The Falkirk Wheel - How it works

The Falkirk Wheel lies at the end of a reinforced concrete aqueduct that connects, via the Roughcastle tunnel and a double staircase lock, to the Union Canal. Boats entering the Wheel's upper gondola are lowered, along with the water that they float in, to the basin below. At the same time, an equal weight rises up, lifted in the other gondola.
This works on the Archimedes principle of displacement. That is, the mass of the boat sailing into the gondola will displace an exactly proportional volume of water so that the final combination of 'boat plus water' balances the original total mass.
Each gondola runs on small wheels that fit into a single curved rail fixed on the inner edge of the opening on each arm. In theory, this should be sufficient to ensure that they always remain horizontal, but any friction or sudden movement could cause the gondola to stick or tilt. To ensure that this could never happen and that the water and boats always remain perfectly level throughout the whole cycle, a series of linked cogs acts as a back up.
Hidden at each end, behind the arm nearest the aqueduct, are two 8m diameter cogs to which one end of each gondola is attached. A third, exactly equivalent sized cog is in the centre, attached to the main fixed upright. Two smaller cogs are fitted in the spaces between, with each cog having teeth that fit into the adjacent cog and push against each other, turning around the one fixed central one. The two gondolas, being attached to the outer cogs, will therefore turn at precisely the same speed, but in the opposite direction to the Wheel.
Given the precise balancing of the gondolas and this simple but clever system of cogs, a very small amount of energy is actually then required to turn the Wheel. In fact, it is a group of ten hydraulic motors located within the central spine that provide the small amount, just 1.5kw, of electricity to turn it.
www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk

[@christinae30]

Thank you for not having background music, makes it easier for me as a non-native English speaker (listener!)

[@phyllisevans8198]

I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, and I work at a community college. A student who was born in Scotland but was raised in the USA let me borrow his book about The Falkirk Wheel. I enjoyed watching this video very much! Thank you for posting it on KZbin:)

[@NURERT70]

This is a beautiful bit of engineering! I'm amazed, and highly happy it got past the drawing board stage. Appreciate this simple video explaining how it works.

[@haroun8332]

that IELTS passage was a nightmare, even after reading it multiple times, only after seeing this wheel in action that I was able to get it amazing design and beauty.

[@raman95100]

yeah it was difficult for non-technical people..... but i found it easy

[@paulerickson1906]

I especially like the ingenious system for sealing the gates so no water leaks out.

[@arnaud78]

Absolutely brilliant! A great example of what engineering can do. Outstanding innovation - well done.

[@guzforce]

Who looked at it because of the IELTS text?

[@miloopro14]

guzforce me :)

[@basaersaleh7191]

😀✌🏻

[@72lighthouse]

Same question I wanted to ask!! 🤣

[@tamannasiddika1092]

🤣🤣🤣🤣me...hi..

[@Hangnguyen-ps7wl]

Me

[@TheMatttomlinson]

We visited this today and its mesmerising to watch. It did creek and groan when it was approaching the top 😳

[@liliancalo3518]

Amazing, elegant design and engineering! It reminded me of the Panama canal I visited some years ago, although a different mechanism.

[@dennistierney7599]

what a wonderful bit of engineering very impressed by it

[@SAYBOW69]

Saw this on “Impossible Fixes” Amusement Parks episode. Thought this was an Amusement Ride. Lol. Not sure why on that episode.

[@martian2lee]

IELTS 11 Test 1 PASSAGE 2

[@daibangx8696]

+Martian 李华阳 I just have done the test 1 today and being curious about how the "locks" function to lift the boat.

[@minhucduong2798]

confirmed. 95% same in words. That's so good to be illustrated

[@linhlinh5866]

Raise my hand 😂😂😂

[@UncleFexxer]

That. Is. BRILLIANT.

[@ar.antonioromero]

Thanks for your explanation

[@sankarimani4918]

Very interesting.Engineering in practice.Learned in theory.

[@skunkjobb]

I don't think the gondolas/caissons would tip over even without the gearing mechanism. They have their center of mass well below the rotation axis for the individual caissons so they are intrinsically stable. But the friction in the rollers would probably make them tilt a couple of degrees if they were only self leveling by gravity. The gears help them stay perfectly level even with some friction in the rollers.

[@dondunbar1878]

Marvelous application of engineering skills.

[@nicolasschiavo1834]

Well done

[@georgie6666]

My real src of inspiration.

[@braunp01]

so smart

[@SandburgNounouRs]

You didn't explain this 2 spikes in of the pendulum's shape? It's not just design, is it?

[@henkbaas5878]

In belgium this principle was used in 1917 see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boat_Lifts_on_the_Canal_du_Centre No energie involved just more water in the higest lock....

[@arjuthecooldude]

Today I practiced this one! same script

[@samsongrice8285]

Hello Class !!! :)

[@valentinbilla9619]

hello little bitch

[@patrickmcfarlan5289]

Please may I use your video to explain the working model I have on my n gauge model railway, see KZbin - Ranoak The Layout?

[@zonkozonko]

Derbyshire Engineering at its best made by the Butterley Company founded 1790.

