Hydrotechnical constructions: types and classification, photo

There are various hydraulic structures, the types and classification of which indicate a wide range of their use. Any of these structures are built on water resources - from rivers and lakes to seas or groundwater - and are needed to combat the destructive power of the water element. Each of the systems has its own features of erection and operation.

How are they classified?

Hydraulic structures are systems that allow the use of water resources or the harmful effects of surplus water on the environment. All modern systems (irrigation, catchment, reclamation) are called "hydraulic structures". Types and classification of them, depending on the features of installation and operation, are as follows:

• Sea, lake, river or on ponds;
• Ground or underground;
• Serviced by the water sector;
• Used by different industries.

Modern hydraulic structures - this is the dams, and dams, and spillways, and water receivers, and canals. In general, any systems that are installed on a water body.

Waterproof

Waterproof hydraulic structures are structures that can create pressure or provide a difference in water levels in front of the dam and beyond. Experts say that the water regime in the zone of backup varies depending on the natural and climatic conditions of the region. Water-retaining hydraulic structures are the most important structures for the construction of dams, because they have a large load due to water pressure. If suddenly the water retaining structure fails, the pressure front of the water will be difficult to control, and this can lead to unfortunate consequences.

Water-conducting

Water supply structures consist of water intakes, spillways, water outlets and canals. These are hydraulic structures that serve to transfer water to designated points. Separate attention deserves water intake systems that take water from the reservoir and supply it to hydropower, water supply or irrigation facilities. Their task is to ensure the passage of water into the water canal in the established volume, quantity and quality, respectively, the schedule of water consumption. Depending on the place, the water intake structure can be:

• Surface: the water intake is carried out at the level of the free surface;
• Depth: the intake of water is made under the level of the free surface;
• Bottom: water is taken from the lowest part of the watercourse;
• Tiered: in this construction the fence is carried out from several levels of water - this depends on its level in the reservoir itself and on its quality at different depths.

Most often on the rivers are installed water intake hydraulic structures. The photo shows that such designs can be high and low.

Water intakes for different reservoirs

Depending on the type of source, water intakes can be river, lake, sea, reservoir. Among the river structures, the most popular are coastal, floating, riverine, which can be combined with pumping stations or mounted separately:

• The shore structure should be installed if the shore is steep. Such a design - consisting of concrete or reinforced concrete with a large diameter water intake hydraulic structures. The photo shows that the front wall goes to the shore.
• The river-bed systems are placed on gentle banks and differ by the head, taken out to the river bed.
• Floating structures are a pontoon or a barge with pumps installed on them, through which water is taken from the river and delivered through pipes to the shore.
• Bucket water intake systems take water from the pond by a bucket located on the shore.

Regulatory

Regulating hydraulic structures is what? In other words, they are called correctional constructions, since they allow regulating the flow of rivers. This can be achieved with the help of construction of flow control and limiting structures in the river bed and along the banks of the reservoir. Due to such systems, a river flow is formed so that it moves at a relatively low speed and thereby maintains the channel with predetermined minimum values of width, depth and curvature. These hydraulic structures, whose types and classification are the following, are very popular:

• The capital structures that are part of the general systems for regulating rivers and aimed at long-term use;
• Light structures, which are otherwise called temporary and are used mainly on small and medium-sized rivers.

The first structures consist of dams, enclosing ramparts, dams and perfectly cope with erosion and the destructive action of water. Light regulatory constructions are veils, fences from brushwood, which simply direct or deflect the flow of the device.

Irrigation waterworks

Species and classification suggest a division by the presence of dams - barren or dam. The first systems suggest the creation of an artificial canal, which departs from the river at a certain angle and takes part of the flow of the watercourse. To ensure that deposits do not fall from the bottom into the irrigation canal, such structures are located on the concave sections of the shore. If the water costs are significant, then the construction of dam structures is required, which, in turn, can be shallow or deep.

Culvert

Culvert hydraulic engineering structures are linear objects representing spillways and water outlets. These systems are either managed or automatic. With the help of a spillway, excess water is discharged from the reservoir, and the spillway is a system in which water flows freely through the crest of the water-retaining structure. Depending on the nature of the water movement, such systems can be without pressure or pressure.

Special Purpose

Among hydro facilities of a special purpose it is possible to single out: hydropower, irrigation structures, drainage systems, land reclamation systems and water transport constructions. Let's consider these constructions in more detail:

• Hydropower facilities can be built-in, channel, dam, or derivational. Such systems consist of water receiving structures, pressure pipelines, turbines with generators, exhaust pipelines and various types of closures. Hydropower plants are needed to convert the energy of the water flow into electricity.
• Water transport: these systems consist of locks, ship lifts, port facilities that are mounted on rivers, canals with different levels of water in them.
• Reclamation: these systems allow you to think through measures aimed at radical improvement of land. Within the framework of land improvement, drainage and irrigation of the territories is carried out. With the help of a drainage system, excess moisture is diverted, and the irrigation system ensures timely watering of the territory. Drainage systems can be horizontal or vertical.
• Fish-passing: these hydraulic structures ensure the passage of fish from the lower water level to the upper level, mainly during spawning migration. Such systems can be of two types: the first one assumes an independent passage of fish through special fish vessels, the second - by means of special fish gateways and fish lifters.
• Settling tanks: they are special storage tanks, where waste products and industrial wastes are collected.

In some cases, general and special facilities are combined, for example a spillway system is placed in the building of a hydroelectric power station. Such complex systems are called nodes of hydraulic structures.

What danger?

There is also the division of hydraulic structures according to the degree of their danger: they can be low, medium, high or extremely high degree of danger. Most often, the main factors that affect the danger of the GTS are natural loads and impacts, the inconsistency of the design decision with regulatory requirements, the violation of the operating conditions of the facilities or the consequences and damage resulting from the accident. Any shortcomings and unpredictable effects can lead to the destruction of structures, the breakthrough of the pressure front.