Ribarroja Dam Explained

Ribarroja Dam
Name Official:Presa de Ribarroja
Location Map:Spain
Coordinates:41.2437°N 0.4328°W
Location:Province of Tarragona, Spain
Purpose:Power
Status:O
Opening:1969
Owner:Endesa
Operator:Endesa
Dam Type:Concrete gravity dam
Dam Crosses:Ebro
Dam Height Foundation:60m (200feet)
Dam Length:362.4m (1,189feet)
Dam Elevation Crest:76m (249feet)
Dam Volume:800000m2
Spillway Type:Over the dam
Spillway Capacity:11670m3/s
Res Capacity Total:210000000m2
Res Surface:21.52km2
Res Max Length:50km (30miles)
Res Max Depth:34m (112feet)
Res Elevation:70m (230feet)
Plant Commission:1969
Plant Hydraulic Head:34 max (20 min)
Plant Turbines:4 Kaplan-type
Plant Capacity:262.8 MW

Ribarroja Dam (Spanish; Castilian: Presa de Ribarroja, Riba-roja|links=no) is a concrete gravity dam located in the province of Tarragona, Spain, that impounds the Ebro. About 35 km upstream of Ribarroja dam is Mequinenza dam. About 15 km downstream is Flix dam.

Empresa Nacional Hidroeléctrica del Ribagorzana S.A. (ENHER) was mandated in 1955 by Instituto Nacional de Industria (INI) to build two dams on the Ebro near Mequinenza and Riba-roja. Mequinenza dam was built between 1957 and 1964. Work on Ribarroja dam began during the construction of Mequinenza dam. Ribarroja dam was completed in 1969. ENHER was acquired by Endesa in 1999.

Dam

Ribarroja Dam is a 60 m tall (height above foundation) and 362.4 m long gravity dam with a crest altitude of 76 m. The volume of the dam is 800,000 m³. The dam features a spillway with 7 gates over the dam (maximum discharge 11,670 m³/s) and two bottom outlets with a maximum discharge of 273 (2635) m³/s.

Reservoir

At full reservoir level of 70 (maximum 73, minimum 40) m.a.s.l. the reservoir has a surface area of 21.52 (20.29) km², a total capacity of 210 million m³ and a length of almost 50 km. The maximum (average) depth of the reservoir is 34 (9.7) m.

Power plant

The power plant contains 4 Kaplan turbine-generators with a total nameplate capacity of 262.8 MW. Maximum (minimum) hydraulic head is 34 (20) m. Maximum flow is 225 m³/s per turbine.

See also

External links