[@michaeljohnson-li5nn]

I served my apprenticeship with Butterley in the late 70’s. I was still employed with them when the celebrated their bi-centenary in 1990. Butterley were also responsible for several other major engineering projects. They constructed the iron arches of St Pancras station - each arc has a plaque at its base to confirm this. Unfortunately Butterley Engineering ceased trading a few years ago and the site is now derelict. A sad end for such a great company.

[@donquixote3928]

VENICE : HOLD MY BEER.

[@12vgs8606]

what is the maximum size of the boat which can transit through this wheel? Is there a reason why this principle will NOT work on huge ocean liners e.g. to replace locks of Panama Canal?

[@elon2]

I think the wheel can be scaled up, but a tall cliff would be required. Falkirk has a nice sudden level difference. Panama canal level drop is also quite sudden, the locks are only slightly spread out because of the incremental level difference. On the Pacific side two smaller wheels would be needed. The depth of gondolas would have to accommodate large, tall ships, but the radius of wheels would be smaller than gondola alone. Two large ships would not fit in a small wheel, even on the Atlantic side. The total level difference is 26m, ships alone are taller than that (tallest ships permitted there are about 50m). Perhaps instead of a wheel just a giant playground lever. It would save water, but I guess that locks are cheaper. Another thing is the tides (severe at Pacific side), at least one set of locks at both oceans would be needed anyway to control the water level for the wheel or lever.

[@michaeljohnson-li5nn]

Interesting concept, it would be one hell of an engineering project.

[@12vgs8606]

@@michaeljohnson-li5nn The funny thing is the original Panama Canal was hell of engineering project then too!

[@michaeljohnson-li5nn]

@@12vgs8606 absolutely true!

[@hdgehog6]

Absolutely bloody f|_|ckin genius!!!

[@Drakojana]

pwr pozdrawia

[@saeedalmishal7658]

I want to model it on SolidWorks,, Please Help !! and how can I reach the supervising engineers of this amazing project??

[@michaeljohnson-li5nn]

Unfortunately, Butterley Engineering ceased trading a few years ago. A sad end to a great company.

[@josefinagodes611]

Mi familia vive. En. Esta. Población. De Escocia

[@nicholasalexander4743]

By making the water level higher in the upper lock than the lower, this could have been made self-acting. Was this idea taken into consideration?

[@shirleybergmann6299]

I agree, and my answer--- apparently not.

[@greggv8]

What's with the pointy bits on the sides?

[@MarkAtkin]

+greggv8 I wondered that too. According to Wikipedia it is supposed to represent a double headed Celtic Axe. So purely cosmetic, it would seem.

[@suyashshandilya9891]

I think it is meant to provide a splashless smooth immersion and withdrawal of the axis in/from the canal below. A blunt shape would jerk the flow and will require additional system and energy to mitigate.

[@rickdworsky6457]

@@suyashshandilya9891 ahhh... but it turns in both directions to equalize wear...

[@TheMatttomlinson]

@@suyashshandilya9891 those parts don't enter any water. They are purely aesthetics to look like a Celtic axe.

[@suyashshandilya9891]

@@rickdworsky6457 Then I'm lost. Must beforpure aesthetics

[@valentinbilla9619]

hello samson

[@robbietrainer9019]

Who will get to drive past it every day on the way to school in 4 months

[@chuitoz]

Engineering!

[@Str4ngerr]

This is one of those "why" that you can answer with "Because we can". A demo of human ingenuity

[@tomthibert7697]

Hi guys

[@martinthatsall1518]

Surely this could have been put together with a moderate level of focus.

[@PrabhjotSingh-uk2yt]

i want to make a model of falkirk wheel PLZ help

[@saeedalmishal7658]

+Prabhjot Singh did you model it??

[@PrabhjotSingh-uk2yt]

yes

[@woodyebrill8147]

Do it yourself

[@nishitavishwakarma1734]

i want to make model of it .. plz help

[@saeedalmishal7658]

+Nishi Vishwakarma did you model it??

[@michaeljohnson-li5nn]

Unfortunately, Butterley Engineering ceased trading a few years ago. A sad end to a great company.

[@ThuDuong-hx4lk]

Coming here due to IELTS Reading

[@miketkrg]

C'est complètement le Zzga

[@QiuyuanChenRyan916]

1.5kwh/ damn

[@albaiulia1147]

Scoția

[@akramhossain9915]

what a mechanical project

[@carey-annedavids8761]

There's nothing a smart engineer cannot do

[@adeledazeem2471]

This guy takes so many long breaks between sentences. It took 20 seconds after a sentence to start talking again. Slowwww and boringggggg. Add music -_-

[@highvelocity123]

Not everything in the world is designed for your fucking entertainment. Grow up you fucking child. It's an amazing piece of engineering, just respect it and move on, or just shut the fuck up.

[@woodsprout]

Adele, You can play whatever music you want while watching this video. Eh??? (on another tab, it would have taken you less than 20 seconds to set up) You have the internet and a keyboard in front of you and you are bored. ???

[@elizabethman7313]

8 kettles!!??!!! Shout out to Tony Kettle for the design!! en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Kettle