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Types Of Spillway
Gates
20 Mar Types Of Spillway Gates
A spillway gate is also referred to as a stop gate. These are adjustable gates which
can control the water flow of rivers, streams and reservoirs. Therefore, they act as a
type of barrier as well for storage of additional water too. They help to pass water
safely and in a controlled way around, over and through a dam when there is an
excess of water. Let review different types of spillway gates and uses.
There are several types of spillway gates, each serving a specific purpose for dams.
In this article, we will see what a spillway gate is and how they work.
How Do Spillway Gates Work?
Spillway gates are used to control the amount of water that enters into the reservoir
or river. This is done by controlling the size of the opening between the gate and the
reservoir. The smaller the opening, the more water will enter the reservoir. When the
gate is closed, it creates a wall between the reservoir and the river. The larger the
opening, the less water will enter the reservoir from the river.
With different types of spillway gates, each have its own function. There are three
main ways that spillway gates work: gravity, hydraulics, and mechanical. Gravity-
based spillway gates rely on the force of gravity to move them. Hydraulic-based
spillway gates use hydraulic power to move them. Mechanical-based spillway gates
are powered by motors.
Gravity-Based Spillway Gates
These types of gates are based on the principle of gravity. Gravity dams have a
particular function. The weight of the gate causes it to fall. When the gate falls, it
opens the gap between the upstream part and the downstream part. Once the gap is
opened, water can flow freely between the upstream part and downstream part.
Hydraulic-Based Spillway Gate
These types of gates use hydraulic power to open and close them. The hydraulic
system consists of two chambers separated by a diaphragm. One chamber contains
air while the other contains water. When the valve is closed, the air fills the water
chamber. This creates an air bubble which pushes down on the diaphragm. This
forces the diaphragm to rise up and open the valve. When the valve is opened, the
air bubbles escape out of the water chamber. This causes the diaphragm’s
downward push to stop. This closes the valve again.
Mechanical-Based Spillway Gateway
These types of gates operate with motors. The motor moves the gate back and forth.
When the gate is fully closed, the motor stops moving. When the gate is completely
open, the motor starts moving again.

Different Types Of Spillway Gates

There are a range of different spillway gates that you may come across. Here at
Gracon’s, we have vast experience with working with all of these different types of
gates.
Sluice Gate
The most common type of spillway gate is a sluice gate. It consists of two parts: an
upstream part and a downstream part. Both parts are connected with each other via
a hinge. The upstream part has a small hole on its top edge. Water flows through the
hole and down into the downstream part. The downstream part has a large hole at
the bottom edge. Water then flows out of the downstream part and into the reservoir.
If you want to open the gate, you need to lift the upstream part so that it releases the
water. Then you can lower the downstream part so that it closes the gap between
the upstream and downstream part.
Slide Gate
Another kind of spillway gate is called a slide gate. It works similar to a sluice gate,
but instead of having a hole on the top edge of the upstream part, it has a slot. You
can see the difference below:
The advantage of a slide gate is that it does not require any lifting mechanism. All
you need to do is slide the upstream part along the downstream part until it reaches
the desired position.
Crest Gate
With a crest gate, they use a bottom hinge flap, which is used to control the water
levels. This is a much more compact design, with the gate being built on a fixed
axis.
These are typically hydraulically operated, which makes the gates open when there
are power issues or flooding. This type of gate will open and close with the hinges of
this gate rotating. Making this gate the ideal option when you also need bees to pass
other materials such as ice downstream.
Radial Gate
 This type of gate is positioned at the top of a dam, which increases the overall water
and reservoir captivity of the dam. With this gate, the aim is to maintain the right
water levels. The gate can be opened or closed with very little effort. As the pressure
transfers from the curved face of the gate through to the support beams and into the
curved arms, which provides much better resistance.
Miter Gate
The miter gate is also referred to as the canal lock or lock gates. As they are made
with two leaves that offer closure at the one end of the lock which then forms an
angle that is pointing up the stream. These are used to block the entrance and exit of
the lock, which allows water to flow through.
These gates help the water levels go up or down in the lock. They are still commonly
used in waterways or canals today.
Drum Gate
A drum gate is a hollow structure which is seen floating on the water. It can rotate up
or down and is hinged to the top of a dam in a horizontal cylinder. This cylinder can
then be raised to allow more water to enter.
These gates are perfect when you want to precisely control the water levels of your
reservoir.

What Are Spillway Gates Used For?

With different types of spillway gates, what are they used for? Spillway Gates are
used for many purposes. Some examples include:
 To prevent flooding in reservoirs – flooding occurs when the level of water rises above the
height of the dam. Dam operators use spillway gates to prevent this.
 Regulating water levels – when dams are built near cities, it is important to keep the water
levels low enough so that people don’t get hurt if the dam breaks.
 Protect against erosion – Erosion happens when the soil erodes away because of excessive
water pressure. Dams are often built close to rivers and streams. As such, they may cause
erosion. An example of this is the Grand Coulee Dam, located in Washington State.
 Store excess water – when dams are built, they usually create reservoirs. Reservoirs collect
rainwater, snowmelt, and runoff from rivers and streams. However, sometimes these reservoirs
regulate the amount of water coming into the city.
 Releasing water – when a dam is being repaired or rebuilt, the operator may decide to release
some water stored behind the dam.
 Protects against erosion – sometimes dams are located in areas where there is a lot of soil
movement. If the dam were to break, the soil would erode away. By using a spill gate, the
operator can reduce the amount of soil movement.
 Control the flow of water – there might be times when the dam operator wants to change the
direction of the water flow. He/She can do this by using a spillway gate. The gate allows him/her
to direct the water towards it. In order to release some water, spillway gates are used.
Additionally, when dams are built near lakes, it’s important to make sure that the lake
doesn’t overflow. This could damage the surrounding land. With spillway gates, the
operator can regulate how much water goes where.

Why Is Maintenance Key For Spillway

Operations?
Spillways play an important role in maintaining safe drinking water. They help
prevent flooding and protect property. However, if spillways are not maintained
properly, they could become ineffective. This would result in serious consequences.
Below are some examples of how poorly maintained spillways can harm society.
Different types of spillways gates can protect against these issues if maintained
properly:
Flooding
Flooding occurs when the spillway doesn’t work correctly. If the spillway becomes
blocked, then the water cannot drain away. This results in flooding. Flooding can
damage houses and other structures. It can also kill animals and plants.
Property Damage
Damaging property is another problem caused by floodwaters. Damaged property
can mean higher repair costs. It can also mean that insurance companies won’t
cover your losses.
If you own a business, then you know how much money you spend every year on
repairs. Damaging property can cost you more than just money. It can also hurt your
reputation. Your customers will think less of you if you let them down.
Environmental Impact
Damaging property can lead to environmental problems. For example, if the spillway
is leaking into rivers, this can pollute those areas. It can also contaminate soil and
groundwater.
Health Issues
When the spillway leaks, it can release dangerous chemicals. These chemicals can
enter our bodies through our skin or lungs. Some of these chemicals can cause
cancer. Others can affect our nervous systems.
Safety Issues
Damaging property can make the spillway unsafe. A damaged spillway may fail at
any time. This can put people in danger.

Types of Spillway Gates & Gracon Dam

Services
Here at Gracon’s, we have vast experience working with dam gate construction and
replacements. As you can see, there are various spillway gates that can be used to
control the water levels on a dam or reservoir. We have repaired and replaced over
100 gates. Therefore, you can trust us when it comes to your dam’s repairs.
We hope you have enjoyed this article, and now have a further understanding of
spillway gates.
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