Régua Dam (Portuguese: Barragem da Régua) is a concrete gravity dam on the Douro, where the river forms the border line between the districts of Vila Real and Viseu. It is located in the municipality Peso da Régua, in Vila Real District, Portugal.

Régua Dam
Régua Dam is located in Portugal
Régua Dam
Location of Régua Dam in Portugal
Official nameBarragem da Régua
CountryPortugal
Locationmunicipality Peso da Régua, Vila Real District
Coordinates41°8′46″N 7°44′24″W / 41.14611°N 7.74000°W / 41.14611; -7.74000
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction began1965
Opening date1973
Owner(s)Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade
Operator(s)Energias de Portugal
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete gravity dam
ImpoundsDouro
Height (foundation)41 m (135 ft)
Length350 m (1,150 ft)
Elevation at crest81 m (266 ft)
Width (crest)6 m (20 ft)
Dam volume108,000 m3 (3,800,000 cu ft)
Spillway typeDam body
Spillway capacity21,500 m3/s (760,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity97,000,000 m3 (79,000 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity8,000,000 m3 (6,500 acre⋅ft)
Surface area8.5 km2 (3.3 sq mi)
Normal elevation73.5 m (241 ft)
Operator(s)Energias de Portugal
Commission date1973
Hydraulic head27.5 m (90 ft) (max)
Turbines3 x 58.84 MW Kaplan-type
Installed capacity180 MW
Annual generation581.1 GWh

Construction of the dam began in 1965. The dam was completed in 1973. It is owned by Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade (CPPE).[1]

Régua Dam is a 41 m tall (height above foundation) and 350 m long gravity dam with a crest altitude of 81 m. The volume of the dam is 108,000 m³. The spillway with 5 radial gates is part of the dam body (maximum discharge 21,500 m³/s). There is also a bottom outlet.[1]

Reservoir

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At full reservoir level of 73.5 m the reservoir of the dam has a surface area of 8.5 km2 and a total capacity of 95 mio. m³.[1] The active capacity is 12[2][3] (13[4]) mio. m³.

Power plant

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The run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plant was commissioned in 1973.[2][3][4][5] It is operated by EDP. The plant has a nameplate capacity of 180[2][3] (156)[1][4][5] MW. Its average annual generation is 581.1[2] (620.8,[3] 682[4] or 738[1][5]) GWh.

The power station contains 3 Kaplan turbine-generators with 58.84 (52[5] or 60[3]) MW (58 MVA) each in a dam powerhouse located on the right side of the dam. The turbine rotation is 107.1 rpm. The minimum hydraulic head is 20 m, the maximum 27.5 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 316 m³/s.[2]

The turbines were provided by Kværner, the generators by Brown, Boveri & Cie.[5]

Lock

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On the left side of the dam is a lock, which can handle ships with the following maximum properties: 83 m in length, 11.40 m on the beam, 3.8 m load-draught and a cargo capacity of 2500 tons.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "RÉGUA DAM". APA Barragens de Portugal. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Régua Informação Técnica" (in Portuguese). Energias de Portugal. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
  3. ^ a b c d e "DECLARAÇÃO AMBIENTAL 2012" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Energias de Portugal. pp. 32–33 (30–31). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
  4. ^ a b c d "Hidroelectricidade em Portugal memória e desafio" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Rede Eléctrica Nacional, S.A. p. 29 (27). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-06-27. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Regua Hydroelectric Power Plant Portugal". Global Energy Observatory. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
  6. ^ "waterway introduction". Instituto Portuário e dos Transportes Marítimos. Retrieved 2015-02-11.