General

Some Key Facts About Akosombo Dam

The Akosombo Dam, also known as the Volta Dam, is a hydroelectric dam on the Volta River in southern Ghana’s Akosombo valley that is operated by the Volta River Authority.

The dam’s construction inundated a portion of the Volta River Basin, resulting in the formation of Lake Volta.

Some Key Facts About Akosombo Dam

Here are some key facts and stats about the Akosombo Dam:

• Location: Akosombo, Ghana

• Construction: 1961 – 1965

• Type of Dam: Rock fill Embankment Dam

• Height: 114 m (374 ft)

• Length of main Dam at crest: 660m (2,165.33ft)

• Length of Saddle Dam: 355m (1, 164.68ft)

• Reservoir: Storage Reservoir

• Water Course: Volta River

• Area of Lake: 8,502 sq. km

• Capacity of Lake: 148 x 10^12 litres

• Shoreline: 7,250 km

• Length of Lake: 400 km

• Net Generation: 6,502,784,456 kwh

• Hydraulic Height: 68.8 metres (226 ft.)

• Spillway Capacity at Elevation Drainage Area: 34,000 m3/s (1,200,000 cu ft/s)

• Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) (Inflow): 32,042 m3/s

• Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) (Outflow): 23,010 m3/s

• Maximum Operating Level: 84.73m (278ft)

• Minimum Operating Level: 73.15m (240ft)

• Maximum Water Level ever recorded: 84.59m (277.54ft) on 8th November, 2010

• Minimum Water Level ever recorded: 71.62m (234.96ft) on 21st July, 2007

• Maximum Annual Inflow ever recorded: 62.09 MAF in 1968

• Minimum Annual Inflow ever recorded: 6.20 MAF in 1983

• Turbine: Francis, Vertical shaft

• Manufacturer: VA Tech, Voest Alpine, Austria

• Unit output: 173.1MW (222000hp) (Retrotted Units)

• Head (Max): 68.88m (226ft)

• Synchronous speed: 115.4 Rev/Min

• Generator Rating: 179.5MVA at 14.4KV, 0.95PF

• Manufacturer: General Electric, Canada

• Exciter Type: Static (SILCO-5)

• Manufacturer: General Electric, Canada

• Unit Transformer Type: Outdoor 3phase

• Rating: 200/MVA, 14.4/161KV

• Cooling: OFAF

• Manufacturer: Areva, Turkey

• Governor Type: Digital/Hydraulic

• Manufacturer: Andritz Hydro, Austria

• Penstock Type: Steel, one per unit

• Diameter: 7.2m (24ft)

• Total Cost of Project: $196,000,000

Financial Assistance: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, UK Government, Export & Import (Exim) Bank, US Aid, Ghana Government.

The Akosombo Dam was built primarily to supply energy to the aluminum industry. Although the Adjarala Dam (on Togo’s Mono River) aims to lessen these nations’ dependency on imported power, it is crucial for providing the bulk of Togo and Benin’s electricity.

The Akosombo Dam’s high electric power-generating capacity (912 megawatts) serves Ghana’s demands while also providing a surplus for sale to neighboring nations. The dam provides power to a huge, economically significant aluminum smelter in the seaside town of Tema.

Lake Volta is the world’s largest man-made lake in terms of surface area. It encompasses 8,502 square kilometers (3,283 square miles), or 3.6% of Ghana’s total land area. Lake Volta, with a capacity of 148 cubic kilometers, is the world’s third-largest man-made lake by volume, behind Lake Kariba, which has a volume of 185 cubic kilometers.

The addition of lake transportation, greater fishing, new farming operations along the coastline, and tourism were all benefits of the Akosombo Dam.

Akosua Boatemaa

I'm Yours Truly, Blogger Akosua Boatemaa. I'm here to feed Your eyes and Ears with Authentic News Updates.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button

Adblock Detected

Please turn off your Ads Blocker to better serve you and provide you with the best.