Foz do Chapecó Plant



Credit: AC Júnior


Located on the Uruguay River, between the cities of Águas de Chapecó (SC) and Alpestre (RS), the Foz do Chapecó Plant has four generator units and installed capacity of 855 MW, which corresponds to 25% of all energy consumption in the state of Santa Catarina or 18% of consumption in Rio Grande do Sul. The power it produces is capable of supplying more than 5 million households.

The plant was deployed by the Chapecó Energia S.A. (FCE) Specific Purpose Company, owned by Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz (51%), FURNAS (40%) and the Companhia Estadual de Geração e Transmissão de Energia Elétrica (9%).

Construction work began on March 1, 2007 and lasted 42 months. The first generator unit began operating on October 14, 2010. Built in record time, for the first time in the history of the Brazilian electricity industry the company used an asphalt core to seal the dam.

Compared to clay, asphalt helps meet contract deadlines because it reduces downtime during rainy periods and can be applied soon after completion or during light precipitation.

Asphalt is also considered excellent waterproofing material. Using asphalt meant the 48-metre-high, 598-metre-long dam was built in five months.

The Foz do Chapecó Plant is a part of the federal government's Growth Acceleration Program (PAC). The project received an investment of approximately R$ 2 billion, including the budget allocated to the project’s social and environmental programs.


Technical Data


Dam

  • Type: riprap with asphalt core
  • Total Length: 548 m
  • In riprap: 548 m
  • Height: 8 meters
  • Maximum height: 48.85 m
  • Ridge height: 268 m


Reservoir

  • Watershed: 53,000 km²
  • Normal maximum level: 265 m
  • Minimum operating level: 264 m
  • Flooded area: 79.9 km2
  • Total volume: 1,502,000,000 m³
  • Usable volume: 74,000,000 m³


Water Intake

  • Gates: 4
  • Type: gravity
  • Quantity: 4
  • Length: 85.4 m
  • Inside diameter: 10 m
  • Manufacturer: Alstom/ Bardela


Spillway

  • Flow: 61,190 m³/s
  • Spans: 15
  • Type: segment gates
  • Righe length: 268 m
  • Watershed floor elevation: 244.40 m


Powerhouse

  • Type: sheltered
  • Size: 175.90 x 27.70
  • Generator units: 4
  • Installed capacity: 855 MW
  • Overhead crane: 576 ton


Turbines

  • Type: Francis
  • Manufacturer: Alstom
  • Rated capacity: 217.14 MW
  • Rotation: 90 RPM
  • Turbine flow: 1,956.4 m³/s
  • Transformers: 5
  • Type: lifts
  • Total operating capacity: 237.5 MVA
  • Transformation ratio: 13.8 / 230 Kv
  • Manufacturer: Areva


Generators

  • Frequency: 60 Hz
  • Rated voltage: 13,800 V
  • Quantity: 2
  • Transformation ratio: 94.5 %
  • Manufacturer: Siemens