Study Tour H: Dams and Energy (Post-tour) 21 to 23 May 2016

Transcription

1 Study Tour H: Dams and Energy (Post-tour) 21 to 23 May 2016 Introduction South Africa has various pumped storage schemes to assist in balancing electricity demand during peak periods. This tour takes you to the Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme (PSS) located in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal which has an installed capacity of MW, the MW Ingula PSS (currently under construction), as well as the Vaal Dam, which supplies most of Gauteng Province s drinking water. This three day technical tour s main focus is on large hydropower schemes in South Africa. Enjoy Zulu culture and hospitality! Map (See Page 5 for detailed road map) 1

2 Itinerary Day 1 Saturday - 21 May :00 Depart by coach from Sandton Convention Centre to Vaal Dam. Tour participants will be advised of the pick-up arrangements via at a later stage. 11:30 Visit Vaal Dam The Vaal Dam in South Africa was constructed in 1938 and raised in 1952 by 3.0 m and the addition of sixty 3 m high crest gates. The dam was raised again in 1985 by another 2.77 m and the replacement of the 3 m high crest gates with 6.36 m crest gates as well as the additional of post stressed cables. The lake behind the dam wall has a surface area of about 320 square kilometres and is 47 meters deep. The Vaal Dam lies on the Vaal River, which is one of South Africa's strongestflowing rivers. Other rivers flowing into the dam are the Wilge River, Klip River, Molspruit and Grootspruit. It has over 800 kilometres (500 mi) of shoreline and is South Africa's second biggest dam by area and the fourth largest by volume. The dam is a composite dam with zoned earthfill embankments and controlled concrete gravity ogee spillway, with maximum height of 55 m. 13:30 Lunch at Vaal Dam 15:00 Visit VRESAP intake structure Augmentation of the existing Vaal River Eastern Subsystem (VRESS), which supplies water to the coal fields of eastern Mpumalanga, was necessary due to the expansion of Eskom and Sasol activities in that region. Eskom s thermal power stations and Sasol s petrochemical installations are the strategic users of the water from the VRESS. The Vaal River Eastern Subsystem Augmentation Project (VRESAP), was commissioned specifically to transfer 160 million m 3 of water between the Vaal Dam and Knoppiesfontein every year. Knoppiesfontein is where VRESAP delivers its water into the VRESS. The project consists of an abstraction works located at the Vaal Dam, including a low-lift pump station, a dual purpose de-silting works-cum-balancing dams, a high lift pump station, 121 km of 1.9 m diameter pipeline, a m 3 surge tank and the upgrading of the existing diversion structure at Knoppiesfontein. VRESAP was declared operational in June 2009, using the temporary abstraction facility, thus allowing the commencement of the income stream on the project. 17:30 Check in at Vaal Nest Boutique Hotel 19:00 Vaal Sunset Cruise, including dinner Day 2 Sunday - 22 May :30 Breakfast 09:00 Drive to Ladysmith, with lunch en route 14:00 Visit Ingula Pump Storage Scheme The pumped storage scheme consist of an upper and a lower dam, named Bedford (41 m high CFRD) and Bramhoek Dam (39 m high RCC) respectively, each capable of storing approximately 22 million cubic metres of water. The dam, 4.6 km apart, is connected by underground waterways passing through an underground power house, housing four 333 MW turbines with generators. To generate electricity during times of peak demean, waster will be released from the upper dam and 2

3 pass through the pump/turbines into the lower dam. During times of low energy demand the pump/turbine will be used to pump the water back from the lower to the upper dam. 17:00 Travel to Ladysmith 18:00 Check in at Ladysmith Royal Hotel 19:00 Dinner at Ladysmith Royal Hotel Day 3 Monday - 23 May :30 Breakfast 09:00 Travel to Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme 11:00 Visit Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme The Drakensberg Project is a multi-purpose undertaking delivering an interbasin transfer from the Tugela River to the Upper Vaal River of 347 m 3 per annum in periods of maximum water requirement in the Vaal River system, whilst producing 26.5 GWhours per annum from the MW underground hydro-electric power station. The power station comprises four 250 MW pump/turbine sets operating over a head range of between 363 m and 393 m in generation and 420 m to 473 m when pumping. 13:00 Lunch 14:30 Depart for Johannesburg 18:00 Arrive in Sandton 3

4 Drakensberg PSS Ingula PSS underground power house Bramhoek Dam, lower reservoir of Ingula PSS Vaal Dam in flood 4

5 Road Map 5