Miranda Dam (Portuguese: Barragem de Miranda) is a concrete buttress dam on the Douro, where the river forms the national border line between Spain and Portugal. It is located in the municipality Miranda do Douro, in Bragança District, Portugal.

Miranda Dam
Miranda Dam is located in Portugal
Miranda Dam
Location of Miranda Dam in Portugal
Official nameBarragem de Miranda
Locationmunicipality Miranda do Douro, Bragança District, Portugal
Coordinates41°29′19″N 6°15′56.2″W / 41.48861°N 6.265611°W / 41.48861; -6.265611
StatusOperational
Construction began1955
Opening date1961
Owner(s)Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete buttress dam
ImpoundsDouro
Height80 m (260 ft)
Length263 m (863 ft)
Dam volume240,000 m3 (8,500,000 cu ft)
Spillway typeOver the dam
Spillway capacity11,000 m³
Reservoir
Total capacity28,100,000 m3 (22,800 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity6,660,000 m3 (5,400 acre⋅ft)
Surface area1.22 km2 (0.47 sq mi)
Power Station
Operator(s)Energias de Portugal
Commission dateMiranda I: 1960
Miranda II: 1995
Hydraulic headMiranda I: 66 m (217 ft) (max)
Miranda II: 60 m (200 ft) (max)
TurbinesMiranda I: 3 x 58.84 MW Francis-type
Miranda II: 193 MW Francis-type
Installed capacityMiranda I: 180 MW
Miranda II: 189 MW
Annual generationMiranda I + II: 897.8 GWh

Construction of the dam began in 1955. The dam was completed in 1961. It is owned by Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade (CPPE).[1]

Miranda Dam is an 80-m-tall (height above foundation) and 263-m-long buttress dam with a crest altitude of 535 m. The volume of the dam is 240,000 m³. The dam contains 4 crest spillways (maximum discharge 11,000 m³/s) and one bottom outlet.[1]

Reservoir

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At full reservoir level of 528.05 m (maximum flood level of 533 m) the reservoir of the dam has a surface area of 1.22 km2 and its total capacity is 28.1 mio. m³ (active capacity 6.66 mio. m³).[1]

Power plant

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The power plant went operational in 1960. It is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station. It is owned by CPPE, but operated by EDP.[2] The plant has a nameplate capacity of 369[3][4] (390)[1][2] MW. Its average annual generation is 897.8[3] (879[4] or 1,036.3[1][2]) GWh.

Miranda I

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The power station contains 3 Francis turbine-generators with 58.84 (67)[2] MW each in an underground powerhouse. The turbine rotation is 150 rpm. The minimum hydraulic head is 51 m, the maximum 66 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 128 m³/s.[3]

Miranda II

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In 1995 an additional underground powerhouse was completed and a further Francis turbine with a 193 MW capacity went online. The turbine rotation is 100 rpm. The minimum hydraulic head is 40 m, the maximum 60 m. Maximum flow of the turbine is 386 m³/s.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "MIRANDA DAM". APA Barragens de Portugal. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
  2. ^ a b c d "Miranda Hydroelectric Power Plant Portugal". Global Energy Observatory. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
  3. ^ a b c d "Miranda Informação Técnica" (in Portuguese). Energias de Portugal. Archived from the original on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
  4. ^ a b "DECLARAÇÃO AMBIENTAL 2012" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Energias de Portugal. pp. 29–30 (27–28). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2015-02-05.