The Queen Sirikit Dam is an embankment dam

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 Nan River

Nan River

The Nan River is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River.-Geography:The Nan River originates in Nan Province. The provinces along the river after Nan Province are Uttaradit, Phitsanulok and Phichit. The Yom River joins the Nan River at Chum Saeng...

, a tributary of the Chao Phraya River

Chao Phraya River

The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...

, in Uttaradit Province

Uttaradit Province

Uttaradit is one of the northern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Phrae and Nan...

, Thailand

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

. The dam was built for the purpose of irrigation, flood control and hydroelectric power production. It is named after Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

Background

The Sirikit Dam among others in the Chao Phraya basin were constructed beginning in the 1950s to exploit the agricultural and hydroelectric potential of the basin. Preliminary construction on the dam began in 1968 and it was finished in 1972. The power plant and first three units were commissioned in 1974, the fourth in 1995. Previously in 1964, the Bhumibol Dam

Bhumibol Dam

The Bhumibol Dam is a concrete arch dam on the Ping River, a tributary of the Chao Phraya River, in Amphoe Sam Ngao district of Tak Province, Thailand. It is located about north of Bangkok and was built for the purposes of water storage, hydroelectric power production, flood control, fisheries...

 was completed on the Ping River

Ping River

The Ping River , along with the Nan River, is one of the two main contributaries of Chao Phraya River. It originates at Doi Chiang Dao in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai Province. After passing Chiang Mai town, it flows though the provinces Lamphun, Tak, and Kamphaeng Phet...

, one of two major tributaries of the Chao Phraya including the Nan. The Bhumibol and Sirkit Dams control 22% of the Chao Phraya's annual runoff combined. Both dams also help provide for the irrigation of 1200000 ha (4,633 sq mi) in the wet season and 480000 ha (1,853 sq mi) in the dry season.

Design

The dam is a 113.6 m (373 ft) high and 800 m (2,625 ft) long embankment dam that is 630 m (2,067 ft) wide at its base and 12 m (39 ft) wide at its crest. The dam withholds a reservoir of 9510000000 cubic metre of which 6666000000 cubic metre is active or "useful" storage. The reservoir has a surface area of 259 km² (100 sq mi). The dam's spillway consists of a tunnel controlled by two radial gates, it has a capacity of 3250 m3/s. The dam's power station contains 4 x 125 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....

s for an installed capacity of 500 MW.

External links

• Sirikit Dam at Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand