Chapter 7: Regulation structures

7.1 Alignments of the off taking channels

7.2 Function of head regulator, cross regulator, outlets, drops and escapes
7.3 Design of regulators and escapes (crest, length and thickness of impervious floor)
7.4 Types of drops, design of vertical drop (crest, length and thickness of impervious floor)
7.5 Types of outlets, design of pipe outlet (free and submerged)
7.1 Alignment of off taking channels
As we know that the main canal takes its supplies from the source such as river or reservoir. But branch / distributaries get their supplies from
the parent canals.
The off taking channel makes a zero angle with parent channel initially and then separates out in transition. This is the best ideal alignment. Fig.
(a)

The transitions from the main channel to the off taking channel have to be designed properly so as to avoid the accumulation of silt. So,
therefore to serve as an alternative to the transitions both the channels have to make an angle with the parent channel upstream of the off take,
fig. (b)
Whenever the parent channel has to be carried straight then the edge of the canal rather than centerline should be considered in deciding the
angle of the off take channel, fig. (c)
Canal regulation structures:

These are the structures constructed in order to control, distribute and regulate the flow of water by maintaining the
discharges, depths velocities etc. in the canals. These structures ensure the efficient functioning of the irrigation canal
system. The regulation structures provided are:
1. Canal regulators
2. Canal falls / drops
3. Canal escapes
4. Metering flumes etc.
5. Canal outlets and modules

1.Canal regulators: Canal regulators are of two types.

a) Distributary Head regulator. b) Cross regulator fig: Head Regulator

As we previously studied about head regulator of the main canal (parent canal) which off takes water from the source (river/reservoir)
that controls and regulates the water entering into the main canal system. But distributary head regulator is the inlet structure of branch
canal / distributary canal which helps to control and regulate the required flow from their supply/ source canal / parent canal.
Similarly, cross regulator is provided at the source canal which helps to head up water at the u/s of inlet of the distributary head
regulator of the off taking canal. This structure is provided with road bridge from where crossing of vehicles and pedestrians above the
canal can be done. Regulator gate can be closed for supplying water to the off taking canal during low flow in parent canal or
completely closed for the purpose of repairing / maintenance of parent canal at downstream.
7.3 Design of distributary Head regulator and cross regulator

a) Crest level :
1. Crest level of cross regulator is kept at u/s bed level of the parent canal.
2. Crest level of distributary head regulator is provided at 0.3 to 1m above the crest of cross regulator.
b) Water way can be worked out using drowned weir formula
Q = 2 / 3 Cd1√2g B (h +hv)3/2 + Cd2 B. h1 √ (2g (h + hv)) Neglecting velocity of approach i.e Va = 0, hv = 0, Cd1 = 0.577,
Cd2 = 0.80
Q = 1.7 B h 3/2 + 3.54 B h1 h 1/2

h u/s FSL parent canal

d/s FSL off taking canal h1 yu

yd

d2 d1

c)Vertical cut off : d) Down stream floor level = d/s FSL – Ef2
u/s d1= yu / 3 +0.60 e) d/s floor length = 5 (y2-y1) , 2/3 of b which ever is larger.
d/s d2 = yd / 2 +0.60 d/s floor thickness is calculated by using khosla’s theory. Minm floor thickness u/s 0.30 to 0.50m.
2. Canal falls / Drop structures
Providing continuous bed slope of canal increases the flow velocity which leads to scouring of canal bed and sides. So to maintain the velocity
of flow the energy of flow water is dissipated by providing drop structures at a suitable intervals These are the structures constructed on the bed
of canal to lower the bed of canal whenever available natural ground slope is stepper than the designed bed slope of the canal. As far as possible,
generally the bed of canal is kept below the ground in cutting part rather than the filling portion to make it more stable. The excessive cutting /
filling increases the cost in one hand in other large depth of fall increases the cost of construction as well. Hence location and extent of fall /
drop is considered accordingly.
Embankment of canal
Natural ground FSL of canal

u/s Canal bed

d/s Canal bed Fall/drop

EL free board
FSL
GL
Bed level
Types of fall /drops
1. Ogee fall 2. Chute drop / rapids 3. Straight glacis fall 4. Trapezoidal notch fall 5. Inglis / baffle fall
6. Montague fall 7. Stepped / cascade drop 8. well / syphon /Pipe drop 9. Sarada type Fall / Vertical drop
1. Ogee fall : Ogee curve is the combination of convex and concave curves. So, Ogee fall consists of both convex and concave curves
gradually. This gradual combination helps to provide smooth transition of flow and also reduce the impact. If the canal natural ground
surface is suddenly changed to steeper slope, ogee fall is recommended for that canal. Stone pitching is provided in the upstream and
downstream of the fall.

