The Yangtze River is the largest river in China, flowing over 6,300 km through 11 Chinese provinces and municipalities. With a drainage area of 1.8 million square kilometers, it is the third largest river by water volume in the world. The Yangtze River valley is one of China's most developed and prosperous regions due to its fertile land and natural resources. The Three Gorges Dam, built along the Yangtze River, has had a significant impact on China's economic and social development through flood control and hydropower generation.

4. The Yangtze rises in the Quinghai-Tibet plateau and flows across China`s 11provinces, municipalities directly
under theCentral Government and Autunomous Regions such as Quinghai,Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei,
Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai. With a total length of 6300 km, a drainage area of 1,8 x 10 km²
and a yearly volume of 976 x 10 m³ pouring into the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest River of China and ranks third
of the World. The drainage area is one of Chinas most developed and prosperous areas, the land there is fertile
and abundant in natural resources. The harnessing and exploitation of the Yangtze has a great impact on the
development of the Chinese economy and its society.
9
6

8. The Qutang Gorge rises from Baidi City, ends in Daxi Town from the west to the east
and meanders over 8 km. The steep and towering hills in the Gorge embodied the
magnificence of “controlling thousends of ravines in the west, overwhelming
rolling hills while adjoining Hubei and Hunan provinces in the east”.

9. The Wu Gorge rises from the estuary of Daning River in Wushan County, Chongqing,
ends in Guandukou, Badong County, Hubei Province and meanders over 45 km. The
Wu Gorge features beautiful hill peaks and cliffs range upon range and is known for its
deepness, serenity and beauty.

10. The Xiling Gorge rises from Xiangxikou, Zigui County, Hubei Province, ends in Nanjinguan,
Yichang City and meanders over 76 km. There were serried reefs, surging swirls and the Gorge
was known for rapids and dangerous shoals.

12. CONSTRUCTION OF THE THREE GORGES DAM

16. The TGP under construction (1997)

17. The TGP under construction (1998)

18. The TGP under construction (1999)

19. The TGP under construction (2000)

20. The TGP under construction (2001)

21. The TGP under construction (2002)

22. The TGP under construction (2003)

23. THREE GORGES DAM SITE AREA

24. Probably the biggest site project for the world largest Power Station.

25. “The wall”, total length of 2310 m, 185 m high and 190 m wide.
27 Mio. m³ concrete used. Coast about 25 milliard USD. Project
time of 75 years, construction time of 15 years (1994 – 2009).

26. ELEVATIONS AND WATER LEVELS
68.8121.2
40.0
OHL
27.0
57.0
185.0
62.0
82.0
FCL
175.0
145.0
NPL

27. Water filling before demolation
of coffer dam.
Turbine outlet basin under construction.

28. View from down stream, left bank side.

29. Construction
works between
power house
and dam.

30. Penstocks with a
diameter of 12.4 m.

32. Spill way and left bank hydro power plant.

33. The right bank coffer dam (upstream) is 580 m long, top elevation 140 m, providing the
necessary condition for the timely initial reservoir impoundment, power generation of
first commissioned units and navigation through the double-lane shiplock.

34. The upstream coffer dam will not be removed after
finishing of “right bank”. The Units can operate
only with high water level.

35. Upside dam: the flooded areas have a length of 660 km and reach a surface of 1100 km²,
total water volume of 39.3 milliard m³. The waterflow of the river is 16`000 m³ / s (average).

36. THE DOUBLE-LANE FIVE-STEP SHIP LOCK

37. Ship lock under construction
Technical datas:
Type: double lane
Steps: 5
Step dimension: 280 x 34 x 5 m
Total length: 1500 m
Max. capacity: 10 000 t Ships

38. The largest “Gate”
in the world.

39. The Ship Lock in operation.

40. THE LEFT BANK
POWER HOUSE

41. The building with the GIS (gas
insulated switch yard) and the
Transformers. View from dam down
to the backside of the Power House.

42. The gas (SF6) insulated switch yard ”GIS”.

43. Power
transmission
from
20 kV up to
500 kV.

44. Construction of left bank power
house. The “Draft Tube, the Draft
Tube Cone and Spiral Case” of
turbines are erected first.

45. View inside
Left Bank
Power House:
14 Turbine
Generators with
700 MW each.

46. 6 VGS UNITS
Technical datas:
S n = 777.8 MVA
S max = 840 MVA
Stator:
U n = 20 kV
U p = 43 kV
I n = 22 453 A
Slot No. = 510
Bore ∅ = 18.5 m
Core height = 3.13 m
Rotor:
Pole No. = 80
N = 75 1/min
N max = 149.5 1/min
Weight = 1350 t

47. VGS-Unit: stator complete,
lower bracket placed.

48. ALSTOM UNIT
8 ALSTOM UNITS
Technical datas:
S n = 777.8 MVA
S max = 840 MVA
Stator:
U n = 20 kV
U p = 43 kV
I n = 22 453 A
Slot No. = 540
Bore ∅ = 18.8 m
Core height = 2.95 m
Rotor:
Pole No. = 80
N = 75 1/min
N max = 151 1/min
Weight = 2554 t

49. Turbine datas:
Type francis turbine
Runner: Weight: 455 tons Diameter: 9.25 / 10,43 m
No. of blades: 15 Height of blade: 4.67 m
Spiral case: Inlet diameter: 12 m Rated water flow: 966 m³/s

50. Spiral case prior
to concrete filling.

51. 455 tons Turbine Runner lowering into pit.

