The Caniçada Dam ( pt, Barragem da Caniçada/HICA-Hidroeléctrica do Cávado-Caniçada, 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 wid ...

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 strengthe ...

on the

Cávado River The Cávado River ( pt, rio Cávado; ) is a river located in northern Portugal. It has its source in Serra do Larouco at an elevation of above sea level. It runs from Fonte da Pipa, near the triangulation station Larouco, to its mouth into t ...

, the

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authorit ...

of Parada do Bouro, in the

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

Vieira do Minho Vieira do Minho (, ) is a municipality in the district of Braga, in the north of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 12,997, in an area of 216.44 km². The present mayor is António Cardoso, elected by a coalition between PSD and the CDS– ...

, in the

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

Norte ( district of Braga). It is owned by ''Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade'' (CPPE).

History

The dam was completed and began functioning in 1955. In 196, approval was obtained to begin a program of observation of the dam, as proposed by the ''Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil'' (''Civil Engineering National Laboratory'').

Architecture

Caniçada Dam is a tall (height above foundation) and long arch dam with a crest altitude of . The volume of the dam is . The dam features a

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 th ...

with 4 gates over the dam with a maximum discharge per second, and one bottom outlet with maximum discharge per second.

Reservoir

At full reservoir level of the reservoir of the dam has a surface area of of 6.89 (5.78) km² and a total capacity of 170.6 mio. m³; its active capacity is 159.3 (144,4) mio. m³. With the 144,4 mio. m³ water 32 GWh can be produced.

Power plant

The hydroelectric power plant went operational in 1954. 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 62 (60 or 100) MW. Its average annual generation is 337.4 (283, 345 or 346) GWh. The power station contains 2 Francis turbine-generators with 31 MW (34 MVA) each in an underground powerhouse 134 m below the surface. The turbine rotation is 300 rpm. The minimum hydraulic head is 77 m, the maximum 121 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 34 m³/s. The turbines and generators were provided by

Voith The Voith Group is a German manufacturer of machines for the pulp and paper industry, technical equipment for hydropower plants and drive and braking systems. The family-owned company, which operates worldwide and has its headquarters in Heid ...

References

Notes

Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Canicada 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 Braga District Underground power stations Vieira do Minho Cávado River