We explain what a dam is, the parts that make it up and how it is classified. Also, differences with dam and reservoir.
What is a dam?
A dam is a structure that aims to divert or stop water or both, to take advantage of it or prevent it from causing damage.
It consists of a dam or wall that is built perpendicular to the river bed. The water diverted can be used for irrigation, electricity generation, fish farming, tourism, navigation, consumption industrial or human. They are also built following torrential rains to prevent flooding in areas near a river.
They are built with concrete, stone or loose materials and are designed by civil engineers.
Differences with dam, dam and reservoir
Dam, dam, reservoir and dam are related terms but have different meanings:
- Dam and dam Both words are synonyms and are used to mention those constructions that divert or stop a flow of water.
- Dam It consists of a wall that stops the passage of water; it can be a human construction or a product of nature. This wall, which may or may not be part of a dam, is located parallel or perpendicular to the flow of the water it contains.
- Reservoir This is the water that is accumulated as a result of the construction of a dam, or the result of the existence of a natural dam. This stagnant water is shallow and its bottom is muddy.
Parts of a dam
Dams or dams have different parts. They are:
- Curtain Also called “dam”, it is the construction as a whole.
- Coronation The top of the structure.
- Faces, parameters or slopes The two vertical constructions that are in contact with the water and determine the space of the dam.
- Gates Those in charge of regulating the flow of water that passes through the dam.
- Stirrups The structures that delimit the sides of the wall or dam.
- Dump The part that eliminates excess water when the dam is full.
- Thomas The structures that obtain water from the dam, which will later have different uses.
Types of dams
Dams can be classified according to different criteria. Some of them are:
- According to its use:
- Retention dams. These constructions allow the passage of water and their objective is to contain solid materials that are transported by torrents.
- Storage dams. They are used to store water that is later used for irrigation, electricity generation, human or industrial consumption. They are also constructions that are made to form artificial lagoons for recreational purposes.
- Diversion dams They are used to raise the water level and thus divert it.
- Flood control dams. They are designed to laminate the flow of torrential avenues and prevent the river from overflowing in strong storms and ruining the land that surrounds it.
- Tailings dams They are designed for the retention of loose solids or liquids discarded by mining exploitation. These remains are stored in glasses to later be decanted.
- According to its composition:
- Heterogeneous They are built with different materials.
- Homogeneous They are built from a single material: loam, clay or sandy clay.
- According to the way they were built:
- Sedimentation They are the result of natural sedimentation after the material has been thrown into the desired space. In this case, compaction is achieved naturally.
- Mechanical compaction These constructions have an embankment whose height is obtained after compacting different layers with mechanical equipment.
- According to the structure:
- Gravity dam They are highly resistant floor constructions since their weight must resist the push of water. They require little maintenance and last a long time. They are characterized by being inclined upwards, so the weight of the water on the construction increases its stability.
- Arch or vault dam They are modern constructions and require little concrete. The very design of the construction resists the push of water, which is concentrated on its resistant slopes.
- According to the base on which they are built:
- On waterproof mantle
- On a permeable layer
Examples of dams
Some of the best-known dams in the world are:
- Itaipu Dam It is located between Paraguay and Brazil, on the Paraná River. Its construction began in the 1970s.
- Three Gorges Dam. It is located in China, on the Yangtze River and construction began in 1994.
- Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam Located in Russia, it is located on the Yenisei River in Sayanogorsk (Khakasia) and began construction in 1963.
- Xiangjiaba Dam Also located in China, this dam is on the Jinsha River and construction began in 2004.
- Guri Dam Located in Venezuela, on the Caroni River, this dam began construction in 1986.
- Krasnoyarsk Dam It is located in Russia and is the eighth largest hydroelectric dam in the world. It began to be built in 1956, on the banks of the Yenisei River.
- Grand Coulee Dam. It began to be built in the United States in 1933, on the Columbia River.
- Tucuruí Dam It was built in 1975, on the Tocantins River, in Brazil.
- Xiluodu Dam It is located in China, on the Jinsha River and is one of the three largest in the world. Construction began in 2005.
- Longtan Dam It is located on the Hongshui River, in Tian'e (China) and construction began in 2007.
Continue with: Renewable energies
References
- “What is a dam?” at ConsultaLasCruces.wordpress.com
- “Dam” Mendoza.conicet.gov.ar
- «The 5 largest hydroelectric plants in the world» in Engineering Blog,