Três Marias Dam

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Três Marias Dam
Location of Três Marias Dam
Official name Usina de Bernardo Mascarenhas
Location Três Marias, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Coordinates 18°12′51″S 45°15′46″W / 18.21417°S 45.26278°W / -18.21417; -45.26278Coordinates: 18°12′51″S 45°15′46″W / 18.21417°S 45.26278°W / -18.21417; -45.26278
Construction began 1957
Opening date 1961
Owner(s) CEMIG
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment
Impounds São Francisco River
Length 2,700 m (8,900 ft)
Height 75 m (246 ft)
Spillway type Service, gate-controlled chute
Reservoir
Creates Três Marias Reservoir
Total capacity 21 km3 (5.0 cu mi)
Surface area 1,040 km2 (400 sq mi)
Power station
Commission date 1962-1969
Turbines 6 x 64.6 MW Kaplan turbines
Installed capacity 387.6 MW

The Três Marias Dam, also known as Bernardo Mascarenhas,[1] is an embankment dam on the São Francisco River near Três Marias in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It was constructed for hydroelectric power production and flood control. The dam was completed in 1961 and its first generator was operational in 1962. The dam's power plant is named after Bernard Mascarenhas who in 1889, built South America's first major hydroelectric power plant in Brazil, the Marmelos Zero Power Plant.[2]

Background

Construction on the dam began in May 1957 with a goal to stabilize the river's flow, improve navigation and to produce hydroelectric power. 10,000 people worked on the project and Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek was influential in the dam's construction pace. The majority of the dam works were completed in January 1961 and its first generator was operational in 1962.[3] The other five generators went online by 1969.[1] The dam does not have a fish ladder and effectively halted fish migration in the upper São Francisco River while also splitting it into two zones.[4]

Specifications

Location of Três Marias Dam

The dam is a 2,700 m (8,900 ft) long and 75 m (246 ft) high embankment dam with a spillway off to its east-side and a power plant at its east toe. The dam's reservoir has a surface area of 1,040 km2 (400 sq mi) and a capacity of 21 km3 (5.0 cu mi). The dam's power station contains six 64.6 MW generators powered by Kaplan turbines for a total installed capacity of 387.6 MW. There is additional room for two more generators in the power station which would increase the capacity to 516.85 MW if installed.[5] The Kaplan turbines used in the power station were designed by Voith and first installed in 1958. Each one has eight runner blades and is designed to operate with a hydraulic head as low as 50 m (160 ft).[6] The dam regulates downstream water flows to other reservoirs and power plants, keeping a normal discharge of 500 m3/s (18,000 cu ft/s).[7]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Hydroelectric Plants in Brazil - Minas Gerais". IndustCards. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  2. "MEMÓRIA COLETIVA" (in Portuguese). Juiz de Fora. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  3. "History". PREFEITURA MUNICIPAL DE TRÊS MARIAS. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  4. Carolsfeld, Joachim (2003). Carolsfeld. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. p. 206. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  5. "Cemig's Power Plants - Tres Marias". CEMIG. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  6. "Kaplan Turbines". Voith. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  7. "Technical Visit to the Hydroelectric Power Station of Três Marias" (in Portuguese). Funam. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
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