Mill race
The mill race is a channel that carries water from its source - a hydroelectric dam or river - to the site of a mill using a waterwheel. This race directs and diverts the water to the waterwheel - either underneath it in the case of an undershot waterwheel or midway up it in the case of a breastshot waterwheel.
This race can be a few meters in length to several kilometers depending on how far the water source is from the site of the waterwheel. A single race can serve one or many wheels.[2]
The phrase mill race is only used to describe the water channel directing water to an overshot or breastshot wheel. For an overshot waterwheel, a special channel must be built to direct water over the top of the waterwheel. For this type of channel, a flume is used instead.[3]
References
- ↑ Wikimedia Commons. (August 27, 2015). Mill Race [Online]. Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Mill_Race.jpg/740px-Mill_Race.jpg
- ↑ TR Hazen. How to Site a Mill [Online]. Available: http://www.angelfire.com/journal/millrestoration/site.html
- ↑ Whitemill. (August 27, 2015). Types of Water Wheels [Online]. Available: http://www.whitemill.org/z0028.htm
