F A 0 IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE PAPER

Excerpt of Chapter 5.5. "Dethridge Meter" Pages 245-265

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OOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION IF THE UNITED NATIONS ROME

TABLE

OF

CONTENTS

VOLUME

Page PREFACE

1.

INTRODUCTION

2.

IRRIGATIONNETWORKOPERATION 2. 1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 General Considerations Entirely Manually Operated Systems Hydro-Mechanically Automated Flow Control Systems Electrically-Electronically Automated Flow Control Manual Versus Automated Control Water Distribution on the F a r m

3.

INTAKE STRUCTURES Introduction Intakes of Small Canals (Punjab Type) Silt Selective Head Intake Constant-Head Orifice (CHO) Intake Neyrpic Orifice Module Intake Double Orifice Module Intake Open Intake Structure made of P r e - C a s t Reinforced Concrete (U. S.S. R.) Intake Structure Discharging into a Flume Channel (U. S. S. R. ) Pipe Regulator with Crossing made qf P r e - C a s t Reinforced Concrete (U. S. S. R. ) Intake Structure on Secondary Canals (Calombia) Gate Valve Intake (Czechoslovakia) Venturi Head Intake Square Head Intake Dupuis Canal Intake h Intake with Stone ' ~ e s Weir ( ~ u s t r a l i a ) Groyne Intake and Ancillary Works (Cyprus) King's Silt Vanes Gibbl s Groyne 33 38 55 63 81 90 91 107 110 119 128 134 138 142 151 158 162 166

Table of Contents Cont'd.

Page INTAKE STRUCTURES (Cont'd. ) 3. 19 3. 20 3.21 3.22 3.23 Curved Wing with Silt Vane@ Silt Platforms Reverse Vanes Vortex Tube Sand T r a p Sloping Sill Sand Screer

4.

FLOW DIVIDING STRUCTURES

4. 1 4. 2 4. 3 4.4 4.5

Introduction Fixed Proportional Divisors Structures with Adjustable Splitter Proportional Distributors Division o r Diversion Boxes

5.

OUTLETS OR FARM TURNOUTS Introduction Constant-Head Orifice F a r m Turnout (U. S. A. ) Neyrpic Orifice Module (France) Double Orifice Module o r Siphon Module Dethridge Meter (Australia) P l a s t i c Siphon Outlet fitted with an Intake Tube (Turkey) Open Flume Outlet (India and Pakistan) Adjustable Orifice Semi-Module (India and Pakistan) J a m r a o Type Orifice Semi-Module (Sind, Pakistan) Pipe Semi-Module (India and Pakistan) Fayoum Standard Weir F a r m Outlet (Arab Republic of Egypt) Scratchley Outlet (India and Pakistan) Pipe Outlet (India and Pakistan) F a r m Outlet (U. S. S. R. ) P r e - Cast F a r m Turnout (Turkey) Adjustable Weir F a r m Outlet (Malaysia) PVC Pipe Turnout (Republic of Korea) Pipe Outlet (Philippines) Gated Pipe Outlet ( F e r r a r a Type, Italy) Outlet Structures on the F a r m

Table of Contents Cont'd.

Page

LIST OF REFERENCES

NOTATIONS AND SYMBOLS

e a s e of adjustment ability to withdraw s i l t immunity f r o m tampering. It should a l s o be noted that modules with moving p a r t s c o m p r i s e m o r e

o r l e s s complicated m e c h a n i s m s with the resulting possibility of the moving p a r t s becoming jammed. In conclusion, the information and d a t a on f a r m outlets p r e s e n t e d i n this chapter will, i t i s hoped, be of help to the designer in making the b e s t possible selection of the type o r types of f a r m outlets he should adopt f o r distributing canals to suit m o s t conditions and r e q u i r e m e n t s . No c l a i m i s m a d e

a s t o the completeness of t h i s chapter and i t i s hoped to m a k e up any deficiency in the r e v i s e d edition of t h i s handbook.

5.2

CONSTANT-HEAD ORIFICE FARM TURNOUT (U. S. A. ) See Section 3 . 4 of Chapter 3.

