| Name official | Presa Rapel |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°02′29″S 71°35′19″W |
| Country | Chile |
| Location | La Estrella |
| Opening | 1968 |
| Owner | Endesa |
| Dam height | 112 m (367 ft) |
| Dam length | 350 m (1,148 ft) |
| Dam width crest | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
| Dam width base | 19 m (62 ft)[1] |
| Dam crosses | Rapel River |
| Spillway capacity | 10,000 m3/s (353,147 cu ft/s) |
| Res name | Lake Rapel |
| Res capacity total | 700,000,000 m3 |
| Res capacity active | 530,000,000 m3 |
| Plant hydraulic head | 76 m (249 ft) (net)[2] |
| Plant commission | 1968 (age 58) |
| Plant turbines | 5 x 75.4 MW Francis-type |
| Plant capacity | 377 MW |
The Rapel Dam is an arch dam on the Rapel River about 19 km (12 mi) north of La Estrella in the Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region, Chile. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports a 377 MW power station. The dam was completed in 1968 and is owned by Endesa. It creates the largest reservoir in Chile with a capacity of 700,000,000 m3.[3] The dam withstood the 7.5 Mw 1985 Rapel Lake earthquake with only minor damage. It was centered 45 km (28 mi) from the dam.[1]
Design
The Rapel Dam is a 112-metre (367-foot) tall and 350-metre (1,150-foot) long variable-radius arch-type. It is 5.5 metres (18 ft) wide at its crest and 19 metres (62 ft) wide at its base. The dam's spillway is controlled by five tainter gates and has a discharge capacity of 10,000 cubic metres per second (350,000 cu ft/s). The dam's reservoir, Lake Rapel has a 700,000,000 cubic metres capacity of which 530 e6m3 is active capacity.
Power station
The power station, located at the dam's base, contains five 75.4 megawatts (101,100 hp) Francis turbine-generators and is afforded 76 metres (249 ft) of net hydraulic head.[1][2]
References
- ^ "Observed Performance of Concrete Dams during Earthquakes". West Coast Regional Council. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ "Rapel Plant (Chile)". Endesa. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ "Long term reliability at hydroelectric plant in Chile". Endesa. Retrieved 7 August 2011.