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Three Gorges Dam

Sophie Runge, Janis Moye01/19/15

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structure

1. general information2. construction information

2.1 technical data

3. flood protection4. energy production5. ecological consequences6. advantages & disadvantages7. information sources

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1. general information

• hydro power station, ship lift & sluice• formed retaining lake is over 600 km long• improvement of flood protection &

shipping, energy production• watershed of 2 million km²• average discharge volume 32500 m³/s

(Rhein: 2330 m³/s)

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• US Bureau of Reclamation was tasked to design the dam (between 1944 & 1946)

• project accepted in 1992• criticism against it was frobidden• project opponents were banned from

publishing their works• construction time: 1993 - 2008

1. general information

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2. construction information

• 11/08/1997 actual dam work could get started

• 350 trucks per day• 06/01/2003 first weir fields were closed• until 2012 32 turbines installed• first plans: 26 bn USD• 2003: 75 bn USD

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2.1 technical data

• steel concrete gravity dam (27 million m³ concrete & 463000 t steel)

• length: 2335 m, crest height: 185 m• altitude differences of gauges: max. 113

m• power station performance rating: 18,2

GW expansion up to 22,5 GW

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3. flood protection

• influence of natural discharge & prevent floods

• critics say one has to fight against reasons

• dam does not influence the floods of tributaries

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4. energy production

• electrification of coal generates 75 % of energy requirement

• gained electricity is led to eastern provinces

but:• intakes blocked with garbage (3 t per

day)• maximum energy production = maximum

storage level01/19/15

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5. ecological consequences

• US government never wants to realize such projects again

• hindered natural purification• project managers planned two additional

retaining lakes• multitude of animals & plants

endangered• salt content increased in estuary• dam is located in area endangered by

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6. advantages & disadvantages

• huge energy production

• transport capacity increase

• flood protection• tourist attraction

itself

• endangered by earthquakes

• endangered environment

• garbage• resettlement• flood protection or

high energy production

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7. information sources

• „Der Drei-Schluchten-Staudamm“, https://www.planet-wissen.de/natur_technik/fluesse_und_seen/staudaemme/drei_schluchten_staudamm.jsp, 12/28/2014

• “Energierekord am Drei-Schluchten-Damm“, http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Energierekord-am-Drei-Schluchten-Damm-article14247201.html, 01/05/2015

• „Folgeschäden und Folgekosten“, http://www.focus.de/wissen/klima/klimaprognosen/drei-schluchten-damm-folgeschaeden-und-folgekosten_aid_629078.html, 12/28/2014

• „Three Gorges Dam“, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Dam, 01/10/2015

• Hans-Gustav Olshausen: Bauingenieurwesen. Springer, 1997, p. 207, p. 603 f., p. 620 f., p. 644 f., p. 748 f.

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