5.3

O R L F I C E MODULE (FRANCE)
See Section 3.5 of Chapter 3 .

5.4

DOUBLE ORIFICE MODULE OR SIPHON MODULE See Section 3. 6 of Chapter 3.

5.5.1

Background The Dethridge Meter i s a self-integrating m e a s u r i n g s t r u c t u r e used to deliver w a t e r to f a r m e r s and to check the volume of w a t e r supplied f o r application

"B a s e d on information

supplied by the A u s t r a l i a n National Committee, ICID.

Cyclometer f ~ x e dto the wheel Wheel Cylinder ond vones of 1 gouge hot dip golvonised 4 mild steel. Old Type Counter Welght of wheels: Lorge meter outlet not golvonised--187 Lorge meter outlet golvonised--..-I94 Smoll meter outlet not golvonised.10 1 Smoll meter outlet golvonised----.I07

"

I,

'/e
,

diameter hi. S. Spokes

Diameter of cylinder 3 (2-%) Depth of vones rodlolly 1 (7%) 0 Outside dio,me/!er ,of,,wheel to tlps of vones 5 - 0 (4;0),, , , Width of wheel 2 - 6 (1-8) Cleoronces between wheel ond emplocernent :
I/
I#

4,
, #

, ,
Anthony beorrng

Cost Iron counter housing for wire connection type counter

Concrete In emplocernent IS 4 thlck (except where fl\!eted) ond relnfgrced by o g r ~ d v4 bors spoced 4 both woys, of for both lorge ond smoll meters

Note: D/mensions shown ore for both Meters lLorge and Smolll Those in brockets ore for Smoll Meter Outlets.

FA0 - l C l D
*

DETHRIDGE METER OUTLET D E T A I L S

Project,

Region, Country Austrolio

Figure No. 5-1

of water c h a r g e s . The device i s widely used in the State of Victoria and other States in A u s t r a l i a and to some extent in the U . S. A. and in Asian countries. Approximately

15,500 l a r g e m e t e r s and 7, 000 s m a l l m e t e r s a r e in operation in Victoria. The Dethridge Meter was invented in 1910 by the Commissioner a t that t i m e , the late J . S. Dethridge, of the State R i v e r s and Water Supply Commission, Victoria, and adopted by the Commission after t e s t s for t h r e e y e a r s under field conditions. The original Dethridge Meter was a simple m e a s u r i n g device giving

a positive m e a s u r e m e n t of volume discharged, and recording i t directly in a c r e -

3. 5 p e r cent for f r e e outfall conditions over a range 3 of d i s c h a r g e s f r o m 42 11s t o 140 11s ( 1 . 5 f t / s to 5 f t 3 / s ) . A s m a l l m e t e r f o r capacities f r o m 14 l / s to 70 11s ( 0 . 5 ft 3/ s to 2. 5 ft 3 / s ) was developed in the
feet, with an a c c u r a c y of 1920's. The construction of the Dethridge M e t e r h a s remained basically the s a m e over the y e a r s , i. e. concrete emplacement with m i n o r variations to head wall and transition shape. Laboratory and field t e s t s have r e s u l t e d in a standard setting

of the wheel in relation to channel flow level and mechanical improvements for the wheel and fittings, e . g. wheel with a m i l d s t e e l plate d r u m , vanes and w a t e r pipe axle, originally with t i m b e r spokes and rivetted, now all steel and welded; t i m b e r bearing blocks now replaced by a m o r e robust sealed unit; f r a m e , now replaced by neoprene guides s e t in concrete. s t e e l gate in a t i m b e r

S t r u c t u r a l Design The g e n e r a l f o r m and main dimensions of the two standard s i z e s of m e t e r a r e shown in F i g u r e 5- 1. The wheel i s m a d e up of a cylinder of 14 gauge

