Rudbar Lorestan

In this section the project is introduced in form of following items:

• Targets
• History and background
• Location and general layout
• River specifications
• Specifications of catchmnet area
• Features
• Intro

Targets

The main objectives of the Project can be summarized as follows:
 

• Hydro power generation using an installed capacity of 986 GWh/year (2*225 MW units)for reduction of green house gas emission (CO2)about 626.110 ton per year in the guide line of clean development mechanism.
• Reducing depreciation expenses of the thermal power plants
• Job creating in region during project construction and operation period.
• Creating entertainment and tourism surroundings for holidaymakers.

History and background

Pre-reconnaissance and reconnaissance studies were accomplished by Mahab Ghods Consulting Engineers for hydropower generation of Dez River Basin before 1994. Feasibility studies of Rudbar Lorestan Dam and HPP project was left to Ghods Niroo Consulting Engineers in 1994 and detail design studies contract was signed with Association of Ghods Niroo and British Halcrow as Leader Company in 2002. Construction of access roads and tunnels and diversion tunnel started in 2003.

Location and general layout

Rudbar Lorestan Dam and Hydropower Plant Project (HPP) is located on Rudbar River (in upper East of Dez River catchment area) in Zagros Mountain, and nearly 100 kilometers distance from South of Aligoodarz City in Lorestan Province.
The morphology of Rudbar River and its U-turn waterway in the Project location is in a way that a natural elevation difference of almost 300 m is formed.

River specifications

Rudbar River is one of the main branches of east Dez (or Bakhtiari) River. Main branches of this river include Ghalyan Rivers (formed by Dareh Dozdan, Daii and Dareh Leko branches), Kakolestan River and Vahregan River. This river circles around a series of U-shape heights with the length of 38 km on its way and its name changes to Alken River. Elevation difference of about 300 m of river bed at both sides of these heights has created an exceptional condition for energy generation, Alken River receives several small branches and its name changes to Liro River and then Ab Zalaki River while changing its direction towards the south and finally it is called Bakhtiari River after merging with Sarkool River.

Specifications of catchmnet area

Area of catchment area of river up to erection site of Rudbar Lorestan dam is 2255 square meters and average yearly current of river at dam site is 30.2 cubic meters per second. Minimum monthly flow of river after upstream off takes is about 4.1 cubic meter per second and its maximum flow is about 250.5 cubic meters per second. Yearly flow of this river is 957 million cubic meters and maximum probable flood of catchment is about 3734 cubic meters per second.

Features

• Natural elevation difference of more than 300 m between dam axis and the power-house.
• Project location in Lorestan Province and in the neighborhood of three Provinces of Isfahan, Chaharmahal Bakhtiari and Khuzestan.
• Climate variety, steep topography and severe access.
• Unsullied Land with fantastic tourism attractions, like Ab- Sefid Waterfall.
• Passing the 400 KV transmission line Shahid Abbaspur–Anjirak from Project Switchyard.

In this section the project basic information is presented in form of following items:

• Topography
• Meteorology
• Hydrology
• Flood
• Water quality
• Sedimentation
• Planning the water resources
• Geology
• Seismicity
• Dam reservoir

Topography

Rudbar Lorestan Dam is situated on Rudbar River( one of the main branches of east Dez River) 100 km south of Aligoodarz city in Lorestan Province and within the territory of Zagros chain of mountains in west of Iran. This region has a highly rough and tectonic topography.

Meteorology

Existence of high mountainous bulkheads south of Rudbar catchment area has caused a topographic situation so that currents of humid air masses create a special climate for this region by clashing with high mountains and deep valleys as the result of which these masses lose their humidity with precipitations from west and south to north and precipitations at north of catchment are reduced as of height increases. Rain gage stations of Zard Fahreh and Hargan in Kazem Abad that were constructed by Ab Niroo Company in 1383 at site location are being operated. These stations are operated periodically by Regional Water Organization and the company operates Ab Niroo station since three years ago.

Hydrology

Ab Rudbar River is one of the main branches of east branch of Dez or Bakhtiari River. Main branches of this river include Ghalian river (that is formed by merger of Dareh Dozdan, Dai and Dareh Elko main branchs), Kakolestan River and Vahregan River. This river circles around a chain of U- shape heights with the length of 38 meters on its way and changes its name to Alken River. Area of catchment area up to dam location is 2255 square meters and yearly current of river at dam site is equal to 30.2 cubic meters per second.

