3 ms·
Right. Canals followed topographic contours, with just ~1% slope to prevent stagnation. When topography wasn't workable, you needed either locks, or inclined pl
by mirimir 8y ago
Right. Canals followed topographic contours, with just ~1% slope to prevent stagnation. When topography wasn't workable, you needed either locks, or inclined planes. And for more than a few meters discontinuity, they tended to use inclined planes.
In at least some cases, they were water-powered. The uphill canal extended on a flume (like an aqueduct) which ended at a powerhouse, which housed a turbine (sometimes vertical axis).
> Inclined plane 7 West on Morris Canal, showing flume, powerhouse, cabling, and track. Cradle can be seen at bottom in the canal. Note how return cable is on wooden stands with pulleys.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_inclined_plane#/media/File:Morris_Canal_Plane_7_West_from_HABS.tiff https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_inclined_plane#/media/Fi...