( 2 . 0 3 m m o r 0.08inch thickness) mild steel sheet, bearing eight e x t e r n a l vanes of the s a m e m a t e r i a l , and internally braced by t h r e e c r o s s e d p a i r s of s t e e l spokes placed a t the middle and both ends of the cylinder. inch) d i a m e t e r galvanized pipe welded t o the spokes. attachments and spokes a r e fabricated by welding. The vanes a r e "V" shaped a s shown ( F i g u r e 5- l ) , with the apex of the "V" leading in the direction of rotation. At the b a s e of each vane, and a t the apex of The axle i s a 2.54 c m (one The cylinder, vane

the "V", t h e r e i s an a i r vent to facilitate the filling and emptying of adjacent comp a r t m e n t s a s they e n t e r and leave the s t r e a m of water passing under the wheel. The outer c o r n e r s of the vanes a r e chamfered to suit the fillets a t the junction of the walls and floor of the concrete emplacement. The co.mplete wheel unit i s galvanized for protection against corrosion. The

wheel unit i s supported accurately in the emplacement with the ends of the axle r e s t i n g on ball bearings in a Delrin r a c e fixed on the walls of the flume. bearing blocks w e r e originally u s e d . ) A pendant actuated sealed cyclometer unit i s rivetted to the wheel cylinder and r o t a t e s with it. The older m e t e r s have a c a s t i r o n housing attached to the (~imbew

flume wall f o r the revolution counter, which i s connected to the end of the axle by a flexible w i r e link. The shape of the flume can b e s t be d e s c r i b e d by considering i t in t h r e e parts. U p s t r e a m of the wheel it i s of simple rectangular section, with level While the walls r e m a i n plane and p a r a l l e l , the
0

floor in the vicinity of the wheel.

floor i s indented to accommodate an a r c of approximately 70 circumference.

of the wheel's

And immediately downstream of the wheel the walls a r e splayed

outward and the floor i s sloped up to a l i p a t sufficient height to e n s u r e drowning of the passage swept by the vanes under the wheel. At the entry to the flume a cut-off wall extends to either side into the canal bank, and downward below the n a t u r a l s u r f a c e of the ground to prevent seepage around the s t r u c t u r e . The galvanized steel sluice gate to control discharge

through the m e t e r i s fitted in neoprene guide s t r i p s s e t in r e c e s s e s so that they a r e flush with the walls and floor a t the entry f r o m the channel. The flume and cut-off wall a r e constructed of reinforced concrete, although other m a t e r i a l s may be employed. In e a r l y t i m e s of cement shortage, t i m b e r

was used, but proved unsatisfactory because of leakage between the t i m b e r s and distortion. All concrete i s of high quality and 10 c m ( 4 inch) thickness (except where filleted), and reinforced with a grid of 6 m m (0. 25 inch) d i a m e t e r b a r s spaced 10 c m ( 4 inches) a p a r t both ways. The s t r u c t u r e may be either c a s t in-situ o r

assembled f r o m p r e - c a s t units.

The p r e - c a s t units provide a m o r e accurate (See Figure 5- 2)

emplacement with better concrete quality.

FIGURE 5-2. - P r e - c a s t l a r g e m e t e r emplacement with wheels installed; note reinforcement to tie into cut-offs and p r e - c a s t head wall.

R i p - r a p protection i s placed on the bed and b a t t e r s of the f a r m ditch immediately downstream of the m e t e r to prevent scouring. F o r l a r g e canals, where continuous a c c e s s i s required along the canal bank, a pipe outlet i s installed through the bank and the m e t e r i s e r e c t e d outside the bank a t the end of the pipe. F i g u r e s 5-3 ( a ) , 5-3 (b), 5-4 ( a ) and 5-4 (b) show details of both l a r g e and small m e t e r s . F i g u r e 5-5 shows a l a r g e Meter Outlet in operation with f r e e outfall.

250.