1.

2. Chute drops/ rapids: Rapid Falls consist a long sloping glacis. It is constructed if the available natural ground surface is plane and long.
For this, a bed of rubble masonry is provided and it is finished with cement mortar of 1:3 ratio. To maintain the slope of bed curtain walls
are provided at both upstream and downstream. The slope of fall varies from 1: 15 to 1:20.
3. Straight / sloping glacis fall : Modern type of fall provided with sloping glacis 2:1 as that of sloping glacis weir made up of
concrete structure where hydraulic jump is made to form at glacis portion to dissipate energy of flow.

4. Trapezoidal notch fall: In case of trapezoidal notch falls, a high crested wall is built across the channel and trapezoidal notches are provided
in that wall. Trapezoidal falls are very economical and suitable for low discharges.
5. Inglis / baffle fall
In this case, straight glacis fall is extended as baffle platform with baffle wall. This is suitable for any discharge. The baffle wall is constructed
near the toe of the straight glacis at required distance in designed height. The main purpose of the baffle wall is to create hydraulic jump from
straight glacis to baffle platform.

6. Montague fall: Montague Fall is similar to straight glacis fall but in this case the glacis is not straight. It is provided in parabolic shape to
introduce the vertical component of velocity which improves the energy dissipation to more extent.
7. Stepped / cascade drop:

It is suitable for the canal which has its upstream at very high level as compared to downstream. Hence, water is dropped by passing through
falling steps continuously as shown in figure. Height of each drop up to 1m.
Ground
EL

u/s bed
d1
d2

d3

Cascades d/s bed

8. Well / Syphon drop :Well type falls are also called as syphon drop falls. In this case, an inlet well with pipe at its bottom is constructed in
upstream. The pipe carries the water to downstream well or reservoir. If the discharge capacity is more than 0.30 cumecs then downstream well
is preferred. Hight of drop 2-3m.

Well
9.Sarada type drop / simple vertical drop:
In the vertical drop the energy of water is dissipated by means of sudden deflection of velocity to horizontal direction by providing water
cushion at the toe of the drop which reduces the impact of falling water and saves the d/s floor from scouring bed.
U/S D/S

1:3 1:8

7.4 Design of vertical drop fall: Lc = 5 √(H.HL) X = ¼ (H.HL) 2/3

v2/2g u/s TEL

u/s FSL
h H Bt HL= head loss
Crest level
u/s canal bed. d/s FSL
d = drop ht.
d/s canal bed

x
Bmin Cistern length = Lc
Design of Sarada type fall / vertical drop

S.N Particulars Rectangular Crest Trapezoidal Crest

1. Discharge Up to 14 cumecs. Greater than 14 cumecs.

2. Q = Cd √2g L H 3/2 (H / Bt)1/6 Cd = 0.415, Q = 1.84 L H 3/2 (H / Bt)1/6 Cd = 0.45, Q =1.99L H 3/2 (H / Bt)1/6

3. Top width of crest wall (Bt) 0.55√d where d = drop ht. 0.55 √( H + d)
4. Base width (h +d) /G; (h +d) /G ;
( minimum) G=2 for masonry G= sp.gr. of material

5. Side slope of crest wall Both faces vertical Inclined faces u/s 1:3 and d/s 1:8

6. Wing wall u/s Straight Wing wall splayed at an angle of 450 Segmental wing wall with radius R = 5
from the u/s edge of crest and embedded into berm. to 6 times H and subtending angle of 600
at center and carried tangentially into the
berm.

