Table 3. Dam operations identified as candidates for automation measures.
Gate operation and control
Coordination with navigation
Operation of fish facilities
Debris and ice control
Remoting of gate position
Interlocking selected gates with
Automating the operation of
Automated periodic debris
information and gate operation
lock operations
fishway weirs
passage or scavenging
Controlling rate of gate motion,
Interlocking selected gates with
Programming and controlling
Programmed operation of
including provision for variable
vessel operations
the operation of traveling fish
pneumatic debris or ice
rates
screens
flushers and screens
Maintaining upper pool gage
Interlocks between com-
level automatically
ponents of pneumatic debris
control or ice control systems
Programming gate opening
Temperature-triggered
sequences for water-quality or
operating programs for
scour protection purposes
ice control systems
Monitoring and controlling
gate skew
Alarm generation for gate
overload, skew, etc.
Establishing and remotely
meeting limit positions of
gates
a means to overcome this problem. Refer to the
Maintaining upper pool gage level automatically.
earlier discussion of this topic in connection
Most pools or reservoirs are maintained at the
with lock gates, on page 7.
desired stage (or raised or lowered) manually. In
Alarm generation for gate overload, skew, etc. Sys-
other words, the operators consult a pre-estab-
tem alarms for abnormal conditions could be
lished gate-sequence plan to determine which
automated to correct certain alarm conditions
gates to operate, and then make the gate move-
(e.g., skew) and return the equipment to normal
ments needed to maintain or achieve the chosen
status. For other conditions, automation could
stage. Automated control of upper pool stages is
rely on interlocks to prevent other operations
possible by means of gage inputs to a program
that should not be undertaken until the alarm
that contains the gate sequences and that issues
condition is corrected, to prevent adverse conse-
commands to the gate operating mechanisms. A
quences that might arise if an alarm is ignored.
program such as this can provide for various lev-
See also the discussion on page 7 concerning
els of tolerance to suit particular conditions.
machinery alarms.
Programming gate opening sequences for water
Establishing and remotely resetting limit positions
quality or scour protection purposes. There may be
of gates. This is the same matter that was present-
times when customary gate opening sequences
ed earlier on pages 6 and 7, but dealing here with
need to be varied to meet special needs relating
dam gates. Please refer to those discussions.
to scour protection downstream or water quality
criteria. These occasions may arise due to ex-
Coordination with navigation
treme temperatures, abnormal contaminants
Lock operations are sometimes affected by
(e.g., a hazardous chemical spill), prior flows at
flows past navigation dams. Where this occurs it
unusually high or low discharges, etc. With auto-
is necessary to meet the needs of the lock opera-
mated dam gate control, several alternative gate
tion by modifying the dam operation, or vice ver-
opening sequences could reside in the operation-
sa. Presently this is entirely initiated by opera-
al program, and the appropriate program could
tions personnel.
be selected by the operators or directed by the
Interlocking selected gates with lock operations. At
water control center to meet current needs.
some navigation projects, and for certain pool
Monitoring and controlling gate skew. Large
stages, flow rates, and magnitudes of dam gate
tainter gates may suffer distortion or problems
opening, there can be adverse currents or out-
such as torsional "windup" if they become
drafts that cause difficulty for vessels entering or
skewed during operation. As with certain de-
departing lock chambers. These conditions may
signs of lock gates, automation could provide
9
Previous Page