Groa* to be formed i n wall 1 - 0 above I10 10 bndi~otemoiimum ollowoble toilrmter leve

-----

y level 10 be painted block

Earth platform level wlth l o p 01 side wall en both s~dcs

C d i o . bolh G o n g . set 5 s bl block-OUI 01 8 centres for Anthony brorinqr. For lumber 9"blocks 3bmdto bolts o n

Anthony bearing

G01.s

Go1vonosed, mqether w t h 0 x 1 ~

L A R G E DETHRIDGE METER OUTLET

R81hg & hrge meter cutlet

The odopled rolinq is 2 9 . 0 4 l ? l r e v o ~ l l ~rquivolrnl l o 1,500 r e v ~ l u t i o n r= 1 ocre-foot based n on colibrotion Ierls with free ~ l f f o l lOM, the end st11 H i i r loilwolerr incrcosc the volume porred The cyclometers clod d~rccltyin o c r l I t I r p m I orrr-lootl doy opproxlmolely Ckor0nc.s between the wheel ond cmplocement should be occurolrly mointo~nedand the wheel .hod4 (DI 0110wed to turn ol less thon 3 r p.m. be

Australia

161

&l:block

out

{long for Anthony beorlngs, 1l"long for tlmber blocks

.-

Wlngwall shape when occers culverl reaulred or road crosslnq

7-10 S e c t ~ o n C C ( s e e Flgure 3 (01

, ,
- . -

er 6 feet transition
--

--

Upstreorn View o f D r u m

Sect~on D D

be~ngcons~dered

Developmsnt o f Vane

Meter Wheel Dctoil (See note 7 ond B on Ftqure 3(01

P o s ~ t ~ oo f Wheal In E m p i o c e r n e n t n T ~ m b e rAxle Block [See note 4 on F~gure3 ( 0 ) Block made In halves from seasoned R G or other durable tlmber dressad to dlmens~onsshown Slot ond houslnp bolt hdes rrqulred o one set only n

FA0

-ICID

SECTION CC OF FIGURE 3(0) AND

DETAILS OF METER WHEEL

'/:dm ecentres ln centre of plonk

?g dto Q e c e n t r e r

i ~ 1
T

OF LARGE DETHRIDGE METER OUTLET

Project

/ 2 1 - - ~ ~ + j

Section EE Precoct R C Foot Plonk Timber plank may be used as olternot~ve

, Reg~on,Country Austrol~o

Flgure No 5-3 (b)

Groove to be formed in w l l 9 obove f l w r I l o indicote moximum ollowoblc toilwoter level

Top of gote nom~nollylevel with tap of heodwoll Gotes ow~loble ore 1-07 2I6: $-9"or 3'-0"high. Select gate r i l e neorest to required height. See notes 2 ond 3.

C--------I Groove to be pointed

block with chlorlnoted rubber pain

Half

Sect~on

A-A

Half S e c t i o n 8 - 8

Notes

If the derlgned rnlnlmum free board lo the lop of bonks 1% less than < / F B ~ ~ / 11 11 0 = s equal to or greater thDn 2 then /FB,,/ = 12" ' The helght of the heodwaliond gote lo ttxed from Ihe D 0 L of the channel The moilmum h e q N ot gote su8toble for hond lhfttng IS 3'-0'where larger gate s necessary, type 'C' lhfttng gear should be used Anthony bearongs ore adopted as stondord Concrete tor emplacement should be of mcsmum compnssse strength 3,500 p n I ot 2 8 doys for durobll~ty Backfoll should be well compacted around the heodwoll ond sfde walls Protectton of metal work o currenl use n Goter Galvobond plate Wheels- Golvon~rcd, together w~th oxle All bolts galvonlsed Feld tests are o hond for cold potnl ~ p p l t c o l l ~ n r gates e g,Galvofrotd woth Mvconox n on re01 coat ond for olumlnlum wheels

4,

Plan

FA0

ICID

SMALL DETHRIDGE METER OUTLET

Rofmg of smo// meter out/et

The odopled rotlng IS I 2 45 f?/revolutnon cquwalent to 3 500 revclvttont = I ocre-foot bosed on collbrattan tests w ~ l hfree outfoll owr the end 91; Hfgher to#lwatcrs lncreose the volume possed The cyclometers read directly I n ocre-fecl/r p m = 3 ocrt-tcet/doy opproxlmately Clearances between the wheel ond emplacement should be accutotely mo~nto8ned ond Ihe wheel should not be ollowed to turn ot less than 3 r p m

