The Chirkey Dam (Chirkeisk GES) is an arch dam on the Sulak River in Dagestan, Russia. The main purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production, and it supports a 1,000 MW power station. Construction on the dam began in 1964, the first generator was operational by 1974, the last in 1976 while the project was officially completed in 1978. It is the tallest arch dam in Russia.

Chirkey Dam
Chirkey Dam
Chirkey Dam is located in Republic of Dagestan
Chirkey Dam
Location of Chirkey Dam in Republic of Dagestan
Chirkey Dam is located in Russia
Chirkey Dam
Chirkey Dam (Russia)
Official nameChirkey GES
CountryRussia
LocationDagestan
Coordinates42°58′37″N 46°52′16″E / 42.97694°N 46.87111°E / 42.97694; 46.87111
StatusIn use
Construction began1964
Opening date1976
Owner(s)RusHydro
Dam and spillways
Type of damArch
ImpoundsSulak River
Height232.5 m (763 ft)
Length338 m (1,109 ft)
Width (crest)6 m (20 ft)
Width (base)30 m (98 ft)
Dam volume1,275,000 m3 (45,026,200 cu ft)
Spillways1
Spillway typeService, flood discharge tunnel
Spillway capacity2,900 m3/s (102,413 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesChirkey Reservoir
Total capacity2,780,000,000 m3 (2,253,783 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area11,290 km2 (4,359 sq mi)
Surface area42.4 km2 (16 sq mi)
Maximum water depth200 m (656 ft)
Power Station
Commission date1974-1976
Hydraulic head205 m (673 ft) (max.)
Turbines4 × 250 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity1,000 MW
Annual generation2.47 billion kWh

Design

edit

The dam is a 232.5 m (763 ft) tall and 338 m (1,109 ft) long (crest) concrete arch dam. It is 6 m (20 ft) wide at its crest, 30 m (98 ft) wide at its base and contains 1,275,000 m3 (45,026,200 cu ft) of concrete. The dam withholds a 2,780,000,000 m3 (2,253,783 acre⋅ft) reservoir of which 1,320,000,000 m3 (1,070,141 acre⋅ft) is active or "useful" storage. The reservoir has a surface area of 42.4 km2 (16 sq mi), length of 40 km (25 mi) and maximum width of 5 km (3 mi). Maximum depth of the reservoir is 200 m (656 ft) and its catchment area is 11,290 km2 (4,359 sq mi).[1][2]

The dam's spillway consists of a 509 m (1,670 ft) long non-pressure tunnel with its intake on the left bank of the dam. The spillway's capacity is 2,900 m3/s (102,413 cu ft/s). The dam's outlet works, spillway and power station have a combined discharge capacity of 3,550 m3/s (125,367 cu ft/s).[1]

The dam's power station contains 4 × 250 MW Francis turbine-generators for a total installed capacity of 1,000 MW. Each generator is supplied with water by a penstock, all four of which intake on the upstream side of the dam's face and run down its surface toward the power station at the dam's base.[1]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Hydro in the basin. Sulak" (in Russian). RusHydro. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  2. ^ "CHIRKEISK GES". JSC ChirkeyGESstroy. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
edit