52. Stator frame and core with a total
weight of about 700 tons, liftet off
“Erection Bay” and transported
to its final destination: into Pit.

53. Stator frame on lifting device.

54. Assembly and adjustment of
rotor spider and segments.

55. Rotor body ready for welding.

56. Masterpiece: Lower
bracket complete.

57. Thrust Bearing
24 thrust pads on spindle
supports. Every pad is provided
with a “load segment” able to
adjust on ± 0.01 mm to
guarantee an optimal weight
distribution and regular pad
temperatures.
The complete thrust bearing will
take up an axial load from 5520
tons during operation of the Unit

58. Stator winding; overhang NDE.

59. Hi-tech: pure water cooled two shift
wave winding (five groups parallel),
installed with “round packing” and
“ripple spring” slot wedges. Stator bars
with “micadur ®” insulation, stainless
steel hollow conductors and PTFE
hoses. Splitted neutral point.

60. One of the three main terminals, output 20 kV and 7484 A.

61. Generator rotor (1970 tons) on lifting device.
The two cranes used for the transport of the
rotor have a capacity to lift 1500 tons each.

62. Generator rotor ready
to transport to the pit.

63. Lowering rotor
into the stator.

64. A difficult action: lowering the rotor into stator,
by an air gap of only 35 mm and set down
carefully onto thrust block in lower bracket.

65. Lowering generator rotor.

66. TYPE TEST
After completion of the first four Alstom Units with GMEC, a “Performance Test” were made on
Unit No 10, to guarantee the efficiency of the Turbine -Generator acoording to the contract.
For the “Type Test” of the Unit with this size, a tremendous expenditure were necessary for the
exact location of all losses, especially with all auxiliary systems.
Measure points and Equipment:
PT-100: Surfaces and environment 112 pc.
Cooling water 12 pc.
Pure water 4 pc.
Pressure transmitter: Flow measurement 4 pc.
Shunt 0.0266843 mΩ (80kg): Sudden short circuit 3 pc.
Interface boxes: PT-100 / pressure transmitter 24 pc.
Used cables: Connections 3200 m
Guaranteed Efficiencies according to the contract
Guaranteed rated efficiency: 98.77%
Reached rated efficiency: 98.80%
Guaranteed efficiency at max. capacity: 98.76%
Reached efficiency at max. capacity: 98.79%
Guaranteed weigthed average efficiency: 98.76%
Reached weigthed average efficiency: 98.79%

67. Layout of the temperature measurement and surfaces for the efficiency test
A 5
A 1
1 m
A 4
A
3.2
MP 39-42
MP 43-46
MP 109-112
MP 105-108
MP 13-24
MP 1-12
MP 103 / 104
MP 101 / 102
A 3.1
MP 28-30
A 2 A 6.1
MP 49 / 50
MP 47 / 48
A 7
(A 7.1 / 7.2)
MP 135-142
MP 143-150
MP 119-126
MP 127-134
A 6.2
MP 31-34
MP 35-38
MP 25-27
Issued: Ralph Studer HPES
Approved: Markus Regli CSXC4
Doc. No: 1AHX 447833
Page 20 / 24THREE GORGES TYPE TEST Generator No: 10 / Pit 10

68. Setting PT-100 for temperature
measurement on pit-cover
surfaces for the efficiency test.

69. Equalization of PT-100
in pairs for the
measurement of the
cooling water
temperatures.

70. PT-100 in cooling water circuit of lower
bearing bracket to determine losses.
PT-100 in cooling water circuit
of stator coolers to determine losses.

71. Sudden short circuit test by 55 %:
Three shunts were placed and
connected on bracking switch of
generator.
Typical resistance 0.0266843 mΩ
During the test, the magnetic field
was so strong to lift even the 80kg
heavy shunts (20 cm).

72. Voltage measurement
during short circuit test
between the phases.
8 times 240 mm² were
connected between main
terminal and star point.
Braking Circuit breaker
External supply
C
B
CT 30000 / 1A
Generator
Rotor
Shunt 10000 A / 150 mV
IA
If
IC IB
A

73. Differential pressure
transmitter installed for
main cooling water, pure
water system and lower
bearing coolers.

74. Left Bank Power House: 14 Turbine Generator Units with 700 MW (total 9800 MW)
Right Bank Power House: 12 Turbine Generator Units with 700 MW (total 8400 MW)
Underground Power House: 6 Turbine Generator Units with 700 MW (total 4200 MW)
(additional two House Turbine Generators for domestic requirements)
Total 32 Turbine Generator Units, maximum output of 22`400 MW.
Most possible energy production per year (theoretical) of 196`224 GWh.
In 2009 the whole “Three Gorges Hydro Power Station” will be in fully operation:

75. On top of the dam, elevation 185 m.

76. View on the upstream water intakes of left bank power station.

77. Spill ways:
in the middle part of
the dam are placed
24 ground-, middle-
and upper spillways.

79. CENTRAL CONTROLE
ROOM OF POWER STATION

80. CASCADE DISPATCH CENTER

81. Hydro Ltd.