Zimapán Dam
Encyclopedia
The Zimapán Dam, also known as Fernando Hiriart Balderrama Dam, is an arch dam
on the Moctezuma River
about 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Zimapán
in Hidalgo state, Mexico
. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production and it services a 292 MW power station with water.
loan which was approved on 8 June 1989 and covered the Mexico Hydroelectric Development Project which included the Aguamilpa Dam
as well. Mexico raised $250 in foreign capital as well.
Construction on the dam began in 1990 and was complete in 1993. Beginning in 1994, the reservoir filled and the power station was operational by 1995. Approximately 3,000 people were displaced and resettled by the construction of both dams in the Mexico Hydroelectric Development Project.
created by the dam has a capacity of 1390000000 cubic metre and surface area of 22.9 km² (9 sq mi). The reservoir is formed by the Tula
and San Juan Rivers
which join in the reservoir to form the Moctezuma River later downstream of the dam. Water from the reservoir is diverted through a 21 km (13 mi) tunnel, bypassing 42 km (26 mi) of the river downstream, before reaching the power station at 20°50′51"N 99°27′31"W. Water at the power station powers two Pelton turbine-generators before being discharged back into the Moctezuma River. When both turbines are operating, the power station discharges a maximum of 59 m3/s. It operates as a peak power plant
, operating 4 to 12 hours a day depending on energy demands.
Arch dam
An arch dam is a type of dam that is curved and commonly built with concrete. The arch dam is a structure that is designed to curve upstream so that the force of the water against it, known as hydrostatic pressure, presses against the arch, compressing and strengthening the structure as it pushes...
on the Moctezuma River
Moctezuma River
-References:*Atlas of Mexico, 1975 .*The Prentice Hall American World Atlas, 1984.*Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
about 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Zimapán
Zimapan
Zimapan is a town and one of the 84 municipalities of Hidalgo, in central-eastern Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 860.9 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 34,476....
in Hidalgo state, 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 primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production and it services a 292 MW power station with water.
Background
The dam was funded in part by a $460 million World BankWorld Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
loan which was approved on 8 June 1989 and covered the Mexico Hydroelectric Development Project which included the Aguamilpa Dam
Aguamilpa Dam
The Aguamilpa Dam is an embankment dam on the Río Grande de Santiago in the Mexican state of Nayarit, northeast of Tepic. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supplies a 960 MW power station with water...
as well. Mexico raised $250 in foreign capital as well.
Construction on the dam began in 1990 and was complete in 1993. Beginning in 1994, the reservoir filled and the power station was operational by 1995. Approximately 3,000 people were displaced and resettled by the construction of both dams in the Mexico Hydroelectric Development Project.
Design
The dam is a 203 m (666 ft) tall and 122 m (400 ft) long arch-type located in a narrow portion of the Moctezuma Canyon. The crest of the dam is 5 m (16 ft) wide while the base has a width of 22 m (72 ft). The reservoirReservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
created by the dam has a capacity of 1390000000 cubic metre and surface area of 22.9 km² (9 sq mi). The reservoir is formed by the Tula
Tula River
Rio Tula is a river in Hidalgo state in central Mexico. It runs through the ancient town of Tula....
and San Juan Rivers
San Juan River (Veracruz)
-References:*Atlas of Mexico, 1975 .*The Prentice Hall American World Atlas, 1984.*Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
which join in the reservoir to form the Moctezuma River later downstream of the dam. Water from the reservoir is diverted through a 21 km (13 mi) tunnel, bypassing 42 km (26 mi) of the river downstream, before reaching the power station at 20°50′51"N 99°27′31"W. Water at the power station powers two Pelton turbine-generators before being discharged back into the Moctezuma River. When both turbines are operating, the power station discharges a maximum of 59 m3/s. It operates as a peak power plant
Load balancing (electrical power)
Load balancing refers to the use of various techniques by electrical power stations to store excess electrical power during low demand periods for release as demand rises....
, operating 4 to 12 hours a day depending on energy demands.