Bouçã Dam ( pt, Barragem da Bouçã, links=no) is a

concrete Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most wi ...

double curvature

arch dam An arch dam is a concrete dam that is curved upstream in plan. The arch dam is designed so that the force of the water against it, known as hydrostatic pressure, presses against the arch, causing the arch to straighten slightly and strengthen ...

on the

Zêzere River The Zêzere () is a river in Portugal, tributary to the Tagus. It rises in the Serra da Estrela, near the '' Torre'', the highest point of continental Portugal. The Zêzere runs through the town Manteigas, runs through Belmonte, passes south of t ...

, where the river forms the border line between the districts of Castelo Branco and

Leiria Leiria (; cel-x-proto, ɸlāryo) is a city and municipality in the Central Region of Portugal. It is the 2nd largest city in that same region, with a municipality population of 128,640 (as of 2021) in an area of . It is the seat of its own distr ...

. It is located in the municipality

Pedrógão Grande Pedrógão Grande (; cel-x-proto, Pendraganum) is a municipality in the district of Leiria in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 3,915 in an area of . The town itself has fewer than 2,000 inhabitants, with the remaining population living in sev ...

, in Leiria District, Portugal. The dam was completed in 1955. It is owned by ''Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade'' (CPPE).

Dam

Bouçã Dam is a 63 m tall (height above foundation) and 175 m long double curvature arch dam with a crest altitude of 181 m. The volume of the dam is 70,000 m³. The dam features an uncontrolled

spillway A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of water downstream from a dam or levee, typically into the riverbed of the dammed river itself. In the United Kingdom, they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways ensure tha ...

over the dam (maximum discharge 2,200 m³/s) and one bottom outlet (maximum discharge 200 m³/s).

Reservoir

At full reservoir level of 175 m the reservoir of the dam has a surface area of 5 km² and a total capacity of 48.4 mio. m³; its active capacity is 15.22 (7.9) mio. m³.

Power plant

The

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...

power plant began operations in 1955. It is operated by EDP. The plant has a

nameplate capacity Nameplate capacity, also known as the rated capacity, nominal capacity, installed capacity, or maximum effect, is the intended full-load sustained output of a facility such as a power station,

of 44 (50) MW. Its average annual generation is 153.2 (140, 157,2 or 162)

GWh A kilowatt-hour (unit symbol: kW⋅h or kW h; commonly written as kWh) is a unit of energy: one kilowatt of power for one hour. In terms of SI derived units with special names, it equals 3.6 megajoules (MJ). Kilowatt-hours are a common bil ...

. The power station contains 2

Francis turbine The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts. Francis turbines are the most common water turbine in use today, and can achieve over 95% efficiency. The proces ...

-generators with 25 MW (28 MVA) each in a surface powerhouse at the right side of the dam. The turbine rotation is 214.3 rpm. The minimum

hydraulic head Hydraulic head or piezometric head is a specific measurement of liquid pressure above a vertical datum., 410 pages. See pp. 43–44., 650 pages. See p. 22. It is usually measured as a liquid surface elevation, expressed in units of length, ...

is 52.5 m, the maximum 56.5 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 50 m³/s.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bouca Dam Dams in Portugal Hydroelectric power stations in Portugal Arch dams Dams completed in 1955 Energy infrastructure completed in 1955 1955 establishments in Portugal Buildings and structures in Leiria District

Dam

Reservoir

Power plant

See also

References