Xinfengjiang Dam
Encyclopedia
The Xinfengjiang Dam is a gravity dam on the Xinfeng River
, 8 km (5 mi) upstream of its confluence with the Dong River, and just west of Heyuan City
in Guangdong Province, China
. The dam's power station has a 292.5 MW installed capacity and its reservoir supplies water for farming along with drinking water to Guangzhou
, Shenzhen
and Hong Kong
. Construction on the dam began in 1958, the first generator was operational in 1960 and the dam complete in 1962. The dam's reservoir-filling is attributed to several earthquakes within the project area including a 6.1-magnitude (Mw)
on March 19, 1962.
1.1 km (0.683510010314787 mi) downstream from the dam which destroyed several houses in the area. After the earthquake and as a precaution, cavities within the foundation were reinforced with concrete. This and other upgrades brought the dam to a 9.5-Mw-rated resistant design.
s, each with a 3800 m3/s maximum discharge capacity for a total of 11400 m3/s. The discharge tunnel on the dam's left bank has a 10 m (33 ft) diameter, is 778 m (2,552 ft) long and has a 1700 m3/s capacity. The dam's reservoir has a 3300000000 cubic metre flood storage capacity, rated for a once in a hundred year flood. The dam's power station is located at its base (toe) and contains four Francis turbine
generators
. Three are rated at 72.5 MW and the fourth at 75 MW for a total design capacity of 292.5 MW but the power plant can operate at a maximum 315 MW after later upgrades.
Xinfeng River
The Xinfeng River is a river in Guangdong Province, China and a tributary of the Dong River. It's confluence with the Dong is in Heyuan. The river is dammed by the Xinfengjiang Dam, creating the large Xinfengjiang Reservoir....
, 8 km (5 mi) upstream of its confluence with the Dong River, and just west of Heyuan City
Heyuan
-Language:In the great majority of Heyuan areas, Hakka Chinese is in general use.In the greater part of areas in the city, Dongyuan County, Lianping County, Heping County, Longchuan County etc., it belongs to the Yuezhong dialect group, while in Zijin County and part of Longchuan County, it belongs...
in Guangdong Province, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The dam's power station has a 292.5 MW installed capacity and its reservoir supplies water for farming along with drinking water to Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Construction on the dam began in 1958, the first generator was operational in 1960 and the dam complete in 1962. The dam's reservoir-filling is attributed to several earthquakes within the project area including a 6.1-magnitude (Mw)
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
on March 19, 1962.
Background
Construction on the dam began in 1958, a total of 1550000 cubic metre of earth was excavated at the construction site. On October 20, 1959 the reservoir behind the dam began to fill and in November there were several small earthquakes within the reservoir zone. When the water level reached 81 m (266 ft) above sea level (ASL) in May 1960, there were three to four earthquakes at a 3.1-Mw and on July 18, when the water level 90 m (295 ft) ASL, a 4.3-Mw earthquake occurred. On March 19, 1962 when the reservoir reached 110.5 m (363 ft) ASL there was a 6.1-Mw earthquake with an epicenterEpicenter
The epicenter or epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates...
1.1 km (0.683510010314787 mi) downstream from the dam which destroyed several houses in the area. After the earthquake and as a precaution, cavities within the foundation were reinforced with concrete. This and other upgrades brought the dam to a 9.5-Mw-rated resistant design.
Design
The dam is a 105 m (344 ft) tall, 440 m (1,444 ft) wide gravity dam. Its crest width is 5 m (16 ft) and it has a structural volume of 1060000 cubic metre of concrete. Above the dam is a 5740 km² (2,216 sq mi) drainage area and it withholds a reservoir of 13900000000 cubic metre. The dam contains a surface controlled spillway with three floodgateFloodgate
Floodgates are adjustable gates used to control water flow in flood barriers, reservoir, river, stream, or levee systems. They may be designed to set spillway crest heights in dams, to adjust flow rates in sluices and canals, or they may be designed to stop water flow entirely as part of a levee or...
s, each with a 3800 m3/s maximum discharge capacity for a total of 11400 m3/s. The discharge tunnel on the dam's left bank has a 10 m (33 ft) diameter, is 778 m (2,552 ft) long and has a 1700 m3/s capacity. The dam's reservoir has a 3300000000 cubic metre flood storage capacity, rated for a once in a hundred year flood. The dam's power station is located at its base (toe) and contains four 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
Electrical generator
In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...
. Three are rated at 72.5 MW and the fourth at 75 MW for a total design capacity of 292.5 MW but the power plant can operate at a maximum 315 MW after later upgrades.