P r o j e c t , Region, Country Austrolia F i g u r e No 5 - 4 ( 0 )

Section C-C See Figure 3 ( 0 ) Dovies Shephord pendant weight counter

fiOn@ vona rhown-

a+

\6ntcrnol diameter stondord rned~urn plpe (not golvonlsed. not vornished, not oil painfed)
-

dio. M.S.apokes welded l o drum

I
Upstreom V ~ e w o f Drum

Sectlon D - D

Side E l e v o t l o n ,vote use of o/um~n~um wheels of whfed or nveled construmon IS &IW consd8nd

rodlur Oevelopment of Vans

7-0

Meter Wheel D e t o ~ l Sa@ note 7 ond 8 on F ~ g u r e (0) 4 x racers for cover plate of C I housing (on counter $~de only I

POSI~IO~of Wheel ln Emplocemenl

'/;; C S

bolts ~n centre of blocks

FA0

ICID

Block mode In halves from seasoned R G or other durable ttmber dressed to dlmens~ons shown Slot and hous~ngbolt holes nqulred ~n one set only

SECTION C-C OF FIGURE 5 4 (a) AND DETAILS OF METER WHEEL OF SMALL DETHRlDGE METER OUTLET Project, Region, Country Australto Flgure 5-4 (b)

woter plpe d x 2 % " x l i Tlmber Axle Block Sea note 4 on F ~ g u r e4 (0) Scale ? ? ? 9 Inches

FIGURE 5-5. f r e e outfall.

L a r g e Dethridge m e t e r outlet in operation with

The s t r u c t u r e i s robust in construction and reasonably r e s i s t a n t to illegal tampering. to counters. If n e c e s s a r y , gates can be padlocked in position and lead s e a l s fixed The counter h a s a ratchet arrangement to prevent winding back if One

the wheel i s rotated in the opposite direction (important against tampering). vane i s painted so that the canal attendant can see f r o m a distance whether the wheel i s turning correctly.

The m e t e r will p a s s a f a i r amount of floating debris

in the water without damage to, o r stoppage of, the wheel. Once installed correctly in an accurate emplacement the m e t e r does not require adjustment. Regulation of discharge through the m e t e r i s c a r r i e d out by

simple adjustment of the gate opening.

Hydraulic Characteristics It i s important that the m e t e r be installed a t the c o r r e c t level in relation to the designed discharge level of the water in the canal, so a s to make the b e s t use of the generally limited head available while at the same time ensuring sufficient head and yet avoiding drowning of the wheel by water that may back up f r o m the f a r m ditch. The standard setting for the l a r g e m e t e r , a s shown in F i g u r e 5-6,

i s to have the floor of the flume, a t entry, 38 c m (15 inches) below supply level in the canal. F o r the small m e t e r this depth i s 30.5 c m (12 inches).

The supply level of the canal i s fixed by the designed upstream level of each canal regulator and i s taken a s a horizontal pool a t this level extending upstream f r o m the regulator to the next regulator. land to be supplied. The commanded land i s defined a s the land 15 c m ( 6 inches) o r m o r e below the supply level making allowances where n e c e s s a r y for f a r m canal grades and structures. This allows about 7.5 c m ( 3 inches) drop through the m e t e r to the This level i s fixed in relation to the

maximum allowable level in the f a r m e r ' s ditch and 7.5 cm ( 3 inches) depth of m e t e r over the highest ground. As the canal running level i s above the

horizontal supply level, m e t e r s , set some distance upstream of a regulator, have a water depth over the floor of the flume in excess of the standard 37.5 cm (15 inches) o r 30.5 cm (12 inches) respectively and the gate and head wall levels m u s t be raised accordingly to provide the required f r e e board. As f a r a s possible,

regulators a r e located so that m e t e r s a r e within a short distance upstream. If t h e r e w e r e no necessity for clearances between the wheel and the flume, the m e t e r would give an exact positive measurement of the water passing through it, a s each revolution of the wheel would pass an invariable quantity of the water between the vanes and the cylinder swept through the emplacement. With the

provision of the n e c e s s a r y clearance ( s e e section 5.5.4) however, leakage occurs through the clearance space at a r a t e dependent not only on the r a t e of rotation of the wheel but also on other factors, such a s the difference in water levels immediately upstream and downstream of the wheel, and the depth of submergence. The quantity of water passed p e r revolution of the wheel does, therefore, vary to some extent under operating conditions. a s small a s practical. F o r this reason, the clearance i s kept

