The whole history of mankind is literally permeated with the struggle with nature for minerals. And such a confrontation is not accidental, since absolutely any industry of our life is energy-intensive. Therefore, in such a situation, it seems logical that we strive in every possible way to find alternative sources of cheap, renewable energy. In this regard, it is worth paying the closest attention to the Kislogubskaya PES.
Facts only
Speaking about this station, you should immediately indicate that it stands apart in the "family" of power plants in the Russian Federation. The construction of the Kislogubskaya TPP was initially experimental, and I must say that it turned out to be quite successful.
At its core, this industrial facility is a station operating by using the energy of the tides of the sea, that is, in principle, the kinetic energy released during the rotation of our planet. This man-made source of cheap electricity is put on the state register as a monument to technology and science.
Construction and commissioning
The development of the Kislogubskaya TPP project and its implementation in reality in 1968 was carried out by the Hydroproject Institute. The head of this event was the chief engineer of the institution, L. B. Bernstein. The construction of the station was carried out in the most progressive way for that time, which consisted of creating a reinforced concrete building in a dock near Murmansk, followed by towing the resulting structure to its place of work on the sea surface. One station water conduit had a French-made capsule hydraulic apparatus (its capacity was 0.4 MW), and the second, in which it was planned to mount a domestic hydraulic unit, was left empty. After the start-up, the power plant was put on the balance of Kolenergo. It was used as an experimental base. Leading specialists in the construction industry were involved in the construction of the station, because the additional complexity was the landscape and climate of the place where the TEC was finally built.
Location
Kislogubskaya TPP built on the coast of the Barents Sea, and more specifically, in a lip called Kislaya, where the height of the tides may well reach five meters. By the way, on the Kola Peninsula the so-called “lips” are rather narrow bays deeply penetrating into the land. This place is the most ideal in terms of the construction of dams of tidal stations.
Principle of operation
The PES works, at first glance, elementary: at the time of high tide, water rises and comes into the upper basin, forcing the turbine to rotate. When the ebb begins, the water, retreating back into the sea, again sets the turbine in motion. Thus, the generation of electrical energy occurs. The whole secret lies in the nuances that only narrow-profile specialists can tell about.
Downtime
The only tidal power station in Russia functioned until 1992. However, at that time, the country's economy was going far beyond the best of times, and we had to forget about the further development of this type of electricity production. PES was stopped and mothballed. From looting by vandals and elementary physical destruction the station was saved by its remoteness from transport interchanges and settlements, plus everything, the responsibility and dedication of the remaining personnel also helped the station to continue its existence.
A new round of life
It is safe to say that the Kislogubskaya PES was lucky, because in 2004 it began its work again, for which it is worth thanking Anatoly Chubais, who paid close attention to the continuous development of tidal energy.
The obsolete hydraulic unit was immediately dismantled both morally and physically. In its place was put a new analogue with an orthogonal design.
The year 2007 was marked by the construction of a new unit with a turbine capacity of 1.5 MW. This unit was transported by sea and connected to the old building. As a result, the station received a modern look. At the end of 2006, the station was connected to a power line with a voltage of 35 kV.
It belongs to PES Open Joint Stock Company RusHydro.
Additional Information
Described tidal power station in Russia It is also the place where experiments are conducted with the production of electricity using natural sources. So, on the territory of this object there are solar panels that are involved in the accumulation of solar energy with its subsequent transformation into electricity. There is also a wind measuring complex at the station, which in its appearance resembles a cell communications tower, which, by the way, is not there at all. The task of the complex is to collect information regarding the direction and strength of the wind. This is done in order to develop alternative energy.
In general, you can get to the PES (Murmansk region) exclusively by sea. The staff here is small - only 10 people who work on a rotational basis for fifteen days. It is important to note the fact that the variety of fish caught in the station area is very large. And therefore we can conclude: PES does not cause any damage to the environment.
Station technical capabilities
Kislogubskaya TPP (on the map below it is easy to detect) has a fairly small total capacity of 1.7 MW. Stable, uninterrupted operation of the facility can provide electricity to the village, whose population will be 5,000 people.
Living conditions
Where the Kislogubskaya PES is located, there was also a place for a residential building for station workers, storage facilities, a garage, a water main (water flows through it from a mountain lake). In addition, the territory of the industrial facility gave shelter to the scientific base of the Polar Scientific Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography. Knipovich.
Station analysis
Forty-five years of research on PES have confirmed that its operation ensures its reliable operation in the energy system, both at peak times and at standard times. A unique generator of Russian production used at the station with a variable rotation speed allowed to increase the efficiency of the station by 5%.
The reinforced concrete structure of the PES building is thin-walled, but even after forty-five years of extreme operation, it remained in good condition. A major achievement can be considered and the prevention of corrosion of metal surfaces of structures and equipment. Concrete of the building is ideal in terms of frost resistance. No damage was found on its surface. Strength was higher than the design value.
Summing up, it can be noted that the Murmansk region has become a real cradle for the birth and development of tidal energy, which in itself is an industry of the future, because the extraction of electricity in this way is absolutely safe for humans and nature, as well as the most cost-effective and justified from an economic point of view. In this regard, the planned construction of several more tidal power plants in the country looks quite logical.