Cabril Dam ( pt, Barragem do Cabril, 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

Sertã Sertã () is a municipality in Castelo Branco District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 15,880, in an area of 446.73 km2. The present mayor is José Farinha Nunes, elected by the PSD. The municipal holiday is the June 24. General ...

, in Castelo Branco District, Portugal. Construction of the dam began in 1950. The dam was completed in 1954. It is owned by ''Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade'' (CPPE).

Dam

Cabril Dam is a 132 m tall (height above foundation) and 290 m long double curvature arch dam with a crest altitude of 297 m. The volume of the dam is 360,000 m³. The dam features on both banks one shaft

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 ...

(combined maximum discharge 2,200 m³/s) and one bottom outlet (maximum discharge 200 m³/s).
The Dam's arch is crossed by Estrada Nacional 2, Portugal's longest roadGoogle Maps - Cabril Dam, Sertã, Portugal https://www.google.pt/maps/search/barragem+do+cabril/@39.9190087,-8.1345648,15z

Reservoir

At full reservoir level of 294 m (maximum flood level of 296.3 m) the reservoir of the dam has a surface area of 20.23 km² and a total capacity of 720 mio. m³ (active capacity 615 mio. m³). Minimum operating level is 240 m. With the 615 mio. m³ water 339.3

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 ...

can be produced.

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 went operational in 1954. It is owned by CPPE, but 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 108 (97) MW. Its average annual generation is 304.8 (301 or 312)

. 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 47 MW (61 MVA) each in a surface powerhouse at the toe 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 84.6 m, the maximum 121.5 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 54 m³/s.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cabril Dam Dams in Portugal Hydroelectric power stations in Portugal Arch dams Dams completed in 1954 Energy infrastructure completed in 1954 1954 establishments in Portugal Buildings and structures in Castelo Branco District

Dam

Reservoir

Power plant

See also

References