Itaipu Dam

ESCUELA POLITÉCNICA SUPERIOR

INGENIEROS TÉCNICOS DE OBRAS PÚBLICAS

ITAIPÚ DAM




COURSE 2010-2011

Subject: English II

INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION

2. TECHNICAL DETAILS

2.1. Energy2.2. Dam

2.3. Spillway

2.4. Hydrology

3. PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS.

3.1. Before construction

3.1.1. Located at the borderline between Brazil and Paraguay

3.1.2. River diversion

3.1.3. No possible anchorage.

3.2. During construction

3.2.1. Weak stratum

3.2.2 Large blocks and high temperature

3.3. After construction

3.3.1. Possibility of overflow

3.3.2.Erosion caused by the spillway

4. CONCLUSION

1. INTRODUCTION

Itaipu's dam is one of the most ambitious projects of engineering in the world. At present, this enormous hydroelectric dam is the second one that more Kilowatts generate in the world. To start the construction, it was necessary to block the course of a mighty South American river. Thousands of hectares of valuable habitat, wildfauna and thousands of houses disappeared under water. 40000 workers faced the forces of the nature, extreme temperatures and the constant threats of mortal floods.

The risk of a catastrophe was evident. The construction of the dam lasted 7 years, and although the figures are not clear, it is believed that 145 persons lost their lives during the construction of Itaipu's dam.

The river Parana is4,000 Km long and is the second longest river of South America, only overcome by powerfully Amazonas. During part of its course, the river marks the borderline between Brazil and Paraguay and it’s here where is located the Itaipu’s dam. Nowadays, it is the second more powerful hydroelectric’s dam, overcome by the dam of three throats in China that is in phase of construction. Itaipu’s dam produces90.000 GW a year, it spreads out 7 Km and it has the height of a building of 65 floors. About the budget, 15,000 million Euros were necessary to construct this huge infrastructure. The Italian Piero Senvanelli was one of the key engineers of the dam.

In the 60’s Brazil was in full expansion, the annual economy was growing around 10 % and the population also was being increased, possessingmore than 70 million inhabitants. These changes provoked an increase in energy’s demand. The government had to find the way of satisfying the hungry multitudes of energy of the future or to face the economic crisis.

In order to satisfy this energy demand, water turn out to be the best choice. As a natural free resource that abounds in Brazil, it prevailed over oil and gas since they weren’t enoughto deal with this enormous demand of energy. 10 % of the whole sweet water of the world is in Brazil. If we could take advantage of this huge potential of water, the hydroelectric technology will be enough to satisfy the energy demand without the import of fuel. Brazil thought about an important project. The government of Brazil wanted to construct a great dam to supply energy to a great part ofthe country.

The engineers investigated differently places where they might construct the dam, because it had to fulfil numerous requirements: a great amount of water had to flow through a narrow riverbed and his bed had to be strong enough to resist the enormous walls of the dam. After many investigations, the engineers decided to construct in the course of the river Paraná, especially at thevillage of Itaipu. However, there was a problem due to the fact that this place is in the borderline between the countries of Brazil and Paraguay. Negotiations began in 1966 and finally, in April, 1973 the two countries reach an agreement and the works of construction began in May of the same year.

In May, 1985 Itaipu's dam is about to generate the first electricity, it is the moment that the...