Sidekanal

Sidekanal, literally meaning "side channel," is a term used in engineering and water management to describe both a secondary watercourse and a class of compact gas-handling devices. In hydraulic contexts, sidekanal refers to an auxiliary channel that branches from or connects to a main river, canal, or drainage system. These side channels help regulate water levels, divert excess flow, drain land, or improve irrigation and flood control. They can be natural or manually excavated and are typically equipped with control structures such as sluices, weirs, and regulators to manage flow.

In mechanical engineering, side-channel pumps or blowers (often called side-channel devices) are a family of small, oil-free machines used to move and compress gases. The working principle relies on the interaction between a rotor and the surrounding housing to create a series of side channels or cavities where the gas is captured and gradually pressurized as the rotor turns. Side-channel pumps are valued for their compact size, quiet operation, and relatively simple maintenance. They are commonly employed in laboratory equipment, electronics manufacturing, medical devices, packaging lines, and other applications requiring moderate vacuum or gentle, continuous gas flow.

Overall, sidekanal describes a concept of parallel or auxiliary pathways for fluid or gas handling, whether as a physical waterway that aids river management or as a compact pumping technology used to generate controlled airflow or vacuum. See also side-channel pump, hydraulic canal, and auxiliary watercourse.