SPILLWAY

A spillway is a structure used to provide for the controlled release of

flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river
that was dammed. Spillways release floods so that the water does not
overtop and damage or even destroy the dam. Except during flood periods,
water does not normally flow over a spillway. In contrast, an intake is a
structure used to release water on a regular basis for water supply,
hydroelectricity generation, etc. Floodgates and fuse plugs may be designed
into spillways to regulate water flow and dam height. Other uses of the term
"spillway" include bypasses of dams or outlets of a channels used during
high water, and outlet channels carved through natural dams such as
moraines.

TYPES OF SPILLWAY

A spillway is located at the top of the reservoir pool. Dams may also have
bottom outlets with valves or gates which may be operated to release flood
flow, and a few dams lack overflow spillways and rely entirely on bottom
outlets.
Cross section of a spillway

There are two main types of spillways: controlled and uncontrolled.

A controlled spillway has mechanical structures or gates to regulate the rate
of flow. This design allows nearly the full height of the dam to be used for
water storage year-round, and flood waters can be released as required by
opening one or more gates.

An uncontrolled spillway, in contrast, does not have gates; when the water

rises above the lip or crest of the spillway it begins to be released from the

reservoir. The rate of discharge is controlled only by the depth of water

within the reservoir. All of the storage volume in the reservoir above the
spillway crest can be used only for the temporary storage of floodwater, and

cannot be used as water supply storage because it is normally empty.

In an intermediate type, normal level regulation of the reservoir is controlled

by the mechanical gates. If inflow to the reservoir exceeds the gate's

capacity, an artificial channel called either an auxiliary or emergency

spillway that is blocked by a fuse plug dike will operate. The fuse plug is

designed to over-top and wash out in case of a large flood, greater than the

discharge capacity of the spillway gates. Although it may take many months

to restore the fuse plug and channel after such an operation, the total damage

and cost to repair is less than if the main water-retaining structures had been

overtopped. The fuse plug concept is used where it would be very costly to

build a spillway with capacity for the probable maximum flood.

Chute spillways
Chute spillways are common and basic in design as they transfer excess

water from behind the dam down a smooth decline into the river below.

Most often, they are lined on the bottom and sides with concrete to protect

the dam and topography. They may have a controlling device and some are

thinner and multiply-lined if space and funding are tight. In addition, they

are not always intended to dissipate energy like stepped spillways. Chute

spillways can be ingrained with a baffle of concrete blocks but usually have

a 'flip lip' and/or dissipator basin which creates hydraulic jump, protecting

the toe of the dam from erosion.

Stepped spillways
Stepped channels and spillways have been used for over 3,000

years. Recently, new construction materials, (e.g. RCC,

gabions) and design techniques (e.g. embankment overtopping

protection) have increased the interest in stepped spillways and

chutes. The steps produce considerable energy dissipation

along the chute[5] and reduce the size of the required

downstream energy dissipation basin.

Research is still active on the topic, with newer developments on

embankment dam overflow protection systems, converging

spillways[ and small weir design.

Bell-mouth spillways

Some spillways are designed like an inverted bell so that water can
enter all around the perimeter. These uncontrolled spillway devices
are also called morning glory, plughole, glory hole, or bell-
mouthspillways. In areas where the surface of the reservoir may
freeze, bell-mouth spillways are normally fitted with ice-breaking
arrangements to prevent the spillway from becoming ice-
bound. Chaffey Dam, located near Tamworth, New South Wales in
Australia has a classic example of an inverted-bell spillway. It was the
first one of its kind in Australia.

In some cases bell-mouth, or morning glory spillways are gate

controlled. The spillway at Hungry Horse Dam (pictured right), the
highest morning glory structure in the world, is controlled by a 64-by-
12-foot (20 by 3.7 m) ring gate.
Other types
Other spillway types include an ogee crest which over-tops a dam,

a side channel that wraps around the topography of a dam and

alabyrinth which increases the spillway entrance's overall width for

thinner design and discharge. There is also a drop inlet which

resembles an intake for a hydroelectric power plant but transfers

water from behind the dam directly through tunnels to the river

downstream

Design considerations
The largest flood that needs be considered in the evaluation of a

given project, regardless of whether a spillway is provided; i.e., a

given project should have structures capable of safely passing the

appropriate spillway design flood (SDF). A 100-year recurrence

interval is the flood magnitude expected to be exceeded on the

average of once in 100 years. It may also be expressed as an

exceedance frequency with a one per cent chance of being exceeded

in any given year

Safety

Spillway gates may operate suddenly without warning, under remote

control. Trespassers within the spillway run the risk of drowning.

Spillways are usually fenced and equipped with locked gates to

prevent casual trespassing within the structure. Warning signs,

sirens, and other measures may be in place to warn users of the

downstream area of sudden release of water. Operating protocols

may require "cracking" a gate to release a small amount of water to

warn persons downstream.

The sudden closure of a spillway gate can result in the stranding of

fish, and this is also usually avoided