Golovnaya Zaramagskaya HPP: height above sea level, photo, location, connection diagram

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

North Ossetia is rich in wild mountain rivers. These rivers have enormous potential in hydropower. The expected potential of the rivers of Ossetia is 5 billion kWh/year. Nevertheless, to date, North Ossetia is an energy-deficient region, and its electrification has not been completed.

The idea to build a hydroelectric power station in this area arose in 1976. At the same time, the construction of the Zaramagskaya hydroelectric power station on the Ardon cascade began here.

General information

The construction of the hydroelectric power plant continued for many years. In the 1990s, construction work ceased to be financed. In 2009, the main Zaramagskaya HPP was finally launched.

Its location was not chosen by chance. The river on which the hydroelectric power station is located is called Ardon. The name Ardon is translated into Russian as "violent river". It originates in the glaciers of the Greater Caucasus.

Below the exit of the river from the Tualskaya basin for 16 thousand meters, the height difference of the Ardon channel reaches 700 meters. Because of suchfeatures of the riverbed, the scheme for connecting the Zaramagskaya HPP is a derivational one.

In total, there are three main schemes for creating hydroelectric water pressure:

1) Dam - when pressure is created using a dam.

2) Derivative - when water pressure is created using derivation in the form of a tunnel or channel for water.

3) Dam-derivation - when the pressure of water is formed with the help of a dam and derivations.

Moreover, the dam is present at hydroelectric power plants built according to any of these schemes.

The diversion scheme is most preferable for all hydroelectric power plants where the river flows at a steep slope.

The launch of the station has strengthened the hope that one day North Ossetia will become energy independent. Now the Zaramagskaya HPP is one of the youngest industrial hydroelectric power plants in Russia.

Starting up headend

The main Zaramagskaya HPP was launched modestly. According to local tradition, the start-up was blessed by an energy veteran, the most senior worker of the station. He offered up a prayer and brought offerings to God. Olibakhs are used as offerings here - these are local pies with barley beer.

Scheme and principle of operation of the headend

The head station is needed in order to use the water pressure created by the dam. She extinguishes it and feeds it into the derivation tunnel. The tunnel is non-pressure, its length is 14 thousand meters. After the tunnel, water enters the turbines of the Zaramagskaya HPP-1. The conduit has a vertical drop of 630 meters.

Dam

The dam is located near the very exit of the river from the Tualskaya basin. It is bulk, from pebbles and soil. The structure is 300 meters long and 39 meters high.

At the heart of the dam is an impervious core. The core is made from loam. The fact that the mass of the dam itself is huge and at the same time has some mobility ensures the reliability of the entire structure.

The Republic of North Ossetia is in a zone of increased seismic hazard. Earth tremors with a power of 8-9 points on the Richter scale are possible here. For conventional hydroelectric power plants, such shocks could cause serious danger. The Zaramagskaya hydroelectric power station is designed in such a way that its dam can easily withstand tremors of magnitude 11.25.

Reservoir station

Speaking about the reservoir, first of all, we note the unusual nature of the area where it is located. Since the station is located in the mountains of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania, the nature here, of course, is very beautiful. Most often, it is windy in the mountains, but on calm days, the hydroelectric power station fascinates everyone with its appearance. The water that comes here from the Ardon River is clean and transparent. In autumn, you can admire the mountain slopes covered with golden sea buckthorn bushes. The beauty of the surrounding nature and the reservoir itself is the main reason for the large number of tourists who are attracted by the Zaramagskaya HPP. Photos near the dam of the station, near the reservoir or against the backdrop of mountains - hundreds of people usually brag about this to their friendstourists coming here for a tour.

Dam and reservoir specifications

Hydrologists regularly conduct water surveys and monitor the operation of the dam. The filling of the reservoir began in 2009. Its total volume is about 10.5 million cubic meters. m. The water surface area is 2.5 square kilometers.

How else is Zaramagskaya HPP different from other hydroelectric power plants? An altitude of 169 meters above sea level is the normal design retaining level of the dam. With such a retaining level, the height of the embankment should be about 1708 meters. The station was built in such a way that, if necessary, the height of the dam can be increased.

Electrical

The head station, together with the dam's water receiver, constitutes a separate power unit. Through a pressure tunnel with a length of 675 meters, water enters the station's hydroelectric unit. The hydraulic unit is located in the coastal building of the station. The turbine is also located here. The turbine at the station is a rotary-vane turbine with an impeller diameter of 350 centimeters. This device weighs about 30 tons.

The power of the hydraulic unit depends on the height of the water intake at the dam. With a normal water level of 18.6 meters, the power of the device is 15 MW, and with an increase in the height of the dam, the power can reach 33 MW.

After all construction and installation work is completed at the Zaramagskaya HPP-1, the capacity of the hydroelectric unit will decrease to about 10 MW. The station is planned to begenerate 34.5 million kWh/year in autonomous mode and 23 million kWh/year after the Zaramagskaya HPP-1 is put into operation.

Zaramagskaya HPP is equipped with the most up-to-date protection and automation systems. The protective system consists of a single monitoring system. HPP specialists conduct field observations and can easily assess the reliability and safety of plant structures thanks to the new control and measuring equipment installed at the dam.

Archaeological research

The lands where the Zaramagskaya hydroelectric power station is located contain objects of the cultural and historical heritage of Russia. Simultaneously with the beginning of the construction of the HPP cascade, a decision was made to start large-scale archaeological excavations on the territory planned to be used as a HPP reservoir. Due to insufficient funding, archaeological searches were curtailed for a while. In order to preserve evidence of the life and way of life of the peoples of the south of Russia, the JSC RusHydro company, which is engaged in the construction of a hydroelectric power station, has allocated money from its own budget for archaeological work in this region. Scientists have discovered rings made of copper and silver of various eras with both Christian and Muslim symbols.

Researchers also studied the "Mamisondon" burial ground, dated to the 9th-7th c. BC e. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Nardon and Mamisondon, at their confluence with Ardon. It has not been established to date which ethnic groups belonged to this burial ground. It is assumed that this historical monument was formed during the period of the Khazarwars. Arabs and Khazars repeatedly fought among themselves in these parts during that period of time.

At a distance of 4.5 kilometers from Zaramag there is another historical object - the Kasar fortification. The word "Casara" is of Arabic origin and means "castle", "palace".

All the data obtained as a result of archaeological research in this area have been systematized and compiled into a book, which will soon be published.

Zaramagskaya HPP-1

Not so long ago, the construction of a vertical shaft was completed at the Zaramagskaya HPP-1. This structure is one of the most high-pressure in the entire territory of the Russian Federation. The height of the mine shaft is 508 meters, the pressure inside is about 60 atmospheres. The construction of a tunnel between the head station and the main power unit of the cascade in the village of Mizura has been completed.

Zaramagskaya HPP-1, according to the work plan, will be launched only on December 25, 2018. After its launch, the electricity shortage in North Ossetia will no longer be 80%, as it is now, but only 30%.

Where is the Zaramag HPP located?

Address of the enterprise: Republic of North Ossetia - Alania, Vladikavkaz, st. Pervomaiskaya, 34. You can contact the employees of the Zaramagskaya HPP and find out more information about the construction of the station on the official website.