Luiz Barreto Dam
Encyclopedia
The Luiz Carlos Barreto de Carvalho Dam, formerly known as Estreito, is an embankment dam on the Grande River
near Fronteira
in São Paulo
, Brazil
. The dam serves an associated hydroelectric power plant with a 1,050 MW installed capacity.
, they completed studies for the dam in 1962. Construction began in 1963 and was complete in March 1969 when the first generator went online. The dam and power plant were also inaugurated that year. Because of the Furnas Dam upstream, the water level in the reservoir is operated at similar levels year round. Furnas is currently planning to renovate and modernize the dam and power plant.
. The total structural volume of materials for the dam is 4290000 cubic metre. The dam's spillway
contains six floodgates that are 11.5 m (37.7 ft) wide and 16.5 m (54.1 ft) high each. In total, the spillway has a 13000 m3/s discharge capacity. The reservoir
created by the dam has a surface area of 46.7 square kilometre and capacity of 1418000000 cubic metre with on 10% of the capacity (178000000 cubic metre) serving as live (active or "useful") storage. The normal reservoir level is 622.5 m (2,042.3 ft) above sea level and the maximum is 626.64 m (2,055.9 ft). The dam's power house is 24.2 m (79.4 ft) wide and 177 m (580.7 ft) long and contains six 175 MW generators
that are powered by Francis turbine
s.
Grande River
The Grande River is river in south-central Brazil. It rises in the Mantiqueira Mountains in the state of Minas Gerais and descends inland, west-northwestward. Its lower course marks a portion of the Minas Gerais-São Paulo border...
near Fronteira
Fronteira, Minas Gerais
Fronteira is a municipality in the west of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. As of 2007 the population was 13,983 in a total area of 200 km². It became a municipality in 1943.-Location:...
in São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The dam serves an associated hydroelectric power plant with a 1,050 MW installed capacity.
Background
Owned and maintained by Eletrobrás FurnasEletrobrás Furnas
Eletrobras Furnas is a regional power utility and a major subsidiary of Eletrobras. The company generates or transmits electricity to 51% of households in Brazil and more than 40% of the nation's electricity passes through their grid...
, they completed studies for the dam in 1962. Construction began in 1963 and was complete in March 1969 when the first generator went online. The dam and power plant were also inaugurated that year. Because of the Furnas Dam upstream, the water level in the reservoir is operated at similar levels year round. Furnas is currently planning to renovate and modernize the dam and power plant.
Specifications
The Luiz Barreto Dam is a 535 m (1,755.2 ft) long and 92 m (301.8 ft) high earth-fill embankment damEmbankment 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...
. The total structural volume of materials for the dam is 4290000 cubic metre. The dam's spillway
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
contains six floodgates that are 11.5 m (37.7 ft) wide and 16.5 m (54.1 ft) high each. In total, the spillway has a 13000 m3/s discharge capacity. The reservoir
Reservoir
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 surface area of 46.7 square kilometre and capacity of 1418000000 cubic metre with on 10% of the capacity (178000000 cubic metre) serving as live (active or "useful") storage. The normal reservoir level is 622.5 m (2,042.3 ft) above sea level and the maximum is 626.64 m (2,055.9 ft). The dam's power house is 24.2 m (79.4 ft) wide and 177 m (580.7 ft) long and contains six 175 MW 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...
that are powered by 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.
See also
- Marimbondo DamMarimbondo DamThe Marimbondo Dam is an embankment dam on the Grande River near Fronteira in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The dam serves an associated hydroelectric power plant with a 1,440 MW installed capacity.-Background:...
- Água Vermelha DamÁgua Vermelha DamThe Água Vermelha Dam is an embankment dam on the Grande River near Iturama in Minas Gerais/São Paulo, Brazil. It was constructed for hydroelectric power production and flood control. Construction on the dam began in 1973 and it was completed and operational by 1978...
- Furnas Dam
- List of power stations in Brazil