Shin-Takasegawa Pumped Storage Station Explained

Shin-Takasegawa Pumped Storage Station
Coordinates:36.4739°N 137.6897°W
Country:Japan
Location:Ōmachi,
Nagano Prefecture
Status:O
Construction Began:1971
Opening:1980
Owner:TEPCO
Res Name:Takase Reservoir
Res Capacity Total:76200000m2
Lower Res Name:Nankura Reservoir
Lower Res Capacity Total:32500000m2
Plant Turbines:4 x 320MW reversible Francis-type
Plant Hydraulic Head:229m (751feet) (net)
Plant Capacity:1280MW

The Shin-Takasegawa Pumped Storage Station (新高瀬川発電所) uses the Takase River (a tributary of the Shinano River) to operate a pumped storage hydroelectric scheme about west of Ōmachi in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Part of the system is within Chūbu-Sangaku National Park.

Construction on the complex began in 1971, concluded in 1978 and the power station was commissioned in 1980. The power plant has a installed capacity and its upper reservoir is created by the Takase Dam, a rock-fill dam — which at in height is the tallest of its type in Japan.[1] It is also the second tallest dam in Japan, next to Kurobe Dam.[2]

Design and operation

When energy demand is low and therefore electricity less expensive, the turbines reverse and pump water from the lower reservoir back into the upper reservoir. This process repeats depending upon energy demand and water availability. Water released from the lower reservoir is used to power the Nakanosawa Power Station which uses of hydraulic head to power a single Francis turbine generator.[1] It was commissioned in May 1980.[3]

Takase Dam

Creating the upper reservoir is the Takase Dam which is a 176m (577feet) tall and 362m (1,188feet) long rock-fill embankment dam with a structural volume of 11586000m2. The Takase Reservoir has a 76200000m2 capacity of which only 16200000m2 is active (or "useful") for power generation. The low active capacity of the reservoir is due to the high levels of silt in the Takase River which cause the reservoir to reserve 79 percent of its capacity for this purpose. During operation, the upper reservoir only draws down .[1]

During periods of high energy demand, water from the Takase Reservoir is released down to the power station. After received by the intake, water initially travels along two diameter and long head-race tunnels. At the terminus of these tunnels, they split into four long penstocks which drop down a deep shaft to the underground power station. At the power station, the water operates four reversible Francis turbine-generators before being discharged into the lower reservoir, created by the Nanakura Dam.

Nanakura Dam

The Nanakura Dam is a 125m (410feet) tall and 340m (1,120feet) long rock-fill embankment dam with a structural volume of 7380000m2. The reservoir created by the dam, the lower reservoir, has a 32500000m2 capacity of which 16200000m2 is active. To protect in against rapid draw-down in water levels (as much as), the top of the dam is coated in hard rock materials.[1]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Engineers, prepared by Task Committee on Pumped Storage of the Committee on Hydropower of the Energy Division of the American Society of Civil . Hydroelectric pumped storage technology : international experience . 1996. American Soc. of Civil Engineers . New York, NY . 0-7844-0144-6 . 2.5–1–2.5–4.
  2. Web site: Takase Dam. Japan Dam Handbook. Japanese. 8 August 2011.
  3. Web site: Tokyo Electric Power Plant Nakanosawa. Suiryoku.com. 8 August 2011. Japanese.