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Headrace system of HPP Obervermuntwerk II – Geotechnical design and experience
Author(s) -
Dich Christopher,
Barwart Christian
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geomechanics and tunnelling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.317
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 1865-7389
pISSN - 1865-7362
DOI - 10.1002/geot.201700032
Subject(s) - electric power , engineering , turbine , electrical engineering , physics , mechanical engineering , environmental science , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
Abstract The Vorarlberger Illwerke AG is constructing the 360 MW Obervermuntwerk II pumped storage power. The project area is located in the upper Montafon, Austria. The head between the elevations of the ”Silvrettaspeicher“ and ”Vermuntspeicher“ reservoirs will be exploited for production of electric energy. The Obervermuntwerk II is designed as a pumped storage plant with two highly flexible turbine/pump sets to operate the so called ”hydraulic short‐circuit“. At maximum gross head of 317 m and a maximum design discharge of Q = 150 m 3 /s, an electric power of 360 MW will be generated, which is equal to the pumping power. Upon completion, it will be the second largest pumped storage power plant of the Vorarlberger Illwerke AG. The construction of the approx. 500 million € project began in May 2014 and is expected to start operating in 2018. The paper describes the underground waterway, its geotechnical design, the implementation concept and the construction experience gained up to June 2017.