Kurobe dam
Encyclopedia
The or , is a variable-radius arch dam
on the Kurobe River
in Toyama Prefecture
on the island of Honshū
, Japan
. It supports the 335 MW Kurobe No. 4 Hydropower Plant and is owned by Kansai Electric Power Company
. At 186 metres (610.2 ft) high, it is the tallest dam in Japan. It was constructed between 1956 and 1963 at a cost of ¥51.3 billion yen. The project was a difficult engineering feat for the rapidly growing post–World War II
Japan, and claimed the lives of 171 people.
was formed to provide electric power for the Kansai region of Japan. Shortly after their formation, the area suffered from drought which caused power rationing. The drought along with the rapid growth of post–World War II Japan pushed the company to increase their generating capacity. After a series of geological and hydrological studies of the Kurobe River and Gorge, it was announced in late 1955 that the Kurobe Dam would be constructed.
In July 1956, construction on the dam began. Problems quickly arose while transporting material to the construction site as only one small railway existed through the narrow gorge. Kansai decided to construct the 5.4 kilometres (3.4 mi) Kanden Tunnel under Mount Tate
that could bring supplies from Ōmachi
eastward towards the construction site. The tunnel proved an arduous task as a large fracture zone in the rock was encountered which took seven months to repair. In September 1959, the first concrete
for the dam was placed and by October of the next year, the reservoir had begun to fill.
The Kurobe No. 4 power station was built completely underground to protect it from common avalanches in the gorge and also for nature conservation purposes. By January 1961, two of Kurobe No. 4's Pelton turbines had begun operation at an initial capacity of 154 MW. In August 1962, the third turbine was in operation and by June 1963, the dam was complete at a final cost of ¥ 51.3 billion ($142.5 million (1963)). In 1973, a fourth turbine was installed and became operational; bringing the power station's production capacity to 335 MW. The fourth turbine cost ¥ 1.4 billion yen ($5 million (1973)). The first two turbines were manufactured by Voith
and the second two by Japan's Hitachi
. The dam initiated the development of Japan's first 275kV transmission system
as well which allowed the transfer of electricity over greater distances. A total of 171 people died during the construction of the dam.
. The dam is 39.7 m (130.2 ft) wide at its base, 8.1 m (26.6 ft) wide at its crest and contains 1582845 m³ (2,070,283.1 cu yd) of concrete. The dam is flanked and supported by two "wing" dams; the one on the left bank is 69 m (226.4 ft) long and the right is 56 m (183.7 ft). The dam withholds a reservoir
with a capacity of 199285175 m³ (260,655,168.1 cu yd) of which 148843000 m³ (194,679,294 cu yd) is live (active or "useful") storage. The reservoir also has a catchment area of 188.5 km² (72.8 sq mi) and surface area of 3.49 km² (1.3 sq mi). The dam's spillway is located on its crest and contains 10 11.5 m (37.7 ft) wide uncontrolled openings with a maximum discharge capacity of 906 m3/s. Three other openings exist in the dam's orifice which consist of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) diameter pipes, two of which can discharge a maximum of 88 m3/s each and the third 44 m3/s. The dam's crest elevation is 1454 m (4,770.3 ft) above sea level while the reservoir's normal operating level is 1448 m (4,750.7 ft) and low level is considered 1338 m (4,389.8 ft).
The dam's power station, Kurobe No. 4, is located underground and contains four generator
s which are powered by Pelton turbines for a total installed capacity of 335 MW and average annual generation of 1 billion kWh. The power station is 22 m (72.2 ft) wide, 33 m (108.3 ft) high and 117 m (383.9 ft) long. The penstock
serving water to the power station is 10909.6 m (35,792.7 ft) long and utilizes a maximum effective hydraulic head
of 545.5 m (1,789.7 ft) while transferring a maximum of 72 m3/s to the turbines. The plant's surge chamber is 145.6 m (477.7 ft) long and 5 m (16.4 ft) high.
. A novel
turned film
, Kurobe no Taiyō
(黒部の太陽; literally "The Sun of Kurobe"), starring Yujiro Ishihara
(the late brother of Tokyo
governor
Shintaro Ishihara
), recounts the drama of the project. In addition, the film "Project X" was also based on the dam's construction.
