Srinagarind Dam

Srinagarind Dam

Power station as viewed from atop dam.
Location of Srinagarind Dam
Country Thailand
Location Si Sawat District of Kanchanaburi Province
Coordinates 14°24′31″N 99°07′42″E / 14.40861°N 99.12833°ECoordinates: 14°24′31″N 99°07′42″E / 14.40861°N 99.12833°E
Status In use
Construction began 1974
Opening date 1980
Owner(s) Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment
Impounds Khwae Yai
Height 140 m (460 ft)
Length 610 m (2,000 ft)
Reservoir
Creates Srinagarind Reservoir
Total capacity 7,470,000,000 m3 (6,056,028 acre·ft)
Power station
Commission date 1980–1991
Turbines 3 × 120 MW (160,000 hp) Francis-type, 2 × 180 MW (240,000 hp) Francis pump-turbine.
Installed capacity 720 MW (970,000 hp)
Annual generation 1,160 gigawatt-hours (4,200 TJ)

The Srinagarind Dam (also known as the Srinakarin Dam) is an embankment dam on the Khwae Yai river in Si Sawat District of Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. The main purpose of the dam is river regulation and hydroelectric power generation. The dam's power station has a 720 megawatts (970,000 hp) capacity of which 360 megawatts (480,000 hp) is pumped storage.

Background

Feasibility studies for the dam were carried out between May 1967 to May 1969 and designs between September 1970 to December 1977. Initial construction on the dam began in 1974 and it was complete in 1980.[1] The first of the dam's generators was commissioned in 1980 and the last by 1991.[2] The original cost of the dam was estimated to be $45 million but because the dam was constructed on a fault line, the dam's foundation had to be reinforced which raised the cost to $114 million.[3]

Design

The Srinagarind Dam is a 140 metres (460 ft) tall and 610 metres (2,000 ft) long embankment dam. It withholds a reservoir of 7,470 million cubic metres (6.06×106 acre·ft).[1] The dam's power station has an installed capacity of 720 MW and contains three 120 megawatts (160,000 hp) Francis turbines and two 180 MW Francis pump-turbines. The pump-turbines serve the dam's pumped-storage capability and generate electricity during peak hours. In off-peak hours, the pump turbines return water from the lower reservoir back into the upper reservoir.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "SRINAGARIND (BAN CHAO NEN) Thailand". JPower. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Hydroelectric Power Plants in Thailand". Industcards. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  3. "The Salween Under Threat". Living River Siam. p. 29. Retrieved 6 March 2011.