Flood

Quantity of flood with different return periods at dam location is estimated from relation of average flood.

Water quality

Results of water quality in Rudbar axis are not available but quality of water in the closest station to axis is suitable for agricultural consumption and is classified as good for drinking purposes.

Sedimentation

Sedimentation load at location of Rudbar Dam is equal to 874785 tons per year and its special sedimentation has been estimated to be 1105.7 tons per square kilometer per year.
In connection with sedimentation issues some studies were carried out about Sediment flashing operations and manner of discharge of sediment from lower discharger but this issue was not continued due to risk of demolition of concrete and unknown matters.

Planning the water resources

Geology

Valley of dam location is a narrow valley with sharp sloppy walls made of dolomite limes of Dalan formation (Perminpecin). It seems that these limes form the carbonate section of upper Dalan formation. We witness younger formations towards the bottom of outcrop such as Grow and Serook towards upstream and inside the reservoir of formation of outcrop corridor- larger section of project scope( 100 km radius around central point) in Zagros tectonic unit and smaller section of project scope( north and northeast) are situated in Sanandaj ring.

Seismicity

Building site of Rudbar Dam and power plant is situated in Zagros folded-driven ring. The closest active and seismogenic formation is Saravand- Boznavid fault (Ghalikooh fault) that is part of main young fault of Zagros. This fault is also called Bakhtiari and Ghalikooh fault as well. The most important formation in dam site is F1 fault. This fault crosses the dam axis and has been identified by fault mirror in the axis territory, inclination of fault plate is 90 degrees and level of its displacement is 6 meters. This fault is a right slip fault.
Important faults:
1- Saravand-Boznavid (Ghalikooh) fault
2- Eslam Abad fault
3- F1 fault
Silafor earthquake (January 1909) with 7.4 Richter scale has been reported 76 km from dam site.

Dam reservoir

Rudbar Lorestan Dam and Hydropower Plant Project (HPP) is located on Rudbar River   (in upper East of Dez River catchment area) in Zagros Mountain, and nearly 100 kilometers distance from South of Aligoodarz City in Lorestan Province.

In this section the technical information of the project is presented in form of the following items:

• Dam body

1. Body specifications
2. Reservoir specifications
3. Diversion system
4. Instrumentation
5. Spillway
6. Quarries and their specifications

• Powerhouse

1. General specifications of powerhouse
2. Specification of powerhouse equipments
3. Specification of powerhouse building
4. Specification of powerhouse outlet tunnels
5. Specification of powerhouse waterways

• Technical specifications of switchyard
• Water conveyance tunnels

1. Specification of tunnels
2. Intake structure
3. Outlet structure

• Access roads and bridges
• Supplemantary operations

Body specifications

Dam Embarkment Volume

Water Tightening system

Reservoir specifications

Diversion system

Instrumentation

Instrument Supplier Company: SADAFZAR Co. Representative of SisGeo Italy
Number & Description of Instruments:
Electrical Piezometer:  83
Inclinometer and Settlement Meter: 5
Piezometer (Casa Grande): 13
Pressure Cell: 120
Accelograph: 6
Hydrostatic Settlement: 53
Extensometer: 268
Micro Geodesy point: 24

Spillway

Quarries and their specification

1-Dam Body Mixed Core Sources (GC):
Chaleh Hatam Borrow Area (B, C, D) Fine aggregate:

• Rock fill AX1 , AX2 (Course Borrow Area , Crushing Plant Output)
• ALG Borrow Area, River Sand

• Quarry AX1,AX2

Borrow Material  Specification:

• Apparent unit Weight: 2.70 gr/ cm3
• Specific unit Weight: 2.71 gr/cm3
• Porosity:  0.96%
• Water absorption:  0.36%
• Dry Compressive Strength:  73.9 MPa
• Saturated Compressive Strength: 54.4 MPa
• Compressive Weight loss : 21 %
• Soundness Weight loss : 1.05%
• Loss Angeles Abrasion: 35%

General specifications of powerhouse

Specifications of powerhouse equipments

Specifications of powerhouse building

1- General Speciation of Powerhouse

Technical specifications of post and switchyard

Specifications of tunnels

Intake structures