Legacy guide restored
Baffle curtain types for tanks and lagoons
Baffle curtain types are defined by how water passes the barrier—around an end, beneath an underflow skirt, over a submerged crest, or through designed openings—and the final choice comes from hydraulic design.
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“DOT curtain types” is retained in this route because it was part of the legacy site. The useful engineering distinction is how the curtain routes water and how the structure carries the resulting load.
What are baffle curtain types?
Baffle curtain types are conceptual arrangements for flexible internal barriers. A curtain may send flow around one end, below a lower edge, above a submerged crest, or through designed openings. Some basins use several arrangements in sequence.
Names are only shorthand. The project drawing must still define curtain position, elevation, length, opening, attachments, loads, materials, and maintenance access.
How each curtain concept works
- End-around curtain. The barrier stops before a bank or wall, leaving a lateral passage that lengthens the horizontal route.
- Underflow curtain. The barrier descends from a surface support and leaves a passage below its lower edge.
- Overflow curtain. The top of the barrier remains below the operating surface so flow passes over it.
- Perforated curtain. Designed openings distribute flow through the curtain plane.
- Multi-stage layout. Several barriers combine to create a longer or more controlled route.
Benefits by curtain type
| Concept | What it can help create | Main design check |
|---|---|---|
| End-around | Longer horizontal path | Bank clearance and changing levels |
| Underflow | Vertical exchange below the curtain | Solids and bottom clearance |
| Overflow | Controlled passage near the surface | Freeboard, debris, and crest elevation |
| Perforated | Distributed passage through the barrier | Opening pattern and blockage risk |
| Multi-stage | Sequential zones | Cumulative head loss and access |
When to use each type
Use the simplest curtain arrangement that meets the process objective and remains inspectable. An underflow concept may be unsuitable where settled solids can obstruct the opening. An overflow concept may conflict with floating debris. A perforated curtain may require a cleaning strategy. An end-around layout depends on stable side clearances.
The correct arrangement must come from the basin’s hydraulic model or competent engineering assessment. Pond-Cover.com does not publish universal spacing, opening, or load values because those would be invented without a specific project.
Baffle curtain vs rigid wall
A flexible curtain can be lighter and easier to retrofit than a rigid internal wall, while a rigid wall may offer a different structural and access envelope. The choice depends on service life, loads, chemistry, cleaning, shutdown constraints, and the consequence of movement or damage.
Return to the baffles hub for the full project checklist, or use contact to submit drawings for an availability discussion.
Frequently asked questions
What is an underflow baffle curtain? #
What is an overflow baffle curtain? #
What is a perforated baffle curtain? #
Can one lagoon use more than one curtain? #
Are these curtain types available from EuroCover? #
Sources & further reading
- Pond-Cover.com — pond and lagoon baffles — Curtain configuration is a hydraulic design choice rather than a universal product selection.
Need to review a curtain concept?
Provide the plan, sections, operating levels, design flow, solids description, and intended flow path before selecting a curtain type.