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 Kurobe River
Kurobe River
The is a river in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. 86 km in length, it has a watershed of 689 km².The river rises from Mount Washiba in the Hida Mountains and carves the deep valley known as the Kurobe gorge...
in Toyama Prefecture
Toyama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Toyama.Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity due to abundant water resources....
on the island of Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It supports the 335 MW Kurobe No. 4 Hydropower Plant and is owned by Kansai Electric Power Company
Kansai Electric Power Company
, also known as , is an electric utility with its operational area of Kansai region, Japan . The company is regarded as one of the leading companies in Kansai, as well as a leader of the Japanese electric power industry....
. At 186 metres (610.2 ft) high, it is the tallest dam in Japan. It was constructed between 1956 and 1963 at a cost of ¥51.3 billion yen. The project was a difficult engineering feat for the rapidly growing post–World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Japan, and claimed the lives of 171 people.
History
In 1951, the Kansai Electric Power CompanyKansai Electric Power Company
, also known as , is an electric utility with its operational area of Kansai region, Japan . The company is regarded as one of the leading companies in Kansai, as well as a leader of the Japanese electric power industry....
was formed to provide electric power for the Kansai region of Japan. Shortly after their formation, the area suffered from drought which caused power rationing. The drought along with the rapid growth of post–World War II Japan pushed the company to increase their generating capacity. After a series of geological and hydrological studies of the Kurobe River and Gorge, it was announced in late 1955 that the Kurobe Dam would be constructed.
In July 1956, construction on the dam began. Problems quickly arose while transporting material to the construction site as only one small railway existed through the narrow gorge. Kansai decided to construct the 5.4 kilometres (3.4 mi) Kanden Tunnel under Mount Tate
Mount Tate
is located in the southeastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the tallest peaks in the Hida Mountains at and, along with Mount Fuji and Mount Haku, it is one of Japan's . The climbing season for Mount Tate is from April until November. It was first climbed by Saeki no Ariyori...
that could bring supplies from Ōmachi
Omachi, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 31,079 and the population density of 55 persons per km². The total area is 564.99 km²....
eastward towards the construction site. The tunnel proved an arduous task as a large fracture zone in the rock was encountered which took seven months to repair. In September 1959, the first concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
for the dam was placed and by October of the next year, the reservoir had begun to fill.
The Kurobe No. 4 power station was built completely underground to protect it from common avalanches in the gorge and also for nature conservation purposes. By January 1961, two of Kurobe No. 4's Pelton turbines had begun operation at an initial capacity of 154 MW. In August 1962, the third turbine was in operation and by June 1963, the dam was complete at a final cost of ¥ 51.3 billion ($142.5 million (1963)). In 1973, a fourth turbine was installed and became operational; bringing the power station's production capacity to 335 MW. The fourth turbine cost ¥ 1.4 billion yen ($5 million (1973)). The first two turbines were manufactured by Voith
Voith
The Voith GmbH, which is headquartered in Germany, is a family-run corporation in the mechanical engineering sector with worldwide operations....
and the second two by Japan's Hitachi
Hitachi
Hitachi is a multinational corporation specializing in high-technology.Hitachi may also refer to:*Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan*Hitachi province, former province of Japan*Prince Hitachi and Princess Hitachi, members of the Japanese imperial family...
. The dam initiated the development of Japan's first 275kV transmission system
Electric power transmission
Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to Electrical substations located near demand centers...
as well which allowed the transfer of electricity over greater distances. A total of 171 people died during the construction of the dam.
Specifications
The Kurobe Dam is a 492 m (1,614.2 ft) long and 186 m (610.2 ft) high variable-radius (dome) arch damArch 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...
