Dam and Hydropower

Dam and Hydropower

(Man Made Lake)
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Lakes formed by Human

Activity

These may be intentional, as

in the case of reservoirs
created for recreation, flood
control, irrigation, navigation,
hydropower
Or they may be incidental, as
in the case of flooded peat
digs or rock quarries

What is a dam?

Adamisabarrierbuiltacrossastream,riverorestuarytoholdandcontrol
theflowofwaterforsuchusesasdrinkingwatersupplies,irrigation,flood
controlandhydropowergenerationetc.

Purposes of a Dam
Purposes of a Dam

- Irrigation
- Flood control
- Water supply
- Hydropower
- Navigation
- Recreation
Pertinent structures dam, spillway,
intake, outlet, powerhouse
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Drinking
water
Irrigatio
n
Flood
control
Hydropower
Navigation

Recreational
purposes
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Negative impacts
1.
2.
3.
4.

Imbalance of the ecosystem

Decreased amount of downstream water
Spreading of some water-born diseases
Reduction in the fertility of farmlands

Purpose Distribution of Dams

Source: International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD)

Worlds registered dams

Source: International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD)

Parts of a dam

Dam body: Body forms the main part of a dam as an

impervious barrier
Reservoir: It is the artificial lake behind a dam body
Spillway: is that part of a dam to evacuate the flood
water from reservoir.
Water intake structures: is a facility to withdraw water
from a reservoir.
Sluiceway: If necessary to completely drain the
reservoir to reduce the spillway capacity , facilities for the
purpose of releasing water will be discharged to rivers
downstream.
Diversion facilities: To redirect the streamflow from
construction area
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Parts of Dams
Waterintakestructures

Sluiceway

Dambody

Reservoir
Flow

Spillway

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Upstrea
m

Reservoi
Dam
r
Spillwaybody

Downstrea
m
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Rightabutment
Downstreamslope
Upstreamslope
Principalchutespillway
Spillwaytrainingwalls

Berm

Topofdam
Riprap

Toe drain outlet

Toeof
embankment

Emergency

spillway

Leftabutment

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Classification of Dams
According to dams height

If crest elevation and foundation level is greater

than 15 m then it can be considered as a Large
Dam.
If dam height is less than 15 m then Small Dam.
If dam height is greater than 50 m then High
Dam
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Classification of dams:

Dams are classified on several aspects, some of the important aspects

are as follow:
1)Based on Hydraulic Design:

Over flow dams (e.g. concrete dams)

Non over flow dams (e.g. embankment dams)

2)Based on Structural Design:

Gravity dams

Arch dams

Buttress dams
3)Based on Usage of Dam:

Storage dams

Diversion dams

Detention dams
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4)

5)

Classification of dams:

Based on Construction Material:

Concrete / Masonry dams
Earthfill dams
Rockfill dams
Earthfill rockfill dams
Concrete faced rockfill dams (CFRD)
RCC (Roller Compacted Concrete Dam)
Based on Capacity:
Small dams
Medium dams
Large dams

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3.3 Planning of Dams

Three

steps:
- Reconnaissance survey
(infeasible alternatives eliminated)
- Feasibility study
- Planning study

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3.3.1 FEASIBILITY STUDY

A) Determination of water demand

B) Determination of water potential

Estimate various types of demands through

the life time
From available sources and available past
data

C) Optimal plans
Check out the relation D versus S.
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D) Determination of dam site

Factors should be taken into consideration:
Topography
Geology and dam foundation

(faults and weak geologic formations should be avoided)

Type of soil affects the overall stability of dam body

Available

of construction materials
Flood hazard
Seismic hazard
Spillway location and possibilities
Construction time
Climate (earth fill dam is not appropriate for rainy climates)
Diversion facilities
Sediment problem
Water quality
Transportation facilities
Right of way cost
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e) Determination of dam location

Characteristics

of dam location:

Geologic formation
Spillway location and capacity
Diversion conditions
Sediment condition
Transportation facilities
Structural design
Availabilty of meterials

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f)
Project design
involves the computation of dimensions of the dam.
1. Hydrologic design (max. lake elevation + spillway cap. +
crest elevation)
2. Hydraulic design (static & dynamic loads + spillway
profile + outlet dimensions)
3. Structural design (stress distribution + required
reinforcement)

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 Dam Break
It is rapid for a concrete dam. See the
textbook for the examples.
Failure of the dam

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3.3.2 PLANNING STUDY

Followings need to be done, since dimensions are

already determined:
Topographic surveys (1:5000 scaled map)
Foundation study (seepage permeability, bearing
capacity etc. tests)
Materials study (quantity of materials)
Hydrologic study (measurements of hydrologic
parameters)
Reservoir operation study (is to be performed
periodically)

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3.4 Construction of Dams

Four principal steps are followed during the construction:

1) Evaluation of Time Schedule and Equipments

a work schedule is prepared using CPM.
2) Diversion
before the construction, river flow must be diverted from
the site
see the below figure for two possible ways to divert water:

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3) Foundation Treatment

Concrete & Rock-fill dams hard formations

Earth-fill dams most of soil conditions

Highly porous foundation excessive seepage, uplift,

settlement

Grouting Operation is applied to solidify the foundation

& to reduce seepage

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 4)

Formation of the Dam Body

For

Concrete Gravity dams:

Low-heat cements to reduce
shrinkage problem
Concrete is placed in blocks

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 Keyways

are built between sections to

make the dam act as a monolith

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 Waterstops

are placed near upstream

face to prevent leakage

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