Rapel Dam

The Rapel Dam is an arch dam on the Rapel River about 19 km (12 mi) north of La Estrella in the Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region, Chile. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports a 377 MW power station. The dam was completed in 1968 and is owned by Endesa. It creates the largest reservoir in Chile with a capacity of 700,000,000 m3 (567,499 acre⋅ft).[3] The dam withstood the 7.5 Mw 1985 Rapel Lake earthquake with only minor damage. It was centered 45 km (28 mi) from the dam.[1]

Rapel Dam
Location of Rapel Dam in Chile
Official namePresa Rapel
CountryChile
LocationLa Estrella
Coordinates34°02′29″S 71°35′19″W
Opening date1968
Owner(s)Endesa
Dam and spillways
Type of damArch, variable radius
ImpoundsRapel River
Height112 m (367 ft)
Length350 m (1,148 ft)
Width (crest)5.5 m (18 ft)
Width (base)19 m (62 ft)[1]
Spillway capacity10,000 m3/s (353,147 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesLake Rapel
Total capacity700,000,000 m3 (567,499 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity530,000,000 m3 (429,678 acre⋅ft)
Power Station
Commission date1968
Hydraulic head76 m (249 ft) (net)[2]
Turbines5 x 75.4 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity377 MW

Design

The Rapel Dam is a 112-metre (367 ft) tall and 350-metre (1,150 ft) long variable-radius arch-type. It is 5.5 metres (18 ft) wide at its crest and 19 metres (62 ft) wide at its base. The dam's spillway is controlled by five tainter gates and has a discharge capacity of 10,000 cubic metres per second (350,000 cu ft/s). The dam's reservoir, Lake Rapel has a 700,000,000 cubic metres (570,000 acre⋅ft) capacity of which 530 million cubic metres (430,000 acre⋅ft) is active capacity.

Power station

The power station, located at the dam's base, contains five 75.4 megawatts (101,100 hp) Francis turbine-generators and is afforded 76 metres (249 ft) of net hydraulic head.[1][2]

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References
  1. "Observed Performance of Concrete Dams during Earthquakes" (PDF). West Coast Regional Council. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  2. "Rapel Plant (Chile)". Endesa. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  3. "Long term reliability at hydroelectric plant in Chile" (PDF). Endesa. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
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