5.5.3.1

Relationship between revolutions and discharge F o r the conversion of revolutions to acre-feet, constant ratios a r e assumed: 1,500 revolutions per acre-foot for the l a r g e wheel and 3,500 revolutions p e r acre-foot for the small wheel. The dimensions of the wheels

have in fact been designed to provide these simple ratios, and the e r r o r i s not

m o r e than 5% over the r a n g e of n o r m a l operating conditions f o r e i t h e r m e t e r . This d e g r e e of a c c u r a c y i s considered quite reasonable f o r the m e a s u r e m e n t of w a t e r d e l i v e r i e s for i r r i g a t i o n . S i m i l a r l y revolution counters a r e g e a r e d i n the r a t i o of 15 : 1 f o r the l a r g e m e t e r , and 35: 1 f o r the s m a l l m e t e r , and s o the dial r e a d s d i r e c t l y in a c r e - f e e t . The counters a s manufactured r e a d to two d e c i m a l places, but i r r i g a t i o n r e c o r d s a r e rounded off to one d e c i m a l place. 3 A d i s c h a r g e r a t e of one acre-foot p e r day (14 l / s o r 0 . 5 f t / s ) c o r r e s p o n d s 1 closely to one revolution p e r minute of the l a r g e r wheel o r 27 revolutions p e r minute of the s m a l l wheel. These relationships provide a v e r y convenient guide

to the canal o p e r a t o r o r water-bailiff i n setting a m e t e r gate to give whatever discharge r a t e i s required. Design r a t i n g s (a) Ratings and settings adopted i n relation to the supply canal l e v e l s for

f-

the two m e t e r s a r e a s indicated below: Ratings

(i) F r e e overfall

L a r g e M e t e r Outlet 820 l / revolution o r 29.04 ft3 860 l / revolution o r 30.38 ft3

Small Meter Outlet 349 l / revolution o r 12.45 f t 3

(ii) Tail w a t e r a s i n (iii) ( i i i ) Tail Water Above downstream sill level Above u p s t r e a m sill l e v e l (iv) Designed supply level Above u p s t r e a m sill l e v e l (v) C l e a r a n c e between the M e t e r wheel and the Qutlet S t r u c t u r e Bottom Side

17.8 c m o r 7 inches 3 0 . 5 c m o r 12 i n c h e s

1 1 3 . 3 c m o r 5 3 inches 22.9 c m o r 9 i n c h e s

38.1 c m o r 15 inches

30.5 c m o r 12 i n c h e s

1 0.64 c m o r q inch 3 0 . 9 5 c m o r 8 inch

1 0. 64 c m o r 2 inch 1 0.64 crn o r 7 inch

5.5.4

Installation and Operation Canal regulators a r e located to regulate supply levels for the m e t e r outlets a s shown in F i g u r e s 5-6 and 5 - 7 .

FIGURE 5-6. - Typical setting of Dethridge m e t e r just u p s t r e a m of a regulator. The supply level of the canal i s indicated by the bottom of the slot in the wall on the right hand side of the regulator.

Generally one m e t e r i s provided for each f a r m , a small one for a r e a s up to

40 a c r e s and a l a r g e one for l a r g e r f a r m s .

