Omarugawa Pumped Storage Power Station
The Omarugawa Pumped Storage Power Station (Japanese: 小丸川発電所, Hepburn: Omarugawa Hatsudensho) is a large pumped-storage hydroelectric power station in Kijo in the Koyu District of Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. With a total installed capacity of 1,200 megawatts (1,600,000 hp), it is one of the largest pumped-storage power stations in Japan.
Omarugawa Pumped Storage Power Station | |
---|---|
Country | Japan |
Location | Kijo, Koyu District, Miyazaki Prefecture |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 1997 |
Opening date | 2007-2011[1] |
Operator(s) | Kyushu Electric Power Company |
Upper reservoir | |
Creates | Ishikawauchi upper reservoir |
Total capacity | 6,200,000 m3 (5,000 acre⋅ft) |
Lower reservoir | |
Creates | Ishikawauchi lower reservoir |
Power Station | |
Hydraulic head | 646 m (2,119 ft)[1] |
Pump-generators | 4 x 300 MW reversible Francis turbines |
Installed capacity | 1,200 MW (1,600,000 hp) |
The facility is run by the Kyushu Electric Power Company. The power plant started operation in July 2007 and all four units were commissioned by July 2011. Like most pumped-storage facilities, the power station uses two reservoirs, releasing and pumping as the demand rises and falls. Oseuchi Dam and Kanasumi Dam[2] form the upper artificial reservoir, while Ishikawauchi Dam on the Omaru river (Omarugawa) forms the lower reservoir.[3] Ishikawauchi Dam is a 47.5 m concrete gravity dam, while Oseuchi and Kanasumi dams are rock-fill dams, 65.5 m and 42.5 m high, respectively. The natural influx on water on the upper reservoir is limited, therefore the plant can be considered almost pure pumped-storage. The entire upper pond was made waterproof with asphalt to avoid leakage in the surrounding permeable soil.[4]
The two reservoirs are connected through underground penstocks. The power plant is located underground in the middle.[1] The power station employs 4 pump-generators. Unit 1 and 4 were manufactured by Hitachi,[5] while units 2 and 3 are from Mitsubishi. The maximum amount of water used by the plant is 222 cubic meters per second, for an effective storage capacity of 7 hours. All units are adjustable speed systems, allowing for a rapid variation of power levels during both pumping and generation.[6]
A visitor's center, Pino' Q Park, was opened by Kyushu Electric Power in July 2008. The center features miniature models of the power plant, videos and other media to explain the operation of the pumped-storage plant.[7]
- Ishikawauchi Dam
- The upper reservoir
Notes
- "九州電力 小丸川発電所の概要". www.kyuden.co.jp. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- "Kanasumi Dam [Miyazaki Pref.] - Dams in Japan". damnet.or.jp. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- "Ishikawauchi Dam [Miyazaki Pref.] - Dams in Japan". damnet.or.jp. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- "大瀬内ダム[宮崎県] - ダム便覧". damnet.or.jp. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- "Hitachi's Adjustable-speed Pumped-storage System Contributing to Prevention of Global Warming" (PDF). HItachi. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- "小丸川発電所 3号機(30万kW)の営業運転開始について" (PDF). www.kyuden.co.jp. Kyushu Electric Power Company. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- "木城町ホームページ 中八重緑地公園・ピノッQパーク". 木城町ホームページ. Retrieved 1 November 2016.