Location and site conditions

The river is well characterized as a mountainous river with a gradient of 5% and its
riverbed is mainly conformed by alluvium (a) and landslide deposits (der), displaying
evidence of transportation of gravels and boulders of several sizes during the rainy
season. Whilst its right margin is formed by sandstones and lutites (AL), the left margin
is characterized by an old landslide with boulders of several sizes within a matrix of fine-
grained materials (der).

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Figure 8: Geological characterization and borehole location at the main water intake axis.

The main design challenge to face, regarding this intake as well as along the whole
river, is the appearance of “huaico” events that originate in the upstream part of the
watershed and wildly flow along the riverbed.

6.2 Final geometry

In order to design a successful scheme for the conditions previously discussed, a
7.50 m high and 30 m long Tyrolean weir was conceived, having on its top a rack with a
length of 25 m and a width of 2 m, inclined at an angle of 37°. As shown in Figure 9, the
water intake has a gates chamber next to the weir, where the hydro-mechanical
equipment is housed. After the gates, a regulation chamber allows the free flow scheme
to discharge through a spillway in case of flood events and/or malfunctioning of the
gates, granting the scheme with added security and robustness during its operation.

Figure 9: Final geometry developed for the main water intake, 3D render.

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7 WATER INTAKE N°2

7.1 Location and site conditions

This river, having a general gradient of 5.3%, is mainly characterized by deposits in
the form of alluvium terraces (at) along its riverbed. At the intake area, pebbles, gravels,
and round boulders of no more than a metre size are found, having a rock substratum of
slate (PI) at a depth around 5-10 m, as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10: Geological characterization and borehole location at the water intake axis.

7.2 Final geometry

Taking into account the geodynamics and the project requirements, a 7 m high and
20 m long Tyrolean weir intake was designed for this water intake. The structure, see
Figure 11, having along its top a 15 m long by 2 m wide rack, develops a height of 6.5 m
in order to achieve proper foundation conditions. Given the similarities between both the
rivers, the concept implemented was similar for each water intake.

Figure 11: Final geometry developed for the water intake, 3D render.

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8 CONCLUSIONS
The concept phase of engineering solutions within the scope of hydropower projects is
critical and should take into consideration all the possible associated risks, not only
during construction but also during the operational phase. The scheme has to be tailored
to the characteristics of the project, increasing the importance of understanding the real
site conditions over the application of classical concepts.
According to this principle, site conditions were very deeply studied for the Project in
order to achieve a long-lasting solution that will operate properly in the future, even under the
influence of hazardous site conditions and yearly harmful events. As a result, a different water
intake concept was introduced to the project for both the intakes, leading not only to a simpler
scheme, but also a more economical solution, both in terms of construction and maintenance
activities.

REFERENCES
[1] GTZ - Planning of Water and Hydropower Intake Structures, 1989.
[2] Schleiss A. J., Aménagements Hydrauliques, Génie civil 3e année, LCH, EPFL, Nouvelle
éditon, 2004.
[3] Frank, J., Hydraulische Untersuchungen für das Tirle Wehr, Der Bauingenieur 1956,
Heft 3.
[4] Laboratoire de Constructions Hydrauliques - EPFL, Communication 26 : Standardization
of civil engineering works of small high-head hydropower plants and development of an
optimization tool, Lausanne 2006.

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