Spillways

Hydropower Engineering
Lecture 4
School of Electrical &

Computer Engineering
Spillway
 The spillway is among the most important structures
of a dam project.
 It provides the project with the ability to release
excess or flood water in a controlled or uncontrolled
manner to ensure the safety of the project
 Functions of Spillways
 For Storage and Detention Dams:
 To release the surplus water or flood water that can
not be contained in the allotted storage space
 For diversion Dams:
 To bypass flow exceeding those turned from the
diversion system
2
Necessity of Spillways
Many failures of dams have been caused by hydraulic failure
Improperly designed spillways (Underestimation of the design
flood)
Spillways of insufficient capacity
Malfunctions of spillways components • Special precaution for
embankment dams since any over topping may lead to the Dam’s
failure • In concrete dams, the impact of overtopping is less
serious,
It may increase the stress on the dam body
 Undermine the stability of the dam by eroding the foundation at
the toe of the dam mainly by the overflowing impinging jet, •
Spillways are relatively expensive
Spillways cost account for about 20% for earth and rock fill
dams,
 Small portion for concrete dams
Cont’…
Criteria to select a Spillway
Factors need to be addressed in selecting appropriate
type of spillway for a particular project are
 Dam type & Height
 Spillway capacity
 Topography
 Construction material and labor
 Downstream condition
 Sediment load etc…
Cont’…
Location of Spillways
Spillways should be located so that spillway discharge
will not undermine the toe of the dam
Spillways may be located either in the middle or at the
edges
If a suitable saddle can be found, they may be located
away from the
Then, a choice has to be made to locate the spillway
structure on the flank.
Cont’…
Spillway Design Considerations
In designing a spillway, the following factors have to be
given due considerations
It must have adequate capacity
It should be sized so that there will not be any overtopping
It must be hydraulically and structurally safe. Its surface should be
erosion resistant.
It must be located so that its discharge will not erode or undermine
the downstream toe of the dam
Its capacity should not exceed that of the receiving rive
Types of Spillways
1. Overflow spillways
 The overflow type of spillway is the most common and
is usually the most economical for passing large flows.
 This type of spillways are provided in case of concrete
and masonry dams.
 It is suited in the body of the dam, generally in the
center.
 As it is provided in the dam itself, the length of dam
should be sufficient to accommodate the designed
spillway crest.
Cont’…
 In this process the excess energy of fast moving water is
destroyed.
2. Side channel spillways
 Side channel spillways are used mainly with embankment dams.
 They are located just upstream and to the side of the dam.
 A side channel spillway is employed when the valley is too
narrow in case of solid gravity dams and non-rigid dams are
adopted.
 Side channel spillways are used mainly with embankment dams.
3. A shaft spillway
 A shaft spillway is sometimes called a morning glory spillway.
 It is a hollow tower or shaft, usually circular, which has a funnel
at its top.
 The tower sits in the reservoir near the dam. The tower sits above
an outlet pipe or tunnel used to transport water out of the
reservoir.
 It is built to house controls for opening and closing valves or
gates that control the flow of water through the outlet.
 This type of spillways are suitable for narrow gorges.
 In this type of spillways the water will first drops through the
vertical shaft and then it passes through a horizontal conduit
passing through the dam at the bottom which conveys the water
to the downstream side of the dam.
Cont;…
 The main drawback of this type is the hazard of
clogging with debris.
 This type of spillways are suitable for narrow gorges.
4. The siphon spillway
 The siphon spillway is a closed conduit for discharging water over
or through the dam.
 This type of spillway can also provide automatic surface-level
regulation.
 The entrance to a siphon spillway is usually submerged below the
normal water level, to prevent the entrance of air and reduce the
potential for clogging (obstruction) with debris or ice.
 This type of spillways are suitable for gravity dams and works on
the principle of siphonic action.
 It occupies less space and regulates the reservoir level with narrow
limits.
 This type of spillways are used for smaller capacity and where the
space available is limited and are suitable for gravity dams.
 In this type the water level can be maintained very closed limits
automatically.
Cont’…
 The siphon spillway is closed conduit for discharging water

over through the dam.
5. Chute or through spillway
 The chute spillways are simple in design and construction and
are adaptable to almost all foundation conditions. The chute
spillways may have the following sections:
i. the entrance channel
ii. the control structure
iii. the conveyance structure
 This type of spillway is most suited under the situation of when
the valley is too narrow to accommodate the solid gravity
spillway in the body of the dam.
 It is called chute spillway because after crossing over the crest of
the spillway the water flows shoots down a channel or tough to
meet the river channel downstream of the dam.
 This type of spillways are suited earth dams and it is simple in
construction and design.
6. Breaching spillway (emergency spillway
 It is used as an auxiliary spillway only.
 Naturally it is not necessary to protect structure, its
foundation or its discharge channel from serious
damage.
 An emergency spillways comes into action when
occurring flood discharge exceeds the designed flood
discharge.
THANK YOU

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Hydropower Engineering

School of Electrical &

 The siphon spillway is closed conduit for discharging water

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