Xiangshuijian Pumped Storage Power Station Explained

Xiangshuijian Pumped Storage Power Station
Coordinates:31.1133°N 118.2912°W
Country:China
Location:Sanshan District, Wuhu City, Anhui Province
Status:O
Construction Began:2006
Opening:2011-2012
Operator:State Grid Xinyuan Co Ltd
Res Name:Xiangshuijian Upper
Res Capacity Total:17480000m2
Lower Res Name:Xiangshuijian Lower
Lower Res Capacity Total:14350000m2
Plant Pumpgenerators:4 x 250MW Francis pump turbines
Plant Hydraulic Head:363m (1,191feet)
Plant Capacity:1000MW
Plant Annual Gen:1.8 billion kWh

The Xiangshuijian Pumped Storage Power Station is a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station located southwest of Wuhu City in Sanshan District of Anhui Province, China. Construction on the power station began on 8 December 2006 and the upper reservoir dam was completed in October 2010. The first unit was commissioned on 1 December 2011 and the last on 17 November 2012. The power station operates by shifting water between an upper and lower reservoir to generate electricity. The lower reservoir was formed with the creation of the Xiangshuijian Lower Dam in a valley. The Xiangshuijian Upper Reservoir is in another valley above the west side of the lower reservoir. During periods of low energy demand, such as at night, water is pumped from Xiangshuijian Lower Reservoir up to the upper reservoir. When energy demand is high, the water is released back down to the lower reservoir but the pump turbines that pumped the water up now reverse mode and serve as generators to produce electricity. The process is repeated as necessary and the plant serves as a peaking power plant.[1]

The lower reservoir is created by a tall circular dam. It holds up to 14350000m2 of water. The upper reservoir is created by an 89.5m (293.6feet) tall and 530m (1,740feet) long concrete-face rock-fill dam. It can withhold up to 48510000m2 of water. Water from the upper reservoir is sent to the underground power station down near the lower reservoir through headrace/penstock pipes. The drop in elevation between the upper and lower reservoir affords a hydraulic head (water drop) of .[2] [3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Anhui Xiangshuijian pumped storage power station put into operation all four units (Figure) . Polaris Power Network News . 18 November 2012 . 15 July 2014 . zh.
  2. Web site: Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Plants in China . IndustCards . 15 July 2014.
  3. Web site: Anhui Xiangshuijian Pumped Storage Power Station . Shanghai Investigation and Design Institute . 15 July 2014.