Changuinola Dam

Dam in Panama

9°14′11.63″N 82°29′41.13″W / 9.2365639°N 82.4947583°W / 9.2365639; -82.4947583Construction began2007; 17 years ago (2007)Opening date2014; 10 years ago (2014)Dam and spillwaysType of damArch-gravity, roller compacted concreteHeight99.2 m (325 ft)Length600 m (2,000 ft)Dam volume890,000 m³ (31,000,000 cu ft)ReservoirNormal elevation165 m (541 ft)Power StationTurbines2 x 106.4 MW (142,700 hp) Francis-type, 1 x 9.66 MW (12,950 hp)Installed capacity223 MW (299,000 hp)Annual generation1,046 GWh (3,770 TJ)

Changuinola I Dam, is located in district of Changuinola, in the Province of Bocas del Toro, in the western part of Panama. It is the largest roller-compacted concrete arch-gravity dam in the World.

Technical features

The design of the dam was conducted by Malcolm Dunstan & Associates engineering and construction company.^[1]

The construction of the dam started on October 25, 2007 and its first generator was operational on November 19, 2011. The roller-compacted concrete arch-gravity dam has a maximum height of 99.2 metres (325 ft) and length of 600 metres (2,000 ft). The upstream vertical face arch radius is 525 metres (1,722 ft). The induced joints are spaced at 20 metres (66 ft) intervals, with inducers installed in every second layer after compaction. The downstream face slope varies form 0.5:1 (H:V) in the center and 0.7:1 (H:V) on the flanks.^[2]

The RCC mix strength requirements were determined by a target direct tensile strength of 1.2 megapascals (170 psi). The composition of the high-paste RCC mix included:

Portland Cement - 70 kg/m³
Fly Ash - 145 kg/m³
Water - 119 kg/m³
Coarse Aggregate - 1282 kg/m³
Fine Aggregate - 888 kg/m³
Retarder - 3.44 kg/m³

References

^ Erlendsson G., Cameron-Ellis D., Shaw Q., Dunstan M., The Development of the Design of Changuinola 1 Dam, Roller Compacted Concrete Dams, Symposium, Zaragoza, October 2012
^ "AES Changuinola S.A."