Alto Rabagão Dam

Alto Rabagão Dam
Location of Alto Rabagão Dam
Official name Barragem do Alto Rabagão
Location municipality Montalegre, Vila Real District, Portugal
Coordinates 41°44′22.2″N 7°51′27.4″W / 41.739500°N 7.857611°WCoordinates: 41°44′22.2″N 7°51′27.4″W / 41.739500°N 7.857611°W
Purpose Power
Status Operational
Construction began 1957
Opening date 1964
Owner(s) Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Concrete arch and gravity dam
Impounds Rabagão River
Height (foundation) 94 m (308 ft)
Length 1,970 m (6,460 ft)
Elevation at crest 880 m (2,890 ft)
Dam volume 1,117,000 m3 (39,400,000 cu ft)
Spillway type Over the dam
Spillway capacity 500 m3 (18,000 cu ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity 568,690,000 m3 (461,040 acre·ft)
Active capacity 557,920,000 m3 (452,310 acre·ft)
Surface area 22.12 km2 (8.54 sq mi)
Normal elevation 880 m (2,890 ft)
Power station
Name Alto Rabagão Power Plant
Coordinates 41°42′37.13″N 7°55′0.70″W / 41.7103139°N 7.9168611°W
Operator(s) Energias de Portugal
Commission date 1964
Type Pumped-storage
Hydraulic head 185 m (607 ft) (max)
Turbines 2 x 36.75 MW reversible Francis-type
Installed capacity 68 MW
Annual generation 85.2 GWh

Alto Rabagão Dam (Portuguese: Barragem do Alto Rabagão) is a concrete dam on the Rabagão River, a left tributary of the Cávado River. It is located in Peneda-Gerês National Park, in the municipality Montalegre, in Vila Real District, Portugal.

Construction of the dam began in 1957. The dam was completed in 1964. It is owned by Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade (CPPE). The dam is used for power production.[1]

Dam

Alto Rabagão Dam is a 94 m tall (height above foundation) and 1,970 m long concrete dam, which is composed of a arch dam in the center and gravity dams on both sides. Its crest altitude is 880 m. The volume of the dam is 1,117,000 m³. The dam contains a crest spillway with 2 gates (maximum discharge 500 m³/s) and a bottom outlet (maximum discharge 360 m³/s).[1]

Reservoir

At full reservoir level of 880 m (maximum flood level of 880.1 m) the reservoir of the dam has a surface area of 22.12 km² and its total capacity is 568.69 mio. m³. Its active capacity is 557.92 (550[2][3] or 550.1[4]) mio. m³. Minimum operating level is 829 m.[1] With the 550.1 mio. m³ water 973.1 GWh can be produced.[4]

Power plant

The pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant went operational in 1964. It is owned by CPPE, but operated by EDP.[5] The plant has a nameplate capacity of 68[1][4][5] (72)[3] MW. Its average annual generation is 85.2[4] (83[2] 95[3] or 97[1][5]) GWh.

The power station is located downstream and contains 2 reversible Francis turbine-generators with 36.75 MW (45 MVA), each in an underground powerhouse. The turbine rotation is 428 rpm. The minimum hydraulic head is 129 m, the maximum 185 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 25.7 m³/s. When pumping, each of the pumps has a maximum energy consumption of 31.7 MW and can pump 18 m³/s.[4] The pumps are operated independently of the Francis turbines.[2]

As lower reservoir for Alto Rabagão the reservoir of Venda Nova Dam is used.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "ALTO RABAGÃO DAM". APA Barragens de Portugal. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "DECLARAÇÃO AMBIENTAL 2012" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Energias de Portugal. p. 18-20 (16-18). Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Hidroelectricidade em Portugal memória e desafio" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Rede Eléctrica Nacional, S.A. p. 29 (27). Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Alto Rabagão Informação Técnica" (in Portuguese). Energias de Portugal. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Alto Rabagao Hydroelectric Power Plant Portugal". Global Energy Observatory. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
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