Sorensen Teams Up With Steel Fab For Lock and Dam Project
The City of San Antonio invested $279 million during the past three years into improvements to its famous tourist attraction – The San Antonio River Walk.
The historic San Antonio River has long served as the heart of the city, and each year the world-renowned River Walk draws millions of visitors. Originally built in 1938, the new expansion is part of a process to increase recreational and economic development while reclaiming the river’s natural meanders and appearance.
Sorensen Systems and Steel Fab Inc., of Massachusetts teamed up to design, fabricate and install two sets of miter gates for the lock chambers. Which are used to raise or lower boats where the river level changes. Sorensen Systems and Steel Fab Inc., also worked together to design a crest gate to provide stable, maintainable flood control. The improvements were part of an expansion that expanded the river 1.3 miles.
Miter Gate and Crest Gate Control Systems
Steel Fab was responsible for the manufacture and installation supervision of the gates. Sorensen Systems was responsible for the Hydraulic Power Units and the PLC driven control system. The two companies have worked together on similar projects in the past. On project being the 96-foot crest gate on the Wachusett River in Clinton, MA. The reservoir is a primary source of drinking water for Boston.
During installation and start-up, Sorensen Systems and Steel Fab Inc., each had technicians on site. The technicians worked jointly to ensure a smooth transition from construction to functional tourist transportation. The responsibilities included the verification of proper gate sealing, smooth gate movement, correct operational sequence in addition to verifying gate opening and closing speeds and proper water transfer rates.
Remote Operator Controls Lock Systems
Due to the severe difference in water elevation, a lock system was required in the design. The control system allows the tour boats to enter and leave the dam system. It is responsible for raising and lowering water levels smoothly and safely. The remote operator system built by Sorensen Systems provides the tour boat operators with a graphical view of the operational sequence of the gates via a touch screen located in the operator’s booth.