Vianden Pumped Storage Plant
Vianden Pumped Storage Plant | ||
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Annual generation 1,650 GWh (5,900 TJ)[1] | |
The Vianden Pumped Storage Plant is located just north of
Background
Planning for the project began in 1925[2] but the idea failed due to a lack of funding and political pressure. On 10 July 1958, a treaty was signed between Luxembourg and the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, which also shares the Our River, allowing construction.[3] Construction began in August 1959. The first four pump-generators were commissioned in the winter of 1962/63 and five through nine in 1964. The official inauguration of the plant was held on 17 April 1964. Construction on a tenth pump-generator began in 1970 and was operational in late 1976.[3] It required the expansion of the upper reservoir, known as Upper Reservoir II.[2]
Second expansion
Planning for a 200 megawatts (270,000 hp) eleventh unit began in 2006 and the designs were completed in 2009 by Lahmeyer International.[1][4] Construction on the unit began in January 2010. To accommodate the new unit, the capacities of both the upper and lower reservoirs are being increased by 500,000 m3 (410 acre⋅ft). To accomplish this, the upper reservoir wall will be raised 100 centimetres (39 in) and the lower Vianden Dam raised 50 centimetres (20 in). Additionally, a new cavern and set of tunnels just east of the main power cavern will be constructed to house the turbine-generator and penstock. Excavation of these tunnels and caverns was completed on 31 May 2011. On 15 June 2010, Upper Reservoir I was drained to install a new intake structure, which was completed in November 2010. Construction on the new suction/discharge pipe began on 16 May 2011. A cofferdam was constructed around the site in the lower reservoir. The entire expansion is expected to be complete in late 2013.[5][6]
Design and operation
The power plant consists of two reservoirs (upper and lower), two power stations and appurtenant structures such as tunnels, intakes and transformers. The upper reservoir for the plant is separated into two sections, I & II. It is formed by a continuous dam and both sections are divided by a dam with floodgates. The total storage capacity of the upper reservoir (both I & II) is 7,230,000 cubic metres (5,860 acre⋅ft).[7] The active (or usable) capacity of the upper reservoir is 6,840,000 cubic metres (5,550 acre⋅ft). Upper Reservoir I itself has as active capacity of 3,010,000 cubic metres (2,440 acre⋅ft) and Upper Reservoir II: 3,830,000 cubic metres (3,110 acre⋅ft). To supply water to the generators and to serve as a discharge for the pumps, both Upper Reservoirs I & II have combined intakes/outlets. Upper Reservoir I primarily supplies the main powerhouse (900 megawatts (1,200,000 hp)) with water and Upper Reservoir II supplies a secondary powerhouse (196 megawatts (263,000 hp)) with water although both reservoirs are at the same altitude and can balance one another.[7]
Water from Upper Reservoir I is sent to the main power house, which contains nine
Water is pumped from the lower reservoir to the upper during periods of low demand, usually during the night for a period of eight hours. When energy demand is high, water from the upper reservoir is used to generate power and meet peak energy demand. The process repeats daily or as needed. During pumping and generating about 5,500,000 m3 (4,459 acre⋅ft) is oscillated between both reservoirs. When the 200 MW expansion is completed, the size of both the upper and lower reservoirs will be expanded and the installed generating capacity of the power plant will increase from 1,096 MW to 1,296 MW.[5][7]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Vianden Pumped Storage Plant - Unit 11". Lahmeyer International. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Pumped-Storage Plants in Europe - other countries". IndustCards. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Vianden PSW - History" (in German). Société électrique de l'Our. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "Pumped Storage Plant Vianden". Lahmeyer International. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Vianden Pumped Storage Plant Unit 11". Active Communications International. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "Vianden pump storage plant" (in German). Jäger Bau GmbH. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Vianden PSW - Technical Data" (in German). Société électrique de l'Our. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "Visit the Vianden pumped storage power plant" (PDF) (in German). University of Bochum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2012.