Zhanghewan Pumped Storage Power Station Explained

Zhanghewan Pumped Storage Power Station
Coordinates:37.7743°N 114.0584°W
Country:China
Location:Jingxing County, Hebei Province
Status:O
Construction Began:2003
Opening:2009
Res Name:Zhanghewan Upper
Res Capacity Total:7700000m2
Lower Res Name:Zhanghewan Reservoir
Lower Res Capacity Total:83300000m2
Plant Pumpgenerators:4 x 250 MW Francis pump turbines
Plant Hydraulic Head:305m (1,001feet)
Plant Capacity:1,000 MW
Plant Annual Gen:1.6 million kWh

The Zhanghewan Pumped Storage Power Station is a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station located 500NaN0 southwest of Shijiazhuang in Jingxing County of Hebei Province, China. Construction on the power station began on 6 December 2003 and the first unit was commissioned on 1 February 2009. The power station operates by shifting water between an upper and lower reservoir to generate electricity. The lower reservoir is created by the Zhanghewan Dam on the Gantao River which was built between 1977 and 1980, originally for irrigation. For this project the Zhanhewan Dam was raised 23m (75feet). The Zhanghewan Upper Reservoir is on Laoyemiao Mountain, above the west side of the lower reservoir. During periods of low energy demand, such as at night, water is pumped from Zhanghewan 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 the Zhanghewan Dam, a 77.35m (253.77feet) tall gravity dam on the Gantao River. It can withhold up to 83300000m2. The upper reservoir is created by a 57m (187feet) tall and 456m (1,496feet) long circular rock-fill dam on Laoyemiao Mountain, to the west of the lower reservoir. It can withhold up to 7700000m2 of water. Water from the upper reservoir is sent to the 1,200 MW underground power station down near the lower reservoir through four 850m (2,790feet) long headrace/penstock pipes. The drop in elevation between the upper and lower reservoir affords a hydraulic head (water drop) of 3050NaN0.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Summary Environmental Impact Assessment Hebei Zhanghewan Pumped Storage Project in The People's Republic Of China . Asian Development Bank . April 2002 . 19 July 2014.
  2. Web site: Zhanghewan pumped storage power station . HydroChina . 19 July 2014 .