Sluice Gates And Penstocks

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Sluice Gates

In the wastewater control industry, the phrase “sluice gate” refers to a channel that is created for the water to flow in a particular direction. This channel is controlled at its end by a gate. When the gate is opened, water can flow from it. On the other hand, when the gate is lowered, the sluice gate can also be used to alter the direction of the water. For example, it can be used as a small dam, or it can be used to make the flow more manageable. It can also be used to make the water spill from over the top (of the gate) if required.

A sluice gate may be mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic in nature. The choice of a proper sluice gate is essential for water flow management and in the construction of waterways and dams. A few of the major types of sluice gates are explained below:

· Radial Sluice gate: In this type, the gate is the surface of a cylindrical structure, which in turn is supported by supports that are constructed along the radius of the cylinder.

· Rising sector sluice gate: This type is also cylindrical in nature, with the difference ...
... being that it rotates around its centre to enable the water to flow through. The water then appears to flow through a sector of the circle, hence the name.

· Flap sluice gate: The operation of these types of sluice gates is similar to that of one-way valves or flap valves. The gate is supported at the top by a hinge like a door. Pressure from one side keeps the gate closed, while the water pressure from the other side will open the gate and enable the water to flow.

· Needle sluice: In this type of sluice gate, the gate is held together by a number of parallel needles held at a close distance. The operation is similar to the Needle dam; where individual needles (or even a group of them) may be removed selectively to control the flow of water.

· Vertical rising sluice gate: Often considered the simplest form of the sluice gate, it is simply a vertical gate that rises to allow the water to flow from beneath it. The gate can be made to rise manually or automatically via mechanical, electrical or hydraulic means.

A Floating arm can also be used to control the flow of water and is becoming increasingly popular in the United Kingdom. They are generally used in a system where different water levels are required and can be used in either a single or a twin float arrangement. Stop logs may also be used to stop the water flow.

Penstocks

A penstock is a special type of sluice gate that is used to control water flows and is frequently used in waterways. The pipe leading to the gate that the water flows in is also sometimes referred to as a “penstock”. Penstocks are commonly used in dams and various other types of hydro-electric systems and waterways.

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