If the f a r m a r e a commanded by

gravity and suitable for irrigation exceeds 120 h a (300 a c r e s ) , a second l a r g e m e t e r may be provided. These general r u l e s may be modified, i f n e c e s s a r y ,

because of particular f a r m layouts and topography. The canal attendant regulates flow to the f a r m through the m e t e r a t required intervals during the irrigation season to provide flows a s requested by the irrigator. Regular readings of the counter a r e taken to keep check on the total

volume supplied. The flow i s regulated by adjusting the gate to the appropriate opening a s indicated in F i g u r e 5-8. In actual operation the flow i s readily checked by

Earth free board annel regulator

L.M.0 Floor level ( 1 ) Bed

3 maximum stripping of drop bars

T ypicol Longitudinal Sect ion

D.D L . Designed discharge level Flow profile for maximum discharge with roughness and grade selected S L. -Supply level for setting meter outlets and spur offtakes
/I

(I 1

For SMO setting of floor i s 12 below supply level

Capacity in ft3/ s

Earth Minjmum* crest w ~ d t h feet ~n

6

bank Minimum free board in feet

1'-

Structures Minimum concrete Prestressed slab free board bridges

0 - 30 30-490

8
12

-'1
2'-

6" 6"
0"

>

] 9"
12"

490

1
FA0 - ICID

il

The required crest width may be larger than the minimum t o meet percolation gradient requirements or construction equipment requirements. If access is required along the bank a
t

.
CHANNEL DESIGN, FREE BOARD AND SETTING OF DETHRIDGE METER OUTLETS P r o j e c t , Region, Country Aus trolio F i g u r e No.
i

minimum crest width of 1 is required. 2

* * ~ e a s u r e d from D. D. L. a t abutments t o top o f prestressed slab.

5-7

L!7f

---

Min. drop 0 . 2 0

**

counting the revolutions p e r minute of the.whee1 and reference to the table i s not necessary. Accurate ratings have been obtained in the laboratory to give graphs for volume passed per revolution of the wheel over a range of discharges and for different canal levels and tailwater levels. c a r r i e d out for non-standard clearances. Other s e r i e s of t e s t s have been These ratings a r e not required for

operations o r normal design purposes because average ratings have been adopted for the counter gearing. investigations. 5.5.4.1 Costs and quantities of m a t e r i a l s Direct labour and m a t e r i a l costs of the installed p r e - c a s t outlet (excluding fittings) a r e in Australia approximately: small m e t e r outlet l a r g e m e t e r outlet $ A 350 $A 450 The costs Detailed ratings a r e , however, available for special

These costs vary depending on site conditions and a c c e s s .

of fittings, (wheel, gate, guides, bearings, cyclometer) a r e $ A . 43 for a small m e t e r and $ A . 63 for a l a r g e m e t e r and a r e included in the above cost. Approximate concrete volumes for p r e - c a s t units a r e : small m e t e r outlet l a r g e meter outlet Maintenance The main item of regular maintenance for the old type of m e t e r was recoating the wheel with t a r , for protection against corrosion. each year in the winter months, when t h e r e was no irrigation. eliminated by using galvanized metal parts. This was done This h a s now been

When the canal operator takes a

reading of the counter o r adjusts the discharge, he should check that the wheel, the bearings and counter a r e operating correctly. should be treated with a cold zinc-rich epoxy paint. Any damage to the galvanizing The f a r m e r ' s ditch m u s t be

checked to ensure that i t i s clean of weeds which would increase the water level and cause high tailwater levels on the m e t e r .

-(Large Meter Outlet)

12 Inches tallwater

Dfscharge In ft3/s Approximate No of r p m of wheel given in brackets

Marks on precast from upstream water depth

(Small Meter Outlet

9 Inches tallwater

angle"^"

angle^"

FA0

ICID

GATE CALIBRATION TABLES FOR L M.O. AND S.M.O. RIVETTED GALVABOND TYPE GATES
Project, Precast frame wlth gate locked In closed pos~t~on Upstream vtew

R e g i o n , Country A U S r0li0 ~

angle"^"

