Malpaso Dam
Encyclopedia
The Malpaso Dam is an embankment dam
on the Grijalva River
near Tecpatán
in Chiapas
, Mexico
. The dam supports a hydroelectric power station containing 6 x 180 MW Francis turbine
-generators for a total installed capacity of 1,080 MW. The dam is 137.5 m (451 ft) tall and 480 m (1,575 ft) in length. It was the first major dam on the Grijalva River.
In 1970, the silting basin was severely damaged during a flood 20% less than the design capacity. Pressure fluctuations caused the stone slabs to detach from their anchor. In 2008, Comisión Federal de Electricidad
, the dam's owner, shut down operations at the dam to complete the second stage on a canal project designed to alleviate storage in the dam's reservoir. The canal's construction occurred in three stages and it is was dug through a mud slide in between the dam and the Peñitas Dam
downstream. At the end of the third stage, the canal will be able to pass 3500 m3/s.
Embankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
on the Grijalva River
Grijalva River
Grijalva River, formerly known as Tabasco River. is a 480 km long river in southeastern Mexico. It is named after Juan de Grijalva who visited the area in 1518. The river rises in Chiapas highlands and flows from Chiapas to the state of Tabasco through the Sumidero Canyon into the Bay of...
near Tecpatán
Tecpatán
Tecpatán is a town and one of the 119 Municipalities of Chiapas, in southern Mexico.As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 38,383. It covers an area of 770.1 km²....
in Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The dam supports a hydroelectric power station containing 6 x 180 MW Francis turbine
Francis turbine
The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts....
-generators for a total installed capacity of 1,080 MW. The dam is 137.5 m (451 ft) tall and 480 m (1,575 ft) in length. It was the first major dam on the Grijalva River.
Background
Initial construction on the dam sire began in 1958.In 1970, the silting basin was severely damaged during a flood 20% less than the design capacity. Pressure fluctuations caused the stone slabs to detach from their anchor. In 2008, Comisión Federal de Electricidad
Comisión Federal de Electricidad
The Comisión Federal de Electricidad is the Mexican state-owned electric widely known as CFE. It is the dominant electric company and the second most powerful state-owned company in Mexico after Pemex. The Mexican constitution states that the government is responsible for the control and...
, the dam's owner, shut down operations at the dam to complete the second stage on a canal project designed to alleviate storage in the dam's reservoir. The canal's construction occurred in three stages and it is was dug through a mud slide in between the dam and the Peñitas Dam
Peñitas Dam
The Peñitas Dam, also known as Ángel Albino Corzo, is a dam with a hydro-electric power station on the river Rio Grijalva, 83 km south west of the city of Villahermosa, lying in the municipality of Ostuacán in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico...
downstream. At the end of the third stage, the canal will be able to pass 3500 m3/s.
See also
- Angostura DamAngostura DamThe Angostura Dam is an embankment dam and hydroelectric power station on the Grijalva River near Venustiano Carranza in Chiapas, Mexico. The dam's power plant contains 5 x 180 MW, 3 x 310 MW Francis turbine-generators. The tall dam withholds one of the largest reservoirs in Mexico of...
- upstream, first in Grijalva River cascade. - Chicoasén DamChicoasén DamThe Chicoasén Dam is an embankment dam and hydroelectric power station on the Grijalva River near Chicoasén in Chiapas, Mexico. The dam's power plant, known as "Manuel Moreno Torres" contains 5 x 300 MW, 3 x 310 MW Francis turbine-generators. Torres was Comisión Federal de Electricidad's Director...
- upstream, second in cascade. - Peñitas DamPeñitas DamThe Peñitas Dam, also known as Ángel Albino Corzo, is a dam with a hydro-electric power station on the river Rio Grijalva, 83 km south west of the city of Villahermosa, lying in the municipality of Ostuacán in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico...
- fourth and last in cascade.