Three air shield dams put into use

By Chen Si.

The first three air shield dams in Yidu were recently completed and put into operation.

Located in Shizishan and along the Hongyan and Zhujiatao Rivers in the Xinqiao River Basin, these dams can be raised or lowered through intelligent air inflation and deflation systems.
 

An air shield dam.

An air shield dam is an innovative water conservancy structure that combines the strengths of rubber and steel plate dams while eliminating their weaknesses. With a simple design and fast construction process, it features no structures in the middle of the river and offers strong capabilities in water blocking, flow regulation, and silt removal. It does this all while preserving the river’s natural flow and enhancing the surrounding landscape.

"The shield plate adjusts its height by inflating or deflating an airbag, effectively managing water levels for flood control during rainy seasons and storing water during dry seasons," said Li Bo, the project supervisor.

Before the renovation, all three were fixed dams that could not actively control the water level.

"The new air shield dam has greatly improved drought resistance. Before it was built, irrigation was difficult due to insufficient water. Now, we can store water and pump it directly from the river," said Wang Xianping, a villager from Xinqiaohe Village.

"Quanxinfan Village has 1,200 mu of paddy fields. If the flood is not managed in time, rising water levels could destroy crops. The air shield dam, however, has a unique design that collapses during floods, increasing the flood's cross-section and allowing water to flow freely," said Cao Guangzhao, secretary of the Party general branch.

The air shield dams are expected to enhance flood control and benefit thousands of nearby households.

Zhu Min and Xiong Tingting contributed to this story.