Country Japan Opening date 1961 Height 157 m | Location Uonuma Type of dam Gravity Length 475 m (1,558 ft) Construction began 1953 | |
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Owner Electric Power Development Company Similar Okutadamimaruyama Ski Area, Tagokura Dam, Shiori Pass, Koide Station, Mount Echigo‑Komagatake | ||
20130331okutadami
The Okutadami Dam (奥只見ダム) is a concrete gravity dam on the Tadami River, 26 km (16 mi) east of Uonuma on the border of Niigata and Fukushima Prefectures, Japan. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports a 560 MW power station which is the largest conventional hydroelectric power station in Japan. The dam also forms the second largest reservoir in Japan, next to that of the Tokuyama Dam.
Contents
- 20130331okutadami
- Map of Okutadami Dam Mizuri Hinoemata Minamiaizu District Fukushima Prefecture 967 0527 Japan
- Background
- Design
- References
Map of Okutadami Dam, Mizuri, Hinoemata, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture 967-0527, Japan
Background
Construction on the dam began and its original 360 MW power station was commissioned 2 December 1960. The rest of the project was complete in 1961. Between 1999 and 2003, the power station was expanded, adding 200 MW in installed capacity. In addition, a 2.7 MW generator was added to ensure a flow of 2.5 m3/s (88 cu ft/s) downstream for environmental purposes. Along with the same power plant upgrade, a second Kaplan turbine-generator was added to the 83 m (272 ft) tall Otori Dam's power station downstream at 37°12′53″N 139°12′50″E. This generator has an 87 MW capacity in addition to the existing 95 MW unit, for an installed capacity of 182 MW.
Design
The Okutadami Dam is a 157 m (515 ft) tall and 475 m (1,558 ft) long concrete gravity dam with a structural volume of 1,636,000 m3 (2,139,807 cu yd). Sitting at the head of a 595 km2 (230 sq mi) catchment area, the dam creates a reservoir with a 601,000,000 m3 (487,239 acre·ft) capacity of which 458,000,000 m3 (371,307 acre·ft) is active (or "useful") storage. The reservoir has a surface area of 1,150 ha (2,842 acres). The power station is underground and located on the right bank of the river next to the dam's abutment. It consists of two underground caverns, one for the original power station and another adjacent for the expansion. After being received by the dam's intake, water supplied to the original power plant travels down three penstocks 185–189 m (607–620 ft) in length before reaching an individual 120 MW Francis turbine-generator. The 200 MW Francis turbine-generator receives water via a 280 m (919 ft) long penstock. After water is processed through the generators, its travels down two tailrace tunnels before being discharged over 3 km (2 mi) downstream at the upstream edge of the Otori Reservoir.