You are on page 1of 11

Savatech d.o.o. has been involved in the production of rubber dams since 1981.

But this year we started


with complete offer of rubber dams, which means that beside rubber membranes we produce, deliver
and set up:

 a system for fixity of a rubber membrane,


 a pipe system for filling and emptying with a complete equipment (pumps, blowers, compressors etc.)
 an electronic system for the supervision of the rubber membrane functioning

Since the beginning of the year we have also fully delivered and set up two air-filled membranes in
Grosseto in Italy. Besides the rubber membrane we also delivered and set up the system for fixity of the
rubber membrane as well as the pipe system with blowers and a compressor for filling and emptying the
rubber membrane.

Contacts:

 Sales department:
Branka Ahčin
Phone: +386 4 206 6014
Mobile: +386 41 528 820
branka.ahcin@trelleborg.com

 Development:
Tomaž Kovačič
Phone: +386 4 206 59 91
Mobile: +386 31 714 748
tomaz.kovacic@trelleborg.com

BASIC ELEMENTS OF A RUBBER DAM


A weir consists of three main parts:

1 – concrete foundation
2 – rubber membrane
3 – shaft for dam manipulation.
binding of metal frames and anchors of lower fixity of a dam prior to concreting

1. Concrete foundation of the dam

A concrete foundation of the dam is a concrete river bed where pipes for filling the rubber
membrane are placed. Elements for fixing the rubber membrane are also anchored in the concrete
foundation. The concrete foundation of the dam consists of the following parts:
 A concrete part, to which the rubber membrane of a dam is attached, consists of a straight central
part and slanting parts on the left and right river banks. The concrete part must be at least 450
mm thick, adequately reinforced with concrete iron and made of concrete of a suitable quality.
 A filling shaft, pipes for filling up and emptying the rubber membrane, and a measuring sound for
measuring membrane pressure are also placed in the concrete foundation of the dam. The filling
shaft must be moved as close to the inner attachment of the membrane as possible, so it can
enable emptying of the membrane. Pipes for air deflation from the upper parts of the dam for
complete emptying of the membrane are welded to inner attachment. Filling shaft and pipes are
properly set and welded prior to concreting.
 Profiles of lower parts of the system, used for fixity of the rubber membrane, are also placed in
the concrete foundation. The profiles with anchors made of ferroconcrete steel represent
additionally anchored concrete foundations of the dam. Prior to concreting they are placed at a
proper angle and welded.

2. Rubber membrane of the dam

It is made of quality rubber, highly resistant to ozone, water, oil, crude oil derivatives, chemicals,
wear and atmospheric influence. The rubber membrane material is composed of a high quality EE
fabric. The inner side of the fabric is rubberized with CD rubber and outer side with CD/CSM
rubber. Rubber membrane is 6 mm thick, which means that there is approximately 3 mm of
material on each side.

Rubber
CR/CSM rubber provides an exellent resistance against influences of UV raws, ozon
and other heavy weather conditions.

Fabric
EE (polyester)Fabric coated by CR/CSM provides an exellent resistance against
influences of UV raws, ozon and other heavy weather conditions.

3. Shaft for rubber dam manipulation

A shaft for weir manipulation contains all of the systems necessary for operating the weir. These
are the following:

a. Part for charging (electrical installation).


b. Part for manipulation consists of electronic systems which manage the weir and supervise
its functioning. These are the following: electronic panel, steering mechanism, level
measuring equipment, equipment for measuring membrane pressure and GSM modem
with antenna for reporting trouble or damage.
c. Installation system for filling or emptying the rubber membrane of the weir.
d. Safety closing valve (installation system of protection in case of too high waters).

Shaft for manipulation of the air-filled rubber dam.

RUBBER DAM

THE USE OF A RUBBER DAM IN THE SYSTEM OF THE HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT
FUNCTION

A rubber dam is a rubber membrane filled with water or air, attached to the concrete
sill. In the upright – full position it serves as a barrier which impounds water.
A rubber dam functions as a barrier in the river where we want to use running water as a drive
for a hydroelectric power plant or we want to use the river for field irrigation.

While constructing a hydroelectric power plant the height of the fall of the water down to the
turbine is of great significance, as the power of a hydroelectric power plant is calculated in the
following way:
P=Qxhxε
P = power of hydroelectric power plant
h = height of fall to turbine
ε = turbine performance

Generally, it is true that the power of a hydroelectric power plant depends also on the speed of the
river and that the power expressed in percentage increases more at the rivers where the fall is
smaller. The percentage of the increase of the power is calculated in the following way:

%P = the percentage of the increase of power in a hydroelectric power plant


h2 = the height of the increase of the fall in a hydroelectric power plant
h1 = the initial height of the fall in a hydroelectric power plant
The advantages of use of a rubber dam:
 The increase of power of a hydroelectric power plant
 A rubber dam restrains very fine sand and deposits which could damage the turbine.
 If water gets to high, the rubber weir reacts quickly by lowering and enabling high water to pass.
In this way it prevents damage and possible flooding to the engine room of the plant.

The rubber weir at the hydroelectric power plant Soteska (the river Sava Bohinjka) during the
storm of September 2007 and afterwards.

 No rusting, no maintenance necessary (painting, lubrication etc.).


 Relatively easy – low-priced adjustment of the height of the weir.
 Functions reliably.
 The possibility of automated functioning without electric power.
 Due to its flexibility it withstands also very high waters.
 High life expectancy. A rubber dam can be used for 20 years and more.

Rubber weirs (five segments, 50 m in length and 1.1 m in height) at the river Sava in Kranj in
front of the hydroelectric power plant Majdičev log.
WATER AND AIR FILLED RUBBER DAMS


Characteristics of water-filled rubber dam

 Filling the rubber membrane through a water column (30 to 40 cm higher level than level in the
dam).
 In a filled up state, water-filled weirs form a shape of a tear due to the weight of the water.
Because of that a concrete sill needs to be wider and the shape of the membrane is also longer.
Advantages

 The weight of the water-filled dam prevents vibrations.


 The entire height of the dam rises or lowers evenly.
 It has the possibility of functioning without electric power.

Weaknesses

 More expensive construction: a wider concrete sill, more expensive water pumps, more expensive
pipelines due to a bigger diameter of pipes.
 Manipulation takes more time (filling up and emptying the weir).
 Freezing of the weir (the possibility of water freezing in the system).
 Vandalism (puncturing, cutting).

Characteristics of air-filled rubber dams

 A rubber membrane is filled with air blowers which create negative pressure up to 0.250 bar.
 When inflated, an air filled-rubber dam forms a shape of a circle, which is why a narrower concrete
sill is necessary. The shape of the membrane of the dam is also shorter.

Advantages
 Faster lowering and raising of the weir.
 Cheaper construction.
 Lower power consumption.
 It can function with the help of photovoltaic systems

Weaknesses

 Vibrations of the weir (setting up deflectors).


 Uneven emptying of the weir (sinking of the centre of the weir).
 Vandalism (puncturing, cutting).

Deflectors are used to break the water current and prevent the formation of the negative pressure
below the water current of the weir. The negative pressure is the main reason for weir vibrations.

You might also like