The Driving Force of Domestic Air-Cushioned Shield Dams

The domestic air shield dam is an innovative water conservancy facility introduced by the Ministry of Water Resources of China in 2008 with an investment of 20 million US dollars. It has been widely and successfully applied in numerous water projects across the country and ranks among the world's eco-friendly sluice dams.

Driven by high-pressure compressed air, it adopts environmentally friendly materials that produce no secondary pollution. Unlike hydraulic hoists, it rules out water and soil contamination caused by oil leakage. All air compressors are genuine products of Atlas Copco, enabling the gate to rise and fall rapidly via high-speed inflation. In case of power outages during floods, the gate can be manually deflated to lower quickly for flood discharge.

Furthermore, the air supply system of the compressor station eliminates the need to build hydraulic hoist houses on either side or in the middle of river embankments, thus saving green space occupied by civil structures.

It features excellent low-temperature resistance and can operate normally even at -50℃ without impairing the inflation and deflation of airbags. Assembled with steel plates and dam bags, the dam has no limit on overall length. Without intermediate piers, it preserves the clear width of the river channel and cuts costs on hoisting equipment and related civil engineering works.

It delivers excellent landscape effects. The gate system requires a short inflation time and moves up and down rapidly. Protected by steel gates, the airbags are safe from damage by sharp objects. The steel plates are supported by airbags of the same length, and only a simple foundation is required. The dam can be constructed on existing foundations and applied for heightening existing dams.

The installation of domestic air shield dams requires no hoisting equipment. Featuring simple civil works, it has a short construction cycle and low costs, with a service life of over 50 years. Its unique structure prevents vibration during operation and provides good seismic performance.

Adopting modular design, the components are lightweight. No large hoisting machinery is needed for installation, which saves time and labor. The equipment boasts a low failure rate and easy maintenance, leading to low overall installation and upkeep costs.

The wing-shaped gate body allows smooth passage of water flow, ice blocks, gravel, branches and other debris, effectively protecting the rubber dam structure. The stiffeners on the gate also serve as flow guides to stabilize water flow and reduce scouring. The overall service life exceeds 50 years.