Coming: 12,600 megawatts at Itaipu Island

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 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), Vol. 20:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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13 HYDRO ENERGY
BRAZIL
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
POWER RANGE 10-100 GW
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
PARAGUAY
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONSTRUCTION
COST
DAMS
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HVAC SYSTEMS
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KEV RANGE 100-1000
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RIVERS
TURBINES
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DC SYSTEMS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FREQUENCY RANGE
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
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LATIN AMERICA
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130300* - Hydro Energy- Plant Design & Operation