Salamonde Dam (; ) is a

concrete Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate bound together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. It is the second-most-used substance (after water), the most–widely used building material, and the most-manufactur ...

arch dam An arch dam is a concrete dam that is curved upstream in plan. The arch dam is designed so that the force of the water against it, known as hydrostatic pressure, presses against the arch, causing the arch to straighten slightly and strengtheni ...

on the

Cávado River The Cávado River (, ) is a river located in northern Portugal. It has its source in Serra do Larouco at an elevation of above sea level. It runs from Fonte da Pipa, near the triangulation station Larouco, to its mouth into the Atlantic Oce ...

, where the river forms the border line between the districts of

Braga Braga (; ) is a cities of Portugal, city and a Municipalities of Portugal, municipality, capital of the northwestern Portugal, Portuguese Braga (district), district of Braga and of the historical and cultural Minho Province. Braga Municipality ...

and

Vila Real Vila Real () is the capital and largest city of the Vila Real District, in the Norte, Portugal, North region, Portugal. It is also the seat of the Douro (intermunicipal community), Douro Intermunicipal communities of Portugal, intermunicipal comm ...

. It is located in the municipality

Vieira do Minho Vieira do Minho () is a municipality in the district of Braga, in the north of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 12,997, in an area of 216.44 km2. The present mayor is António Cardoso, elected by a coalition between PSD and the CDS–PP ...

, in Braga District, Portugal. The dam was completed in 1953. It is owned by ''Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade'' (CPPE). The dam was designed by

Coyne et Bellier Coyne et Bellier is a global consulting and engineering firm based in Gennevilliers, France. They specialize in infrastructure projects such as dams, nuclear and hydroelectric power plants, roads, tunnels and other below-surface facilities. The co ...

Dam

Salamonde Dam is a 75 m tall (height above foundation) and 284 m long arch dam with a crest altitude of 281 m. The volume of the dam is 93,000 m³. The dam features a

spillway A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of water downstream from a dam or levee, typically into the riverbed of the dammed river itself. In the United Kingdom, they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways ensure tha ...

with 4 gates over the dam (maximum discharge 1,700 m³/s) and one bottom outlet (maximum discharge 130 m³/s).

Reservoir

At full reservoir level of 280 m (maximum flood level of 280.5 m) the reservoir of the dam has a surface area of 2.42 (2.36) km² and a total capacity of 65 mio. m³; its active capacity is 56.3 (55 or 57) mio. m³. With the 55 mio. m³ water 26.9

GWh A kilowatt-hour ( unit symbol: kW⋅h or kW h; commonly written as kWh) is a non-SI unit of energy equal to 3.6 megajoules (MJ) in SI units, which is the energy delivered by one kilowatt of power for one hour. Kilowatt-hours are a commo ...

can be produced.

Power plant

Salamonde I

The

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other Renewable energ ...

power plant went operational in 1953. It is operated by EDP. The plant has a

nameplate capacity Nameplate capacity, also known as the rated capacity, nominal capacity, installed capacity, maximum effect or gross capacity, MW. Its average annual generation is 231.2 (175, 232 or 244)

. The power station contains 2

Francis turbine The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts. Francis turbines are the most common water turbine in use today, and can achieve over 95% efficiency. The pro ...

-generators with 21.8 MW (25 MVA) each in an underground powerhouse. The turbine rotation is 428 rpm. The minimum

hydraulic head Hydraulic head or piezometric head is a measurement related to liquid pressure (normalized by specific weight) and the liquid elevation above a vertical datum., 410 pages. See pp. 43–44., 650 pages. See p. 22, eq.3.2a. It is usually meas ...

is 78 m, the maximum 125 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 22 m³/s. The turbines and generators were provided by

Voith The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith trades in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport. Founded in 1867, Voith today has aroun ...

Salamonde 2

In 2011

Alstom Alstom SA () is a French multinational rolling stock manufacturer which operates worldwide in rail transport markets. It is active in the fields of passenger transportation, signaling, and locomotives, producing high-speed, suburban, regional ...

has been awarded a contract by EDP to install a 207 MW Francis reversible pump turbine and a 244 MVA motor-generator in a new

pumped-storage Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH), or pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES), is a type of hydroelectric energy storage used by electric power systems for load balancing. A PSH system stores energy in the form of gravitational potent ...

power plant. The new power plant is expected to go operational in August 2015. Its average annual generation is estimated to be 386 GWh.

External links

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Salamonde Dam Dams in Portugal Hydroelectric power stations in Portugal Arch dams Dams completed in 1953 Energy infrastructure completed in 1953 1953 establishments in Portugal Buildings and structures in Braga District Underground power stations Vieira do Minho Cávado River