Irganai Dam

Irganai Dam
Location of the Irganai Dam in Dagestan
Country Dagestan, Russia
Location Untskul region
Coordinates
Status Operational
Construction began 1977
Opening date 1998
Owner(s) RusHydro
Dam and spillways
Height 111 m (364 ft)
Length 317 m (1,040 ft)
Impounds Avar Koisu
Reservoir
Creates Irganai reservoir
Capacity 705,000,000 m3 (2.49×1010 cu ft)
Surface area 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi)
Power station
Turbines 4 x 200 MW
Installed capacity 400 MW
Maximum capacity 800 MW
Annual generation 1,280 GWh
As of 31 January 2011

Irganai Dam is a hydroelectric dam in the Untskul region of Dagestan, Russia. It is located on the river Avar Koisu.

Contents

History

Construction of the dam and power station started in 1977. The first generation unit of the Irganai hydropower station was launched in 1998.[1] The second generation unit was launched in 2001.

Technical description

The dam is 111 metres (364 ft) high and 317 metres (1,040 ft) long at the crest. It is filled of gravel with asphalt-concrete diaphragm. The complex includes tunnel spillway, intake structure, two diversion tunnels 5.2 kilometres (3.2 mi) each, underground surge tanks, steel-reinforced concrete penstocks, and a powerhouse.[1]

Irganai is the largest derivational hydroelectric power station in Russia, with two radial-axial hydraulic units with a capacity of 200 MW each.[2] The power station has a total installed capacity of 400 megawatts (MW) and projected capacity of 800 MW.[1][3] Its mean annual electric energy output is 1,280 GWh.

The dam creates the Irganai reservoir. The reservoir has a surface area of 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi). Its full capacity is 705,000,000 cubic metres (2.49×1010 cu ft) and alive storage capacity is 397,000,000 cubic metres (1.40×1010 cu ft).[1]

The dam and power station is projected by Lenhydroproject and operated by RusHydro.

Incidents

On 7 September 2010, fire broke-out at power station's hall. On 9 September 2010, Russian security forces defused an explosive device equivalent to 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) of trinitrotoluene in the room.[4][5] On 31 January 2011, a stick of dynamite was discovered at the power station.[6]

References