. The dam is 39.7 m (130.2 ft) wide at its base, 8.1 m (26.6 ft) wide at its crest and contains 1582845 m³ (2,070,283.1 cu yd) of concrete. The dam is flanked and supported by two "wing" dams; the one on the left bank is 69 m (226.4 ft) long and the right is 56 m (183.7 ft). The dam withholds a 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...
with a capacity of 199285175 m³ (260,655,168.1 cu yd) of which 148843000 m³ (194,679,294 cu yd) is live (active or "useful") storage. The reservoir also has a catchment area of 188.5 km² (72.8 sq mi) and surface area of 3.49 km² (1.3 sq mi). The dam's spillway is located on its crest and contains 10 11.5 m (37.7 ft) wide uncontrolled openings with a maximum discharge capacity of 906 m3/s. Three other openings exist in the dam's orifice which consist of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) diameter pipes, two of which can discharge a maximum of 88 m3/s each and the third 44 m3/s. The dam's crest elevation is 1454 m (4,770.3 ft) above sea level while the reservoir's normal operating level is 1448 m (4,750.7 ft) and low level is considered 1338 m (4,389.8 ft).
The dam's power station, Kurobe No. 4, is located underground and contains four generator
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...
s which are powered by Pelton turbines for a total installed capacity of 335 MW and average annual generation of 1 billion kWh. The power station is 22 m (72.2 ft) wide, 33 m (108.3 ft) high and 117 m (383.9 ft) long. The penstock
Penstock
A penstock is a sluice or gate or intake structure that controls water flow, or an enclosed pipe that delivers water to hydraulic turbines and sewerage systems. It is a term that has been inherited from the technology of wooden watermills....
serving water to the power station is 10909.6 m (35,792.7 ft) long and utilizes a maximum effective hydraulic head
Hydraulic head
Hydraulic head or piezometric head is a specific measurement of water pressure above a geodetic datum. It is usually measured as a water surface elevation, expressed in units of length, at the entrance of a piezometer...
of 545.5 m (1,789.7 ft) while transferring a maximum of 72 m3/s to the turbines. The plant's surge chamber is 145.6 m (477.7 ft) long and 5 m (16.4 ft) high.
Popular culture
The Kurobe Dam is the most popular hydropower site in Japan and, between late June and mid-October, water is released from its spillway for onlookers. The surrounding Kurobe Gorge is also popular as well and is accessible by the Kurobe Gorge RailwayKurobe Gorge Railway
The , or for short, is a private 762 mm narrow gauge railway company operating the Kurobe Gorge Main Line along the Kurobe River in the Kurobe gorge area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
. A novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
turned film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Kurobe no Taiyō
The Sands of Kurobe
is a 1968 Japanese drama film directed by Kei Kumai. It was Japan's submission to the 41st Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee.-Cast:* Toshirô Mifune as Kitagawa* Yûjirô Ishihara as Iwaoka...
(黒部の太陽; literally "The Sun of Kurobe"), starring Yujiro Ishihara
Yujiro Ishihara
was a Japanese actor and singer born in Kobe. His elder brother, Shintaro Ishihara, is an author, politician, and the current Governor of Tokyo. Yujiro debuted in 1956 in "Season of the Sun," based on a novel written by his brother...
(the late brother of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Shintaro Ishihara
Shintaro Ishihara
is a Japanese author, actor, politician and the governor of Tokyo since 1999.- Early life and artistic career :Shintarō was born in Suma-ku, Kobe. His father Kiyoshi was an employee, later a general manager, of a shipping company. Shintarō grew up in Zushi...
), recounts the drama of the project. In addition, the film "Project X" was also based on the dam's construction.
See also
- Kurobe Senyō RailwayKurobe Senyo RailwayThe is a Japanese industrial railway line in Toyama Prefecture, operated by Kansai Electric Power Company. There are two lines, namely and . The two lines go to hydroelectric power plants of Kurobe River. These lines are basically not open to public...
- List of power stations in Japan
- Tateyama Kurobe Alpine RouteTateyama Kurobe Alpine RouteThe is a famous mountain sightseeing route between Tateyama, Toyama and Ōmachi, Nagano, Japan. The whole route opened on June 1, 1971.-Overview:The route is just 37 km in length, but the vertical interval is as large as 1,975m...
- Tourism in JapanTourism in JapanTourism in Japan attracted 8.3 million foreign visitors in 2008, slightly more than Singapore and Ireland. Japan has 16 World Heritage Sites, including Himeji Castle and Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto . Kyoto receives over 30 million tourists annually...