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Scottish Canal Engineering (PowerPoint
File)
The only rotational boat transporter in
the world
At the beginning there were two canals:
1. The Forth and Clyde Canal was built in 1777 between harbors Grangemouth and
Falkirk, connecting Glasgow with the west coast of Scotland;
2. Union Canal, between Falkirk and Edinburgh, was finished in 1822.
Because of geographical difficulties, which created a difference of 79ft. in
elevation,
the two canals were connected by 11 locks by a huge water carousel -
started in 1963 and finished in 2002.
This rotational boat transporter has two arms, and
each arm
forms a kind of huge tub
filled with water. Boats enter the tub, then the tub
locks up and
the huge arm starts rotating…
(click on the thumbnail images below to
expand to full size)
Closing of the gate, regulation of level of water, and “tubs” rotation takes
only 15 minutes.
The “tubs” are filled according the Archimedes’ Law, so the weight of the “tubs”
are balanced.
An engine of 22.5 kW is required to open the upper and lower lock and turn the
whole system
by 180º, which uses only 1.5 kWh.
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