A hydroelectric power station is an object erected on a river in order to convert the energy of its flow into electrical energy. One of the main structures of hydroelectric power plants in most cases is a dam blocking the channel.
How does a hydropower plant
Hydroelectric power station is always a significant object for the state economy, among other things, which is also a symbol of industrial progress. But, despite the monumentality, such large-scale structures have a relatively simple principle of operation.
Initially, water at the hydroelectric power station enters the blades of turbines installed in the turbine room. The energy of rotation of the latter is transmitted to generators. The generated electricity goes into the region’s power transmission system.
The main characteristic of any hydroelectric power station is, of course, its power. And this factor, in turn, depends on the amount of water passed through the turbine and its pressure. The higher the last indicator, the higher the dam of the station.
Varieties of stations
Thus, a hydroelectric power station is a significant large-scale facility being built on a river. Currently, there are only two main varieties of hydroelectric power plants in the world:
In the latter case, the pressure of water in the branch channel or tunnel is used to generate electricity. Derivative hydroelectric power plants are usually built on mountainous, not too wide rivers with a strong current.
Elements of the design of a conventional hydroelectric power station
In addition to the dam, during the construction of a hydroelectric power station, such structures as:
- hydroelectric building;
- gateways
- ship receivers and fish passages;
- spillway devices;
- Switchgear.
In the building of the hydroelectric station, there is a machine room with turbines and generators.
What is a derivation station
Such a hydroelectric station is a special facility, always erected on a channel with a large slope. Water in such rivers flows under strong pressure in a natural way, so in this case it is not necessary to equip the dam. The flow of such hydroelectric power plants goes directly to the main building to the turbines. A reservoir is usually created, but in most cases they have a very small area. Reservoirs at hydroelectric power stations of this type are required exclusively for flow regulation.
What hydroelectric power stations are available in the Russian Federation?
Of course, many hydroelectric power plants have been built in Russia. Most of them have been functioning since the times of the USSR. The very first hydroelectric power station built in our country was Zyryanskaya. This object was built in tsarist Russia in 1892. It was a small station that provided electricity to the mine drainage of a local mine.
In the Soviet period, the government adopted the global GOERLO plan, according to which it was planned to build hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 21,254 thousand l / s in 10-15 years. To date, the most significant hydroelectric power plants in the Russian Federation are:
- Sayano-Shushenskaya (Sayanogorsk) with a capacity of 6.4 Guards;
- Krasnoyarsk (Divnogorsk) - 6 Guards;
- Bratsk (Bratsk) - 4.52 Guards;
- Ust-Ilminskaya - 3.84 Guards;
- Boguchinskaya (Kodinsk) - 3 Guards;
- Zhigulevskaya - 2.4 Guards;
- Bureyskaya - 2.01 Guards;
- Cheboksary (Novocheboksarsk) - 1.4 Guards;
- Saratov (Balakovo) - 1.38 Guards;
- Zeya (Zeya) - 1.33 Guards;
Also a fairly large facility is the Nizhnekamsk Hydroelectric Power Station (Naberezhnye Chelny). The power of this station is 1.25 Gv. The owner is OJSC Generating Company and Tatenergo. A station was built on the Kama River.
Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station: history
It is this hydroelectric power station, which is part of the Yenisei cascade, that is by far the largest in the country. Every year, on average, it generates about 23.5 billion kW / h of electricity. The decision to build the Sayano-Shushenskaya station was made by the USSR government in 1961. The work on its construction began in 1968. In 1978, the Sayano-Shushenskoe reservoir was filled. Officially, the construction of the station was completed only in 2000.
The construction of the hydroelectric power station was, unfortunately, accompanied by various sorts of troubles. During the construction process, spillway structures were destroyed several times, and cracks formed in the dam. However, in the end, judging by the reports of past years, all such problems were successfully resolved.
Station Characteristics
The Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station is located near the village of Cheremushki near the city of Sayanogorsk on the Yenisei River. Currently, 10 units are installed in its main building, each with a capacity of 640 MW. Unfortunately, only 8 units are in working condition. The turbines at this station are installed very powerful, brand RO-230 / 833-0-677, operating at a design pressure of 194 meters. The dam height of this hydroelectric station is 245 m. Moreover, the area of the reservoir formed as a result of the construction of the station is 621 km 2 .
During the construction of the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station, a total of 35,600 ha of farmland was flooded. At the same time, 2717 various kinds of buildings had to be moved. The water in the reservoir of the hydroelectric power station is of good quality, therefore, several farms specializing in trout production were subsequently organized in its lower part. The reservoir of the Sayano-Shushenskaya station is located simultaneously in the territory of three regions: Khakassia, Tuva and Krasnoyarsk Territory. On its shores, among other things, the Sayano-Shushensky Biosphere Reserve also operates.
Accident at Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station 2009
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, a very serious accident occurred at the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric station, which killed 75 people. August 17, 2009 in the engine room of the main building as a result of damage to the second hydraulic unit there was a strong discharge of water from the turbine. A gushing stream destroyed the load-bearing columns of the building and damaged the equipment installed in it. As a result of the ingress of water into some hydraulic units, the generators are out of order, and in others completely destroyed. All technological systems located below 327 were flooded.
The consequences of the accident were initially eliminated by the employees of the station itself. Subsequently, contracting organizations were involved. The closure of the hydraulic locks took about 9 hours and 20 minutes. The flow of water into the engine room was stopped. In general, 2.7 thousand people and more than 200 pieces of equipment took part in the emergency response operation. To prevent the entry of water into the hall, it was necessary to build barrage structures, the total length of which was 9683 meters.