Simplício Hydroelectric Complex
Encyclopedia
The Simplício Hydroelectric Complex is an under construction hydroelectric complex on the Paraíba do Sul
river on the border of Rio de Janeiro
and Minas Gerais
states in Brazil
. Supported by the Anta Dam, it will transfer water throughout a 26 kilometres (16 mi) circuit to a downstream power plant. Under the supervision of Eletrobrás Furnas
, the complex is under construction and will have a capacity of 333.7 MW when complete in 2011.
. The rate progress is such that the completion of construction is on schedule for the planned inauguration at the end of August 2011. As of April, the complex is more than 90 percent complete.
Anta Dam before being diverting into a series of eight water channels, four water tunnels and five reservoir
s totaling 26 kilometres (16 mi) in length. At the end of the circuit, the water is fed to a power station containing 3 x 101.3 MW Francis turbine
s. The Anta Dam itself supports a 28.8 MW power station with 2 x 14.4 MW Kaplan turbine
-powered generators.
The water diverted by the dam first enters channel C1 which is 1.9 kilometres (1 mi) long, 28 metres (92 ft) wide and 8 metres (26 ft) deep. After C1, the water moves into the 1458 metres (4,783 ft) long tunnel T1 before entering the 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) long channel C2. After C2 and the use of a dike, the water forms the Tocaia reservoir before entering channel C3 which is 565 metres (1,854 ft) long. From C3, water is led into tunnel T2 and then to the 85 metres (279 ft) long channel C4 before reaching tunnel T2A. Water from T2A enters a valley and with the assistance of two dikes, creates Louriçal reservoir. From the reservoir, water enters channel C5 which directs it to the third Calçado reservoir which is partially created by the project's largest dike of 75 metres (246 ft) in height and 400 metres (1,312 ft) in length. The Calçado reservoir uses an outlet works to remove any excess water from the reservoir and help maintain appropriate levels.
Water from the reservoir then moves into the 73 metres (240 ft) long channel C6 which feeds the project's longest tunnel, T3, at 6.03 kilometres (4 mi) in length. From T3, water moves into the Antonina reservoir before reaching the 203 metres (666 ft) long channel C7 and then into the Peixe reservoir which is created with the assistance of three dikes. After the reservoir, the water is transferred to intake channel C8 and from there into three 300 metres (984 ft) long penstock
s which feed the Simplício Power Plant's three Francis turbines. The penstocks provide 80 metres (262 ft) of hydraulic head
and are at a 12.48 percent angle. Once the water is discharged from the power station, it returns to the Paraíba via a 760 metres (2,493 ft) long tailrace channel.
Paraíba do Sul
thumbThe Paraíba do Sul , or simply termed Paraíba, is a river in the south-east of Brazil. It flows 1,137 kilometres west to northeast from its farthest source at the source of the river Paraitinga to the sea near Campos...
river on the border of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
and Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
states in 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...
. Supported by the Anta Dam, it will transfer water throughout a 26 kilometres (16 mi) circuit to a downstream power plant. Under the supervision of Eletrobrás Furnas
Eletrobrás 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...
, the complex is under construction and will have a capacity of 333.7 MW when complete in 2011.
Background
Construction on the complex began in January 2007 after the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) issued an installation permit. One goal of the project is to reduce environmental impacts created by large reservoirs. The complex's five reservoirs will have a surface area of 15.36 square kilometre. On August 5, 2009, the river was diverted through the Anta Dam's spillwaySpillway
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...
. The rate progress is such that the completion of construction is on schedule for the planned inauguration at the end of August 2011. As of April, the complex is more than 90 percent complete.
Operation
Water from the Paraíba do Sul is impounded at the 29.5 metres (97 ft) high and 260 metres (853 ft) long roller-compacted concreteRoller-compacted concrete
Roller-compacted concrete or rolled concrete is a special blend of concrete that has essentially the same ingredients as conventional concrete but in different ratios, and increasingly with partial substitution of fly ash for Portland cement. RCC is a mix of cement/fly ash, water, sand, aggregate...
Anta Dam before being diverting into a series of eight water channels, four water tunnels and five 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...
s totaling 26 kilometres (16 mi) in length. At the end of the circuit, the water is fed to a power station containing 3 x 101.3 MW 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. The Anta Dam itself supports a 28.8 MW power station with 2 x 14.4 MW Kaplan turbine
Kaplan turbine
The Kaplan turbine is a propeller-type water turbine which has adjustable blades. It was developed in 1913 by the Austrian professor Viktor Kaplan, who combined automatically adjusted propeller blades with automatically adjusted wicket gates to achieve efficiency over a wide range of flow and...
-powered generators.
The water diverted by the dam first enters channel C1 which is 1.9 kilometres (1 mi) long, 28 metres (92 ft) wide and 8 metres (26 ft) deep. After C1, the water moves into the 1458 metres (4,783 ft) long tunnel T1 before entering the 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) long channel C2. After C2 and the use of a dike, the water forms the Tocaia reservoir before entering channel C3 which is 565 metres (1,854 ft) long. From C3, water is led into tunnel T2 and then to the 85 metres (279 ft) long channel C4 before reaching tunnel T2A. Water from T2A enters a valley and with the assistance of two dikes, creates Louriçal reservoir. From the reservoir, water enters channel C5 which directs it to the third Calçado reservoir which is partially created by the project's largest dike of 75 metres (246 ft) in height and 400 metres (1,312 ft) in length. The Calçado reservoir uses an outlet works to remove any excess water from the reservoir and help maintain appropriate levels.
Water from the reservoir then moves into the 73 metres (240 ft) long channel C6 which feeds the project's longest tunnel, T3, at 6.03 kilometres (4 mi) in length. From T3, water moves into the Antonina reservoir before reaching the 203 metres (666 ft) long channel C7 and then into the Peixe reservoir which is created with the assistance of three dikes. After the reservoir, the water is transferred to intake channel C8 and from there into three 300 metres (984 ft) long 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....
s which feed the Simplício Power Plant's three Francis turbines. The penstocks provide 80 metres (262 ft) of 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...
and are at a 12.48 percent angle. Once the water is discharged from the power station, it returns to the Paraíba via a 760 metres (2,493 ft) long tailrace channel.