TAIL RACE CHANNEL

By Nidhi.N.Gajbe
Koyna Design Division No.2
AE 1
TAIL RACE CHANNEL
 A tail race channel or tunnel which carries the water
from turbine exit (draft tube) back to the river or exiting
canal.
 Tailrace consists of Tail race pool and Tail race channel.
 Tail race pool start from D.T. gate structure.
 Tail race pool is constructed to avoid cavitations of
turbine. A rising apron is provided from D.T. bottom level
to CBL at start of Tail race channel by giving reverse
(rising) slope 1: 4 to 1:6 as per site requirements
 The tail race channel starts from the end of TRP and is
connected to river or canal as per project layout.
 DATA REQUIRED:

 1) Designed discharge (Q)

 2) D.T. bottom level

 3) Minimum Tail Water level

 4) Maximum Tail water level

 5) High flood level at D/S side Power House

 6) Foundation strata

 7) Soil properties

 2.1 The following reference drawing required to

finalize the design of TRC
 General Layout of Project and Water Conductor System
 CHANNEL HYDRAULICS:
 For working out section of the channel the Manning’s
formula may be general used
Discharge=AxV
Where A=cross section area,m^2
V=mean water velocity/sec
Q=discharge ,m^3/sec
The velocity V is given by Manning’s formula:
V=1/n.R^2/3.S^1/2
Where n=coeff.of rugocity,
r=hydraulic mean depth
=Area/wetted perimeter
s=bed slope of channel
 Value of coefficient of rugosity may be selected from
government circular mention below.
The minimum permissible velocity may be taken as
Vc given by Kennedy,s formula,in case of unlined
channels in overburden.
Vc=0.546xd^0.64
Where d=depth of flow ,meters

o The tail channel shall be straight as far as possible .But

curve ,if unavoidable ,radius shall be more than 4 to 5
times the bed width of the channel.Radius between 10 to
15 times the bed width are desirable.
DESIGN LOAD:
 Water Load
 Uplift pressure

 Lateral Soil pressure

 Seismic Load
DESIGN APPROACH:
 Tail race pool is designed for varying heights, Max. at D.T. end and Min. at
start of Tail race channel.
 Top level of TRP is kept at [TWL (max) + F.B.] or HFL at PH, whichever is
more. The base slab is designed considering uplift pressure and the side
walls are designed considering lateral soil pressure.
 A suitable transition shall be provided to side walls to match width of TRP at
DT gate & start of TRC.
 The hydraulic design of Tail Race Channel is carried out considering TWL
(max) as F.S.L. of channel.
 The TRC shall also be designed to ensure TWL(min) required for operating
the generating units.
 As per the site situation cross section of channel is decided.
 A suitable transition is provided to connect TRP and TRC.
 The lined section is designed with Velocity of flow less than 1.50 m / sec..
 The end junction of tailrace shall be suitably streamlined for good hydraulic
flow conditions.


DESIGN PROCEDURE:

 Tail Race Pool: The RCC slab is designed

considering water load and Uplift pressure. It is
designed for both TRP full and empty condition. The
sides of TRP are designed as Gravity retaining
walls or RCC retaining walls as per site conditions.
The stability analysis is carried out considering
static and static + EQ loads.
 Tail Race Channel: Manning’s formula is used for
finalizing the cross section of channel.
 CASE STUDY

 KANHER HEP TRP & TRC

REFERENCES
 Water Power Development Vol .1 by E.Musonyi
 Manual on planning and design of small hydro
scheme by CBIP (Publication No.280)
 IS 7916-1992 code of practice for open power
channels.
 IS 3873-1993 code of practice for laying insitu
cement concrete lining on canal.
 IS 5968-1987 Guide for planning and layout of
canal system for irrigation
 Government circular
No.MIS-2015/(CR.no.253/15)MP dt 10.02.2015
Thank You