~ n g l e ~ ~ *

F ~ g u r eNo. 5 - 8

Numerical Example Design a Dethridge Meter Outlet under f r e e overfall conditions for standard ratings and setting to deliver during p a r t of t h e irrigation season 2.5 ft 3/ s and in the other p a r t of the season 3 . 8 ft 3 / s . Refer to the Tables on Figure 5-8, which show that for standard ratings and settings ( s e e 5 . 5 . 3 . 2), the l a r g e m e t e r outlet will give a discharge of 2.5 f t3 / s 5 3 with a gate opening of 5g inch and a discharge of 3.8 ft / s with the gate fully open. Other dimensions and details a r e a s given in 5.5.3 and 5.5.4. F u r t h e r R e s e a r c h to Improve the Structure Experiments have been c a r r i e d out for some time to t r y and find an a r r a n g e ment with better accuracy a t low discharge. the wheel t o seal the clearances. T e s t s have included rubber flaps on

A modified emplacement i s at present under

t e s t with the downstream section of the flume the same width a s the upstream section, instead of flared, and the floor horizontal. A gate i s installed on the

downstream end to control the flow of water and to ensure filling of the volume between the vanes and drum.

A somewhat similar modified arrangement i s used in New South Wales.

T r i a l aluminium wheels, rivetted and welded, *have been installed but a r e much m o r e expensive than galvanized steel. in New South Wales. Summary The Dethridge m e t e r outlet can operate with a small head l o s s , a s low a s 7.6 c m ( o r 3 inches) for discharges up to 112 11s ( o r 4 ft 31 s ) for a l a r g e m e t e r . A head l o s s of a t l e a s t 17 cm ( o r 7 inches) i s required for best accuracy. The device m e a s u r e s by positive action. integrating. The measurement i s selfFibreglass wheels have been t r i e d

Accuracy of the measurement i s around 5% which i s well within

reasonable l i m i t s for irrigation deliveries. The accuracy drops off sharply with high tailwater levels. The water level

in the f a r m e r ' s ditch must be controlled to keep i t a t l e a s t 7.5 c m ( 3 inches) below

the m e t e r supply level.

Even a t the 3 inch control level the e r r o r i n c r e a s e s to

6. 7% a t 42 11s ( 1 . 5 f t 3 / s ) .
The a c c u r a c y a l s o d r o p s off sharply f o r d i s c h a r g e s lower than the minimum indicated above. F o r t h i s r e a s o n the s m a l l m e t e r i s not suitable f o r m e a s u r i n g

flows to a r e a s under 2 h a ( 5 a c r e s ) Considerable c a r e should be taken to provide a c c u r a t e setting of the wheel and c l e a r a n c e between the wheel and emplacement. most critical. The bottom c l e a r a n c e i s the

A c l e a r a n c e of 2.54 c m (1 inch) instead of the standard 0. 64 c m

(0.25 inch) would i n c r e a s e the volume p a s s e d by m o r e than 10%. F o r f r e e outfall conditions, a "Pelton Wheel" situation o c c u r s if the canal level i s m o r e than 7 6 . 2 c m (30 inches) above the u p s t r e a m floor. A jet flow

develops under the wheel without completely filling the swept volume beneath the vanes and d r u m such that the actual volume p a s s e d can be a s much a s 10% l e s s than the r a t e d volume. This outlet i s not suitable f o r canals c a r r y i n g s i l t charged water a s i t cannot d r a w i t s s h a r e of the silt.
End "Dethridge Meter" excerpt

5.6

11 PLASTIC S I P H O N O U T L E T F I T T E D W I T H A N I N T A K E TUBE-

5.6.1

General A P l a s t i c Siphon Outlet fitted with an intake tube h a s been evolved in Turkey for delivering w a t e r to f a r m l a t e r a l s f r o m elevated flumed t e r t i a r y canals running under shooting flow conditions. Elevated flume i r r i g a t i o n s y s t e m s a r e being

increasingly used in Turkey because of the reduced construction t i m e n e c e s s a r y (through prefabrication) and other economic advantages. Delivery of the water to individual f a r m s i s effected by m e a n s of plastic siphons. P l a s t i c siphons enable water to be delivered f r o m any point along

/ '

Based on a note p r e p a r e d by Onden Bilen, Turkey, and supplied by the Turkish National Committee, ICID.