7. Wing wall d/s Straight up to end of d/s floor and joined to return Straight up to distance 5 to 8 times
wall. √(H.HL) and warped in a side slope of
canal
8. Depth of curtain wall i) For u/s : 1/3 of depth of flow Same
ii) For d/s:1/2 of depth of flow

9. Length of pitching i) For d/s : 3 times depth of d/s water Same

ii) For u/s : depth of u/s water

10. Length of cistern Lc = 5 √(H.HL) Same

11. Depth of cistern X = ¼ (H.HL) 2/3 Same

12. Minimum d/s floor length Ld = [2 (water depth +1.2) + HL] Same
3. Canal escapes:
These are the structures which is constructed in the canal section to escape out excess water from the canal to the nearby drains / rivers so that
water may not over top the banks and breaching of canal can be prevented. The canal escape is a side channel constructed to remove surplus
amounts of water from an irrigation channel such as main canal, branch canal, distributary canal etc. into the natural drain. The excess flow into
the canal section may arise when there is the excessive opening of gate by mistake, chance of entering of water from the adjoining areas ,
excessive rainfall in the upper reaches of canal section and closing of outlets by the farmers as they find the demand of water is over.
Types of escapes:
i) Weir type / Tail end escape: figure - (b) : Crest of weir is provided at the FSL and water above FSL automatically escaped out into the
natural drain through the opening provided above crest constructed at the side slope of canal at suitable interval. Such escape is also
provided at the tail dead end of canal bed called tail end escape.
ii) Sluice type / regulator type / scouring escape : figure - (a) : Such escape can escape out all the water from the canal section. It is
provided with regulator gate whose sill level is at the bed level of canal and gate can be opened vertically above sill so that water entered
into the escape channel from the bed as in head regulator. Which is also useful for removing silts deposition from the canal section towards
the escaped canal by providing high scoured velocity of flow. The regulator type escape is designed in the same basis of head regulator
without any raised crest.
4. Metering flumes
It is the structure constructed in the canal by maintaining the narrower section of the canal for measuring the flow discharge accurately. Metering
flumes are of two types.
i) Non modular type/ venturi flume:

a1 a2 𝑸 = 𝑪𝒅. 𝒂𝟏. 𝒂𝟐 𝟐𝒈𝒉 ÷ √(𝒂𝟏𝟐 − 𝒂𝟐𝟐)

u/s FSL d/s FSL

V1 h

y1 y2
u/s bed V2 d/s bed

ii) Standing wave flume/ modular venturi flume: Hydraulic jump is formed on the d/s glacis in the diverging channel and is better than venturi
flume because discharge depends only upon u/s head over the crest of the throat and its discharge capacity is more than former one.

Q = 1.7 Cd B H 3/2 B = length of throat which is 2 to 3 times H.

u/s TEL
u/s FSL d/s FSL
h H
crest of throat
5. Canal outlets / modules:
Outlets / modules are the structure provided at the head of the water courses which connect them to the distributing channels and control water to
the watercourses.
Types of outlets:
1. Modular type ( Rigid outlets): Such outlets maintain a constant discharge irrespective of fluctuations in the water levels of the supplying
channels as well as water courses and are not suitable in hilly areas due to their construction complications.

Roof slab free fall

Shoots FSL H HL water course

holes chamber D
FSL HL
D Canal H Water Course a) Non – submerged weir
FSL Pipe
D H HL water course
fig: Modular Outlet

