Shahid Abbaspour Dam

Shahid Abbaspour Dam
(Karun-1 Dam)
Location Khuzestan, Iran
Coordinates
Opening date 1976
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Arch dam
Height 200 m (660 ft)
Length 380 m (1,250 ft)
Impounds Karun River
Reservoir
Capacity 3,139,000,000 m3 (1.109×1011 cu ft)
Surface area 54.8 km2 (21 sq mi)
Power station
Type No
Turbines 8 × 250 MW
Installed capacity 2,000 MW

The Shahid Abbaspour Dam (also known as Karun-1 Dam) is a large arch dam providing hydroelectricity from the Karun River; it is located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) northeast of Masjed Soleiman, in the province of Khuzestan, Iran, and originally completed in 1976,[1] and formerly named "Reza Shah Kabir Dam".[2] The dam was the first of a series of dams planned for development on the Karun River.[3]

The dam is a double-curvature concrete arch type, 200 m (660 ft) high from the foundation rock. Its crest width is 6 m (20 ft).[4] The arch dam design was chosen for the narrow, rocky gorge where it is located. The double-curvature arch design withstands the pressure created by the reservoir with a minimum of concrete, because the shape transmits the force of the reservoir downward and laterally, against the rock foundation; this has the effect of strengthening the dam concrete and its foundation by keeping it in compression.[5]

The dam site houses two power stations, one built in 1976 and another built in 1995. Each contains four water turbines connected to electric generators of 250 MW, for a combined generating capacity of 2,000 MW. The dam's electrical output is connected to the national electrical grid, with most generation occurring during periods of peak demand for electricity.

References

  1. ^ Shahid Abbaspour dam, translation from German.
  2. ^ Peter Beaumont, Water Resource Development in Iran, in The Geographical Journal, Vol. 140, No. 3 (Oct., 1974), pp. 418-431
  3. ^ P.T. Shourijed, A Soroush, N. Nemati, A.H Izad-doustdar, Karun River hydropower cascade development and its socio- environmental impacts in L. Berga, et.al. (eds), Dams and Reservoirs, Societies and Environment in the 21st Century ..., Volume 1, (2006)
  4. ^ Iran Ministry of Energy News
  5. ^ "Dam basics". http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/dam/basics.html. Retrieved 2008-06-11.