Assignment No – 8

Dam Information

Koyna Dam

Introduction:
The Koyna Dam is one of the largest dams in Maharashtra, India. It is located in Koyna

Nagar, nestled in the Western Ghats on the state highway between Chiplun and Karad,

Maharashtra.The dam supplies water to western Maharashtra as well as cheap hydroelectric

power to the neighboring areas with a capacity of 1,920 MW. The Koyna project is actually

composed of four dams, with the Koyna Dam having the largest catchment area.The

catchment area dams the Koyna River and forms the Shivaji Lake which is approximately

50 km (31 mi) in length. Completed in 1963, it is one of the largest civil engineering

projects commissioned after Indian independence. The Koyna electricity project is run by

the Maharashtra State Electricity Board. Most of the generators are located in excavated

caves a kilometer deep, inside the heart of the surrounding hills.

The dam has contributed to earthquakes in the recent past, including the devastating 1967

Koynanagar earthquake that almost razed the dam, resulting in the dam developing major

cracks.

History:

In the early 20th century, there was a survey of the koyana River as hydro-electric source

by the Tata Group.The 1928 financial crisis caused the project to be shelved.After the

independence of India, it was taken over by the Government of Maharashtra.In 1951

koyana Dam division started to look into the project. The project was approved in 1953

and work commenced in early 1954 and completed in 1962.

Dam details:

Type of dam-Rubble-concrete dam

Impounds-Koyna River

Height-103.2 m (339 ft)

Length-807.2 m (2,648 ft)

Reservoir Creates -Shivajinagar Lake

Total capacity -2,797,400,000 m³ (2,267,900 acre. Ft)

Surface area-891.78 km² (344 sq mi)

The spillway of the dam is located at the center. It has 6 radial gates. The dam plays a vital

role of flood controlling in monsoon season.

Challenges of Nature

The dam has withstood many earthquakes in the recent past, including the devastating 1967

koyananagar earthquake. Resulting in the dam developing some cracks. The proposal is to

drill up to 7 km bore hole and study the physical, geological and chemical processes and

properties of the reservoir triggered earthquake zone in real time. It would be an

international project to be led by Indian scientists.

Repairs of dam

In 1973 the non-overflow portion of the dam wasstrengthened, followed by strengthening

the spillway section in 2006. Also internal holes were drilled to relieve the hydrostatic

pressures in the body of the dam. Indian scientific establishment has formulated an
ambitious project to drill a deep borehole in the region and intensely study the earthquake

activity. Now the dam is expected to be safe against any future earthquake even of more

intensity than that of 1967.

Koyana Hydroelectric Project

- The total capacity of the project is 1,960 MW.

- The project consists of four stages of power generation.

-All the generators are located in underground powerhouses excavated deep inside the

mountains of the Western Ghats.

- A dam foot powerhouse also contributes to the electricity generation.

- The project takes advantage of the height of Western Ghats. Thus, a very large hydraulic

head is available over a very short distance.

Stage I and II

- 1st and 2nd stages share same powerhouse with total eight Pelton turbine units.

-Capacity- four turbines having of 65 MW each for 1st stage and 75 MW each for 2nd

stage.

-The water from The shivajisagar reservoir is taken through an intake structure known as

Navja tower near village of Navja into the head race tunnel.

-Then it travels towards the surge tank. It is further divided into four pressure shafts which

run vertically downward delivering water to the turbines.

-Then the water is discharged into the tail race tunnel.

- A dam foot powerhouse was also constructed which is used to generate electricity by the

water which is discharged from the koyana Dam for irrigation purpose.

-It has two Francis turbine units of 20 MW each. This powerhouse is run according to the

irrigation requirements of the downstream areas.

- The combined installed capacity of the two stages and the dam foot powerhouse is 600

MW.
Stage 3

It was observed that the water still had a hydraulic head of about 120 m which could be

used. To use this head, the Kolkewadi Dam was constructed at this location.

It forms a balancing reservoir and maintains the head.

This dam impourids the tail race water from Stage I and II.

This water is drawn through penstocks and electricity is generated by four Francis turbine

units with a capacity of 80 MW each.

The tail race water from these stages then flows through a channel and joins the Arabian

Sea near Shinlun.

The installed generating capacity of this stage is 230 MA

Stage IV

Lake tapping - nonconventional intake system was created by piercing the lake from

the bottom by blasting the rock plug using dynamite. This double lake tapping process was

the first of its kind in Asia.

The water in head race tunnel is directly drawn from the reservoir and delivered to the head

surge tank.

The four huge Francis turbine units of 250 MW each generate electricity and tail race water

is taken into the Kolkewadi Dam reservoir through tail race tunnel.

A revolutionary gas insulated switchgear system is used in the underground powerhouse

of this stage.

The installed capacity of this stage alone is 1000 MW. This stage is mostly used to cater

for the peak hour demands of the electric grid.