FSL HL b) Pipe with free flow

D H D H fig: a) & b) Semi modular type

c) Submerged weir
d) submerged pipe flow
fig c) & d) Non modular outlets
2. Semi-modular / Flexible outlet : Discharge through which is independent of the water level in the water course subjected to a minimum
working head being available, but varies in characteristic manner with the variation in the water level of the canal. Suitable in hilly areas.
3. Non-modular type : Discharge depends on the difference in water level between canal and water course.
Criteria for judging the behaviors / performance of modules:
1. Flexibility: It is the ratio of the rate of change of discharge of an outlet to the rate of change of discharge of the canal.
F = (dq/q) / (dQ/Q) where, F = flexibility of outlet , Q and q are the discharge of canal and outlet respectively.
If H be the head acting on outlet i.e H = depth of sill of outlet below FSL. Then, discharge through outlet may be expressed as
q = C1 H m …. (i) where C1 and m are constants depends on type of outlet. m= outlet index; n = channel index
On differentiating eqn (i) with respect to dH then, dq = C1 m H m-1 . dH ….. (ii)
Now, dq/q = C1 m H m-1 . dH / C1 H m ⸫ dq/q = m .dH/H ………………(iii)
Similarly, for canal , the discharge Q can be related to its depth of flow D as below
Q = C2. D n ........(iv) Differentiating eqn (iv) w.r.to dD then, dQ = C2 . n D n-1 dD ….. (v)
from eqn iv & v ; ⸫ dQ/Q = n dD/D …(vi) So, Flexibility of outlet F = m/n . D/H . dH/dD
As a change in water depth of canal has the chance of equal change in head on the outlet, so dD = dH. ⸫ F = m/n . D/H
Case: 1 ; when F = 1 ; (dq/q) / (dQ/Q) = 1 ; (dq/q) = (dQ/Q) Rate of change of outlet discharge equals rate of change of canal discharge.
Such outlet is said to be proportional. F = m/n . D/H
1 = m/n . D/H then, H/D = m/n
Setting : H/D is called setting which represents the proportion of depth at which outlet is fixed.
Now, n= 5/3 for trapezoidal channel and for a canal having side slope of ½:1, m = ½
1. 𝑄 ∝ 𝐷 𝑛 m = 1/2 for outlet with orifice type, 𝑞 ∝ 𝐻 𝑚 , 𝒒 ∝ 𝑯 1/2 Setting H/D = m/n = 1/2/5/3 = 0.30
𝑄 ∝ 𝐷 5/3 m = 3/2 for weir type outlet , 𝑞 ∝𝐻 𝑚 , 𝒒 ∝ 𝑯 3/2 Setting H/D = m/n = 3/2/5/3 = 0.90
Outlet is set at 0.30 times the depth below the water surface in case of orifice type module and set at 0.90 times the depth below for weir type.
Case 2: Flexibility F > 1 Outlet is hyper proportional ; F = m/n . D/H > 1

i.e H/D < m/n the discharge in the canal changes by certain percentage , the discharge changes in outlet by larger percentage. Setting will be
higher than that required for proportional.
Case 3: Flexibility F < 1 Outlet is Sub Proportional; F = m/n . D/H < 1
H/D > m/n; the discharge in the canal changes by certain percentage , the discharge changes in outlet by lower percentage. Setting will be lower
than that required for proportional.
Case 4: Flexibility F = 0 Outlet is Rigid type F = m/n . D/H = 0
2. Sensitivity : It is the ratio of rate of change of discharge of outlet to rate of change of level of the water in canal referred to the normal depth of
the channel.
Let, G be the reading on a gauge set so as to indicate zero discharge when the reading on the gauge is zero. Since the discharge is independent of
water level in water course for flexible module, it follows that a gauge so fixed can be calibrated to show the discharge corresponding to a mark on
the gauge where the water surface stands. For a rigid module the discharge is equally independent of the gauge reading.
Sensitivity S = (dq/q) / (dG/G)
Also, Flexibility F = (dq/q) / (dQ/Q) ; but from equation vi (dQ/Q) = n dD/D
F = (dq/q) / n (dD/D) = S/n As , dG = dD ,
⸫S=nF
a) S = 0 if F = 0 ; Rigid module b) S = n if F =1 ; Proportional ; c) S < n if F >1 ; hyper proportional ; d) S > n if F < 1; sub proportional

3. Efficiency: Efficiency of module is the ratio of the head recovered to the head put in. lesser head required for functioning outlet indicates
outlet is more efficient.
7.5 Design of pipe outlet ( Free and submerge flow)
1. For free flow pipe outlet; Discharge of outlet is calculated by using formula as below
Q outlet = Cd A √(2g H0) where, A = Cross sectional area of pipe.
H = Head on u/s side up to center line of pipe from FSL of canal
Cd = coefficient of discharge = 0.62

FSL
Canal H0 HL FSL
D
Pipe Water course

2. For submerged outlet ; Discharge is calculated using formula

Q outlet = Cd A √(2g HL) Free flow case
where, A = Cross sectional area of pipe.
HL= Head loss between FSL of canal and FSL of water course
Cd = coefficient of discharge = 0.80

HL = total head loss = entry loss + friction loss + velocity head at exit. Minimum head loss should 0.20D for proper functioning of outlet.

HL = 0.50 V2/2g + f . L. V2 / 2gd + V2/2g where, V = velocity through pipe

= V2/2g [ 1.5 + f L /d] L= length of pipe
d = diameter of pipe
f = coefficient of friction of pipe material.