2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16
The reader is probably aware of the sad events of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. And today relations between these countries remain tense. However, there is a place of friendship between Georgia and the Republic of Abkhazia, but forced friendship. This is the hydroelectric power station on the Enguri, one of the most striking and beautiful in the world. Let's take a look at her.
What is this - the Enguri hydroelectric power station?
This is the largest hydroelectric power plant in the entire Caucasus. Inguri, Ingur hydroelectric power station, Inguri hydroelectric power station - these are all its various names. It is located on the river of the same name near the town of Jvari. This is the border of Georgia and Abkhazia.
So why is the hydroelectric power plant on the Enguri called the place of friendship between the two countries that are still hostile to each other? The fact is that it was built back in the time of the USSR, when Georgia and Abkhazia were republics of the same country. Why are the key hydroelectric facilities located on the territories of both of these modern sovereign states. Therefore, its exploitation is possible only with equal cooperation.
Short description
Enguri HPP, launched in 1978, today has the status of an operating one. Consider its main technical characteristics:
- Type of object: diversion dam.
- Electricity generation for the year: 4430 million kWh.
- Power capacity: 1300 MW.
- Design head: 325 meters.
Let's move on to the main facilities of the HPP on the Enguri:
- Dam type: concrete, arched.
- Dam length: 728 m.
- Dam height: 271.5 m.
- No gateways.
- Switchgear: 110/220/500 kV.
And now a brief description of the equipment of the hydroelectric power plant:
- Turbines: radial-axial.
- Number of turbines: 5.
- Number of generators: 5.
- Turbine flow: 5 x 90 m3.
- Generator capacity: 5 x 260 MW.
Now let's take a closer look at this large-scale object.
Composition of structures
Inguri hydroelectric power station is a typical diversion hydroelectric power station. Its hydraulic scheme is based on the transfer of Enguri waters to the basin of another mountain river - Eristskali. The total head is estimated at 410 m. Of these, 226 m fall on the dam itself, and the remaining 184 m is a matter of pressure derivation.
Inguri HPP is a number of important structures. Consider them.
A striking concrete arch dam 271.5m high. Before the collapse of the USSR, it was considered the second largest in the entire Union after the Nurek hydroelectric power station (rockfill type).
Today, the hydroelectric dam on the Enguri is the sixth largest in the world! It is inferior to the Chinese hydroelectric power station"Jinping-1" (305 m), named after the Tajik Nurek hydroelectric power station (304 m), the Chinese Xiaowan hydroelectric power station (292 m), the Chinese Silodu hydroelectric power station (285.5 m) and the Swiss "Grand Dixens" (285 m).
The Enguri dam consists of an arch (221.5 m) and a 50-meter plug. The thickness of the entire dam at its (cork) top is 52 m, and at the crest level it is already 10 m.
In the very body of the dam, there are seven 5-meter (in diameter) spillways for idle water flow. There are also 12 half-spans with a depth of about 9 meters, which can pass up to 2.7 thousand m3 of water per second!
Other significant structures of this hydroelectric power plant in Georgia and neighboring Abkhazia:
- Tunnel type deep water inlet with two openings turning into one. He takes water into the diversion tunnel.
- Actually diversion pressure tunnel, whose length is 15 km with a diameter of 9.6 m. The water pressure at the entrance to it is estimated at 101 m. At the exit - 165 m.
- Surge tank.
- Underground hydroelectric power station.
- 5 turbine underground conduits that block butterfly valves (their diameters are 5 m each).
- Diversion tunnel.
HPP capacity
The capacity of the hydroelectric power plant on the Inguri River is 1300 MW. The average annual electricity generation is estimated at 4,430 million kWh.
In the HPP building there are five hydroelectric units produced by "Turboatom". They work at a pressure of 325 m (maximum - 410 meters). largestthe flow through each turbine is 90 m3 per second. The turbines drive hydro generators, each with a design capacity of 260 MW.
The pressure facilities of the hydroelectric power station form the Inguri (or Dzhavar) reservoir. Its total volume is 1110 million m3.
Operation of hydroelectric power plant
HPP is not fully part of the industry of Georgia or Abkhazia. Today, located in the zone of conflict between these two states, it cannot be exploited to its full potential. Hydroelectric facilities belong to these countries in the following ratio:
- On the territory of Abkhazia there is a building of a hydroelectric power station and part of its tunnel.
- On the territory of Georgia - a water intake, a dam and another part of the tunnel.
In addition, the entire Enguri hydropower complex, in addition to this facility, includes four differential hydroelectric power plants (a cascade of 4 hydroelectric power plants - I, II, III, IV). They were built on the Eristskali River, which flows through the Abkhazian lands. Therefore, the industry of Georgia will experience great difficulties if the government of the country refuses to cooperate with Abkhazia on the joint peaceful use of hydroelectric power plants.
Thus, from 1992 to the present, neighboring states, by appropriate agreement, have been jointly operating the facility. According to the agreement, 60% of the generated electricity goes to Georgia, and 40% - to Abkhazia.
Reconstruction of the object
In the early 90s onA number of technical problems were identified at the Enguri HPP, which did not allow it to operate at maximum capacity. In the mid-nineties, the 3rd hydraulic unit completely failed.
In this regard, in 2004, reconstruction began. conducted by Voith Siemens Hydro. The work was financed by foreign creditors. Some part was paid for by grants from foreign investors.
As a result of reconstruction in 2006, the third hydroelectric unit was launched again. Then the 2nd and 4th were repaired. In 2012-2013 the reconstruction of the 1st and 5th hydraulic units was carried out. The cost of all the work carried out amounted to 20 million €. The funds were provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, an international investment mechanism created to support the economies of countries in need.
Interesting for tourist
Enguri HPP is not only the most important strategic facility. The power, majesty and aesthetics of the hydroelectric power plant attract tourists here as well. The closest settlements to it will be the village. Potskho Etseri and the town of Jvari. As for the village, it has a rather cozy hotel with a breathtaking view of the dam from its balconies.
By the way, this is where Upper Svaneti originates - one of the most beautiful mountainous regions of Georgia. The Enguri flows down to the HPP directly from centuries-old glaciers. And below Potskho Etseri the Abkhazian-Georgian border will already pass.
300-meter cliff, beyond which 1110 million cubic meters of water - trulybreathtaking spectacle. Therefore, the Georgian government plans to develop a recreational zone here in the future - to build a museum, a tourist center and even launch a cable car through the reservoir.
Inguri HPP is one of the most significant structures on our planet. It is also the strategic object that allows two warring countries to cooperate.
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