Coming: 12,600 megawatts at Itaipu Island

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · IEEE Spectrum; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/MSPEC.1983.6369963· OSTI ID:5427054

de Moraes, J

This paper describes the hydroelectric plant being constructed jointly by Brazil and Paraguay on Itaipu Island in the Parana River. The planned generating capacity of 12,600 MW will make the Itaipu plant the world's largest. It will employ the most powerful hydrogenerators and turbines yet built, the world's largest concentration of 500-kilovolt gas-insulated switchgear, the highest dc transmission voltages and power--600 kV and 6300 MW--ever used, about 1000 kilometers of 765-kV ac transmission, and an extensive computer-based digital supervisory system in which continuous diagnostic evaluation of equipment is emphasized. To maintain national standards, nine generators will operate at 60 hertz for Brazil and nine at 50 hertz for Paraguay. Initially, any excess electricity available from the Paraguay generators will be routed to Brazil, but Paraguay is ultimately expected to share in half the Itaipu generation. The paper discusses the plant from its original feasibility studies to the newly created technologies which its size necessitated. The environmental impact on forests, farmlands and wildlife resulting from the construction of the Itaipu dam and the loss of the 1400 square kilometers which it flooded--including the popular Seven Waterfalls--is addressed. References to other papers as well as a symposium on the Itaipu project are cited.

• Research Organization: Itaipu Binacional International Engineering Co.
• OSTI ID: 5427054
• Journal Information: IEEE Spectrum; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Spectrum; (United States) Vol. 20:8; ISSN IEESA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
130300* -- Hydro Energy-- Plant Design & Operation
AC SYSTEMS
AGREEMENTS
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
BRAZIL
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONSTRUCTION
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COOPERATION
COST
DAMS
DC SYSTEMS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FREQUENCY RANGE
HVAC SYSTEMS
HVDC SYSTEMS
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
HZ RANGE
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
KEV RANGE
KEV RANGE 100-1000
LATIN AMERICA
LOAD MANAGEMENT
MACHINERY
MANAGEMENT
PARAGUAY
POWER PLANTS
POWER RANGE 10-100 GW
POWER SYSTEMS
RIVERS
SOUTH AMERICA
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
WATER RESERVOIRS