The Saratov Hydroelectric Power Station is one of the ten largest nuclear power plants in Russia and Europe. It is an integral part of the Volga-Kama cascade of hydroelectric power plants. 24 hydraulic units installed at the station allow generating up to 6 billion kWh annually. The average annual rate over the past decade has been 5.4 billion kWh.
Green Energy
Hydroelectric power plants in Russia play an important role in the uninterrupted supply of electricity to domestic and foreign consumers. The vast territory of the country, through which the largest rivers of Europe and the world flow, carries the unlimited potential of "green" energy based on renewable sources - water, wind, sun, geothermal energy, tidal wave power and others.
In Russia, there are 102 hydroelectric power stations with a capacity of over 100 MW. The Saratov Hydroelectric Power Station (1378 MW) occupies the 9th place in the list of giants, taking into account those being completed. At the beginning of 2015, the installed total electric capacity of all stations amounted to 47,712.39 MW - which is over 20% of all generated energy in Russia.
It is important that hydropower plants are the most mobile systems. This type of power plant allows you to increase or decrease energy production within minutes, which is incredibly important to solve the problem of peak loads in the global power grid. For comparison, in order to increase the return on the CHPP, it takes several hours, and for nuclear power plants this indicator is at all equal to several days. It is not surprising that the construction of hydroelectric power plants continues.
Description of Saratov hydroelectric station
The hydroelectric power station is the seventh in the Volga-Kama cascade and is located in the city of Balakovo, in the north of the Saratov region. 24 hydraulic units with a capacity of 1378 MW in 2014 allowed to give the country 5504.6 kWh of electricity (useful supply). The spillway area is 1,280,000 km² with an average annual water discharge of 7959 m³ / s.
The object has become an important transport hub of the region - along its dam pass roads and railways, linking both banks of the mighty Volga. Also related to the functions of the hydroelectric station are the provision of uninterrupted large-capacity shipping, irrigation, and water supply.
History
The city-forming enterprise "Saratov Hydroelectric Power Station", whose photo impresses with its grandiose dimensions, began to be built on June 5, 1956 - this is the official start date for the All-Union Komsomol construction in the city of Balakovo. A few years later, the provincial town received a rebirth, turning into a major industrial center of the country. More than 20,000 people from all regions took part in the construction of a unique structure, many of the builders connected their fate with Balakovo.
The hydroelectric power station has actually become a platform for experiments, the embodiment of the latest achievements and original ideas in the field of construction of large hydropower plants, not without reason, some characteristics of the structure are unique. On December 27, 1967, the first two hydraulic units were launched, and in January 1968, the Saratov hydroelectric station was connected to the country's general energy system. The station reached its design capacity in late 1970, since then it has been uninterruptedly supplying consumers with environmentally friendly energy.
Saratov is an integral part of the interconnected hydro complex of the European part of the Russian Federation. Other large hydroelectric power stations on the Volga and Kama: Rybinsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Cheboksarskaya, Kamskaya, Votkinskaya, Nizhnekamsk, Zhigulevskaya, Volzhskaya and others.
Interesting Facts
- Since the launch, the station has generated over 250 billion kWh of electricity.
- Saratovskaya is one of the largest hydroelectric power stations, a photo of which can be seen in the media, encyclopedias, scientific papers, online resources.
- The construction is distinguished by a non-standard layout - the absence of catchment platinum.
- The machine room is the longest in Russia, while it is equipped with a collapsible roof.
- 24 hydraulic units have 3 different sizes - some of which are the largest in Russia.
- Hydroelectric power station facilities are assigned the 1st capital class, they include: dyke dams, earth dam, main body, bottom catchments, a shipping lock, a fish receiver, switchgears for 35, 220 and 500 kV.
- The dam has a length of 1260 m and a maximum height of 42 m; 6.6 million m³ of soil have been washed up for the dam. It consists of a main (360 m wide) and station sections.
- The total length of the dams of this large hydroelectric power station in Russia is over 13 km. Height at the highest point - 23 m.
- The main body of the channel type - that is, takes on the pressure of water, is located in the heart of the dam.
