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Pending Disaster? Mosul Dam, Iraq

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I've seen this article or similar ones several times in the last couple of months.
It's an issue that occurs when a country's governments is completely dysfunctional. They have first world facilities and a third world government. They know there's a problem, but there is no way to remedy it.
It's really too bad. It doesn't look like it will end well. Maybe the dam will leak slowly enough to lower the risk.

 
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One flood gate is jammed and they have technical reasons that both flood gates must work together. For some reason opening only one flood gate may accelerate the erosion.


Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter
 
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Seems like poor planning to not have the ability to open one gate as a fail safe. I'm sure accelerated erosion would be preferable over catastrophic failure.
 
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You'd think they'd have enough explosives on hand to blow some flood gates open...
 
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First you stage a tactical retreat from the flood zone below the dam, entice the 'enemy' to occupy it, then you call in 617 squadron.

(yes I know this is impractical in reality)

Posting guidelines faq731-376 (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​
 
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Why not re-activate the diversion tunnel, if it exists?

Answer - probably would generate an uncontrollable flow situation too.

This is a bad scenario...

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


 
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OK.

Rather than compromise a gate system that obviously does not work, consider blowing one of the abutments to either side (one, both?) of the structure where the depth is less and let the water gradually flow out, hopefully slowly eroding as it exits, thus lowering the maximum elevation. If it is earth fill though, this controlled breach could be a problem downstream, but will probably be less of a problem than an uncontrolled breach at the center of the structure.

If this dam is for power, why not open up the generating capacity, increasing the outflow too.?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


 
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To use a term that I understand was coined in British power plants in the day of fly-ball governors:
I hope that they are running the generators "Balls to the walls." to use the maximum water possible.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter
 
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The flow rate through turbines is substantially lower than that of the spillways. Cranking the generators to their maximum would probably be bad for the power output, and probably burn out the bearings relatively quickly.

The spillway on the west, near the generating station, has two outlets, but there is at least one picture showing water coming from only one of the two outlets. I guess the one on the east is a flood control spillway, to prevent the reservoir from overtopping the dam itself.

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
homework forum: //faq731-376 forum1529
 
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Tried grouting apparently with little effect. The solution lies in making the water solid. A freeze curtain under the dam itself. The water will continue to leach... just not at the dam. It will take a lot of energy though... but hey, it's a generating facility, right?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


 
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That's assuming they're willing to let Baghdad itself go without power indefinitely.

Seems to me the pumps used after Katrina might at least be installable on the eastern spillway and at least some amount of the excess water could be dumped.

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
faq731-376 forum1529
 
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Pumps.. Heck it's down hill! They could set up a crapload of siphons. They can be made out of anything like culvert or concrete pipe. Or a couple thousand fire houses. [!]<= bawhahaHAHAHAhaaa[/!]

Keith Cress
kcress -
 
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As impractical as it sounds, my first thought was also that it's downhill, so drape a bunch of siphon hoses over the top.
 
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There's a maximum head for siphons, isn't there? The article implies that the height of the dam is well above 22 meters above the current water level, which would not sustain a siphon.

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
faq731-376 forum1529
 
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If the dam goes out, the issue of overloaded generators becomes moot.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter
 
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