Três Marias Dam

The Três Marias Dam, also known as Bernardo Mascarenhas,[1] is an embankment dam on the São Francisco River near Três Marias in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It was constructed for hydroelectric power production and flood control. The dam was completed in 1961 and its first generator was operational in 1962. The dam's power plant is named after Bernard Mascarenhas who in 1889, built South America's first major hydroelectric power plant in Brazil, the Marmelos Zero Power Plant.[2]

Três Marias Dam
Location of Três Marias Dam in Brazil
Official name	Usina de Bernardo Mascarenhas
Location	Três Marias, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Coordinates	18°12′51″S 45°15′46″W
Construction began	1957
Opening date	1961
Owner(s)	CEMIG
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment
Impounds	São Francisco River
Height	75 m (246 ft)
Length	2,700 m (8,900 ft)
Spillway type	Service, gate-controlled chute
Reservoir
Creates	Três Marias Reservoir
Total capacity	21 km^3 (17,000,000 acre⋅ft)
Surface area	1,040 km^2 (400 sq mi)
Bernard Mascarenhas Power Plant
Commission date	1962-1969
Type	Conventional
Turbines	6 x 64.6 MW (86,600 hp) Kaplan turbines
Installed capacity	387.6 MW (519,800 hp)

Background

Construction on the dam began in May 1957 with a goal to stabilize the river's flow, improve navigation and to produce hydroelectric power. 10,000 people worked on the project and Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek was influential in the dam's construction pace. The majority of the dam works were completed in January 1961 and its first generator was operational in 1962.[3] The other five generators went online by 1969.[1] The dam does not have a fish ladder and effectively halted fish migration in the upper São Francisco River while also splitting it into two zones.[4] When the reservoir was filled it formed an island that became the Pirapitinga Ecological Station, with an area of about 1,090 hectares (2,700 acres).[5]

Specifications

Location of Três Marias Dam

The dam is a 2,700-metre (8,900 ft) long and 75-metre (246 ft) high embankment dam with a spillway off to its east-side and a power plant at its east toe. The dam's reservoir has a surface area of 1,040 square kilometres (400 sq mi) and a capacity of 21 cubic kilometres (17,000,000 acre⋅ft).

Bernard Mascarenhas Power Plant

The dam's power station, Bernard Mascarenhas Power Plant, contains six 64.6 megawatts (86,600 hp) generators powered by Kaplan turbines for a total installed capacity of 387.6 megawatts (519,800 hp). There is additional room for two more generators in the power station which would increase the capacity to 516.85 megawatts (693,110 hp) if installed.[6] The Kaplan turbines used in the power station were designed by Voith and first installed in 1958. Each one has eight runner blades and is designed to operate with a hydraulic head as low as 50 metres (160 ft).[7] The dam regulates downstream water flows to other reservoirs and power plants, keeping a normal discharge of 500 cubic metres per second (18,000 cu ft/s).[8]

See also

• List of power stations in Brazil

References

1. "Hydroelectric Plants in Brazil - Minas Gerais". IndustCards. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
2. "MEMÓRIA COLETIVA" (in Portuguese). Juiz de Fora. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
3. "History". PREFEITURA MUNICIPAL DE TRÊS MARIAS. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
4. Carolsfeld, Joachim (2003). Carolsfeld. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. p. 206. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
5. "Estação Ecológica de Pirapitinga", ViaRural (in Portuguese), retrieved 2016-04-16
6. "Cemig's Power Plants - Tres Marias". CEMIG. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
7. "Kaplan Turbines" (PDF). Voith. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
8. "Technical Visit to the Hydroelectric Power Station of Três Marias" (in Portuguese). Funam. Retrieved 17 October 2010.