Tailrace Safety Boom at Chats Falls GS
Tailrace Safety Boom at Chats Falls GS
Past attempts have been made at installing a safety boom across the tailrace channel at Chats Falls GS without much success.
A properly designed boom must be able to withstand the extreme environmental conditions present in the tailrace. These conditions include turbulent flows, fast current, and sudden releases of ice through the sluice gates from the headpond. These harsh conditions cause a constant back and forth movement of the boom, which contributes to the early failure of the boom’s components, due to fatigue wear.
A new safety boom was designed for the tailrace at Chats Falls GS. In order to produce the best possible design, it was necessary to gain a better understanding of the conditions that exist at the tailrace. A hydro technical analysis was performed, which included a bathymetric survey, and observations made of the tailrace at its full discharge capacity of four open gates. A study of the environmental conditions present at the tailrace including flow, current, wind, and ice forces was also completed. In an effort to perfect the design, successes and failures of past boom projects were also analyzed.
The final design for the Chats Falls safety boom was created based on these observations, and studies, and is to be installed in July of 2013. Chats Falls GS is located 60 km west of Ottawa, along the Ottawa River.
Problem
Past attempts at placing a safety boom were unsuccessful due to turbulent flows, fast current, and sudden releases of ice.
Solution
Conducted hydro technical analysis, bathymetric survey, observed full discharge capacity of four open gates, studied the flow, current, wind, and ice forces to design an appropriate safety boom.
Outcome
Still In Operation.