Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Station
Encyclopedia
The Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Station (Ust-Ilimsk HPS) is a concrete gravity dam
on the Angara River
and adjacent hydroelectric power station
. It is located near Ust-Ilimsk
, Irkutsk Oblast
in Russia
and is the third and last dam on the Angara cascades. Construction on the dam began in 1963, its reservoir began filling in 1974 and its power plant was commissioned in 1980.
. Gidroproekt All-Union Design and Exploratory Institute produced the design of the HPS and on June 8, 1962, the Central Committee of the CPSU and Ministerial Council of the USSR determined the schedule of construction and the project's scope.
was created as well to support workers on the project. By 1966, the Bratsk-Ust-Ilimsk motorway was opened to traffic and in March of that year, construction began on the actual power plant. On April 22, 1968, the first concrete was poured into the dam's foundation and by October 3, 1974, the dam began to inundate the Angara River, creating its reservoir. The dam was accepted for industrial operation in 1980.
of 242 m (794 ft) in length. It is flanked by two earth-fill auxiliary dams, the one on its left (west) bank that is 1710 m (5,610.2 ft) long and 28 m (91.9 ft) high. On the right (east) bank, the auxiliary dam is 538 m (1,765.1 ft) long and 47 m (154.2 ft) high. The power station is located on the right (east) bank and is 440 m (1,443.6 ft) long and houses 16 turbines with an installed capacity of 3,840 MW. The power station is designed to support another two turbines which, if installed, would bring its capacity up to 4,320 MW.
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
on the Angara River
Angara River
The Angara River is a long river in Irkutsk Oblast and Krasnoyarsk Krai, south-east Siberia, Russia. It is the only river flowing out of Lake Baikal, and is the headwater tributary of the Yenisei River....
and adjacent hydroelectric power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
. It is located near Ust-Ilimsk
Ust-Ilimsk
Ust-Ilimsk is a town in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Angara River. Population: 53,000 .-History:An ostrog was built on the present site of the town in the 17th century; however, the modern town was not founded until 1966, during the construction of the Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power...
, Irkutsk Oblast
Irkutsk Oblast
Irkutsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , located in southeastern Siberia in the basins of Angara River, Lena, and Nizhnyaya Tunguska Rivers. The administrative center is the city of Irkutsk. Population: -History:...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and is the third and last dam on the Angara cascades. Construction on the dam began in 1963, its reservoir began filling in 1974 and its power plant was commissioned in 1980.
Background
Between 1951 and 1955, construction of the Ust-Ilimsk HPS was designated as a priority and in September 1960, the State Commission determined the most suitable spot for the dam. It would be constructed on the Angara River, 20 km (12.4 mi) below the mouth of the Ilim RiverIlim River
Ilim River is a river in Irkutsk Oblast in Russia, a right tributary of the Angara River. It flows north between and parallel to the Angara and Lena Rivers, and then swings west to join the Angara 40km south of Ust-Ilimsk....
. Gidroproekt All-Union Design and Exploratory Institute produced the design of the HPS and on June 8, 1962, the Central Committee of the CPSU and Ministerial Council of the USSR determined the schedule of construction and the project's scope.
Construction
Construction on Stage I of the HPS began in 1963. This included preparing the dam's foundation, various construction facilities and 220 kV power lines. In addition, the village of Ust-IlimskUst-Ilimsk
Ust-Ilimsk is a town in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Angara River. Population: 53,000 .-History:An ostrog was built on the present site of the town in the 17th century; however, the modern town was not founded until 1966, during the construction of the Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power...
was created as well to support workers on the project. By 1966, the Bratsk-Ust-Ilimsk motorway was opened to traffic and in March of that year, construction began on the actual power plant. On April 22, 1968, the first concrete was poured into the dam's foundation and by October 3, 1974, the dam began to inundate the Angara River, creating its reservoir. The dam was accepted for industrial operation in 1980.
Generation
By 1981, the HPS had generated its first 100 billion kWh which had doubled by 1986 and doubled again by 1995 with 400 billion kWh. By October 1, 2005, it had produced 600 billion kWh of electricity. For comparison, in 2008, U.S. residential and commercial sectors consumed about 517 billion kWh for lighting. On average, the station produces 21.7 billion kWh annually and utilizes its installed capacity for 5,050 hours out of 8,760 a year.Specifications
The main dam is 1475 m (4,839.2 ft) long and 105 m (344.5 ft) high with a 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...
of 242 m (794 ft) in length. It is flanked by two earth-fill auxiliary dams, the one on its left (west) bank that is 1710 m (5,610.2 ft) long and 28 m (91.9 ft) high. On the right (east) bank, the auxiliary dam is 538 m (1,765.1 ft) long and 47 m (154.2 ft) high. The power station is located on the right (east) bank and is 440 m (1,443.6 ft) long and houses 16 turbines with an installed capacity of 3,840 MW. The power station is designed to support another two turbines which, if installed, would bring its capacity up to 4,320 MW.
See also
- Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station
- Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power StationIrkutsk Hydroelectric Power StationThe Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power Station is an earthen embankment dam on the Angara River with an adjacent hydroelectric power station. It is located adjacent to Irkutsk, Irkutsk Oblast in Russia and is the first dam on the Angara cascades. Construction on the dam began in 1950, its reservoir began...
- Boguchany Dam