Three Gorges Dam: The World's Largest Hydroelectric Plant
Three Gorges Dam, dam on the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) just west of the city of Yichang in China. The largest dam in the world, it allows the navigation of oceangoing freighters, generates hydroelectric power, and may offer flood protection. Learn more about the Three Gorges Dam. Jun 08, · In , the Three Gorges Dam in China took over the #1 spot of the largest hydroelectric dam (in electricity production), replacing the Itaipu hydroelectric power plant in Brazil and Paraguay. The Three Gorges Dam has a generating capacity of 22, megawatts (MW) compared to 14, MW for the Itaipu Dam. But, over a year-long period, both dams can generate about the .
Construction began on the dam inand building was completed in The dam was at full goregs production in The dam is one of the largest power stations in the world, with the maximum capacity of about 22, MW. Dxm has huge benefits for the entire country. This paper will explore how power is generated in the dam, the economics behind the dam, and the impact that the dam has had on the dak.
Electrical power generation is one of the main purposes of the Three Gorges Dam along with transportation and flood prevention.
The expected annual energy output is expected to be about Power in the dam is generated by 32 Francis turbines developed by joint international and Chinese ventures, with each turbine producing MW of energy. Cost recovery from the dam is expected to come after 1, TWh of electricity generated, or about 10 years. The Three Gorges Dam had both positive and negative impacts that came along with its huge energy generation capacity.
One of the huge impacts that the dam had was on the farmers and other people living in the reservoir area. At least 1. Other concerns include decreasing sediment levels downstream, which could affect banks downstream and make cities prone to flooding. Finally, there is concern that relics could be lost in the flood area. Many of these relics and sites have been moved or copied to other locations.
There are some huge positive impacts that come with the dam. Most importantly, the dam significantly reduces the risk of flooding downstream and protects millions of people from risk of large-scale flooding. This huge advancement is one of what is a baby emu called key selling points of the dam, and something that has been spoken of since Mao Zedong. Furthermore, the discharging of the dam will provide huge amounts of fresh water for agriculture and industry.
Also, the dam will provide huge improvements in shipping along the Yangtze River. Capacity at that point will increase from 18 million tons annually to 50 projecf tons annually. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author. Gleick et al. Island Press,p. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
History and controversy
Aug 01, · The Three Gorges Dam was designed to tame China's longest river. But this summer's record rains reveal its limited ability to control floods. Three Gorges Dam . The Chinese set out to build the largest hydro power dam in the world, fully four times as large as the Hoover Dam, with a height of feet (m) and a length of miles ( kilometers). China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGPC) official website includes project annual reports, environmental impact statements, and insight into the organization structure and strategies of the project. 2 days ago · Lu presided over the construction of the Three Gorges project from to , and witnessed the first decade of the Three Gorges Dam from the start of construction to water storage.
By: David Russell Schilling January 4th, The Chinese set out to build the largest hydro power dam in the world, fully four times as large as the Hoover Dam, with a height of feet m and a length of 1. China Three Gorges Corporation CTGPC official website includes project annual reports, environmental impact statements, and insight into the organization structure and strategies of the project. The Chinese version of the site is here. The Three Gorges hydro electric dam project is perhaps the most ambitious and massive engineering projects ever attempted and we say attempted because it may never truly be finished as new issues crop up all the time, some large, some small, that keep the project team continually busy.
The project was originally envisioned by Dr. Sun Yat-sen as a flood control dam in A huge flood in during which transportation on the Yangtze River and the surrounding region was disrupted for days rekindled discussion. The project went through various phases and finally a decision to implement the plan was made in The goal is to reduce the severity of flooding by 90 percent, saving communities and property from destruction.
It would take 50 million tons of coal or 18 nuclear power plants to produce this much electricity. Three other features are navigation improvements to lower costs of transporting goods on the river and the development of fisheries and tourism. Two million people had to be resettled. According to studies , people forced to move in the face of such projects face tremendous psychological stress.
Over sites of cultural and historical importance were submerged. Ecological concerns, outside of the planned destruction of ecosystems in the project frootprint, are largely an unknown and it remains to be seen what the ultimate costs will be.
The TGDP includes a dam, two power plants, and navigation facilities. There are three sections to the project, the spillway dam, the intake dam and the non-overflow dam.
Permanent structures for navigation include a ship lock and a ship lift. The total duration of the project was 17 years and was carried out in 3 phases. The first phase, , focused on massive earth moving which resulted in the damming of the Yangtze River. The second phase, , included the building of the left bank power generating facility and a permanent ship lock. The third phase, , saw the completion of 26 electricity producing turbo-generators. During the project concrete was poured at a pace of , cubic yards per month.
A complex system was set up for transporting enormous quantities of cement from mixing plants to the dam; U. In addition, six tower cranes fitted with jacking systems were used to raise the conveyors, using swinging telescopic conveyors that poured concrete at a rate of cubic yards per hour.
The pit for erecting the main dam was dug to a depth of feet and thousands of holes were drilled into the earth totaling 60 miles in length. These were filled with a pressurized grout to prevent uplift of the dam as water would be prevented from seeping underneath.
Finally, ,00 square feet of concrete walls were sunk below the traverse cofferdams. For great photo galleries of the Three Gorges Dam Project including the dam task force, construction at Sandouping, the human cost, the environment cost, damblasting, and a history of the Yangtze River visit the Guardian. According a Business Insider article the project may be viewed in the future as a hug mistake. While China may not go that far, they have admitted to problems.
According to the Financial Times the response of the Chinese government to a growing number of problems with the dam is not solving problems or quieting the rising angst being expresses by the Dams original opponents and critics. David enjoys writing about high technology and its potential to make life better for all who inhabit planet earth. Header Menu Skip to content. Home Subscribe Contact. What is the Three Gorges Dam Project?
Construction Phases The total duration of the project was 17 years and was carried out in 3 phases. Technology Highlights During the project concrete was poured at a pace of , cubic yards per month.
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