- The HPP machine room is the longest in the Russian Federation - 990 m. The diameter of the turbine impeller is also a record - 10.3 m.
JSC RusHydro
In January 2008, the Saratov Hydroelectric Power Plant became a part of the RusHydro group of companies - in Russia it is the largest generating company, and the second largest in the world among hydroelectric power plants in terms of installed capacity (over 25 GW). At this stage, RusHydro has united 64 operating and 7 TPPs under construction, 23 operating and 7 hydropower plants under construction, 3 GeoPPs, one tidal power plant, research centers, marketing companies and design organizations. Among all this diversity, Saratovskaya is among the ten largest suppliers of electricity among all types of stations. The association occupies a leading position in the "green" (renewable) energy sector.
The largest investment project
The construction of hydroelectric power plants continues, however, the improvement of the old ones must not be forgotten, as evidenced by the tragic accident at the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric station. Given the sad experience, the management company RusHydro is conducting a phased update of worn-out equipment.
At the moment (and until 2030) the Saratov hydroelectric station is undergoing a phased modernization with the installation of the most advanced equipment. In particular, RusHydro agreed with the Austrian company Voith Hydro on the replacement of 21 hydraulic turbines and a hydraulic unit No. 24 with the completion of facilities by the end of 2025. The current investment project, whose value exceeds 1 billion euros, has become unprecedented for the Saratov Hydroelectric Power Station and the largest for the region. It is planned that the Russian-Austrian joint venture will produce turbines.
Turbine modernization
Reconstruction of hydroelectric power plants involves the installation of fundamentally new generation hydraulic turbines. A pre-designed project provides for a radical change in the design of the impeller, which will be equipped with S-type blades and a servo motor located at the bottom. This patented “Voith Hydro” system makes the turbine “fish friendly”. The design is designed to repeatedly reduce injuries and mortality of fish passing through turbines, which is a serious problem for the entire Volga-Kama cascade of hydroelectric power stations. Environmental safety will also be enhanced by eliminating the release of turbine oil in water.
Modernization of power units
By the end of 2013, all five power units at the Saratov hydroelectric power station were replaced by power engineers. The reconstructed and commissioned equipment is more modern, reliable, safe and economical. Power units can do without overhaul for more than 30 years.
Together with the modernized power units, hydraulic units No. 13 and No. 14 were put into operation - the last of the station's vertical units, on which a modern automatic control system (ACS) was installed. Thus, the final stage of the five-year project for the reconstruction of self-propelled guns of all vertical hydraulic units was completed.
Profitability and efficiency
A comprehensive modernization program involves updating the hydroelectric power station taking into account feasibility, economic efficiency and using the latest technological developments. It is necessary to ensure minimal downtime and a decrease in the generation of hydroelectric power plants, the shortest time for the implementation of reconstruction projects.
When implementing the comprehensive modernization program, a comprehensive approach is planned with the participation of the customer, representatives of research institutes and equipment manufacturers. For the first time, before the implementation of the program, a pre-design survey of the entire technological complex of the hydroelectric station is carried out with the subsequent development of a project for its comprehensive modernization with the participation of the general designer of the Saratov hydroelectric station. At the same time, a “lifelong” service is provided for replaced units by manufacturers.
Charity
Millions of funds are allocated annually to finance charity programs. In particular, the help is provided to the RUSTO School for Children and Youth Sports in Balakovo, where children are engaged in scuba diving and orienteering, Children's Hospital No. 1 and other organizations. As part of educational projects, the hydropower station helped equip the laboratories of the Balakovo Polytechnic. Traditionally, mother aid is provided to veterans on the eve of Victory Day.
conclusions
Probably, there are no more large-scale projects than hydroelectric power stations. The photos of these concrete giants are amazing in size, and the aggregates and technologies used reflect the latest achievements of industrial potential and scientific thought.
Hydropower plays a leading role in providing the population and industry with electricity. The accumulated experience in the construction and operation of hydropower plants, the enormous potential of Russian rivers, the relative environmental safety and the use of renewable energy sources make it possible to increase capacities by building new stations and modernizing existing ones. The Saratov hydroelectric station, which has been operating without interruptions for decades, is a vivid confirmation of this.