Relief Wall Structure for Main Dam Pressure Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for renovating or replacing dams are complex and expensive, requiring the shutdown of power plants and causing significant operational losses due to the need to empty reservoirs, which also create water management issues.
Innovation Solution
A relief wall is built downstream of the main dam with a lower height, creating a relief reservoir that reduces hydrostatic pressure forces on the main dam by counteracting with its own water pressure, allowing the dam to be relieved without emptying the reservoir.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complete renovation or replacement of the main dam is performed, then the reliability and safety of the dam structure is improved, but the device complexity and construction cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The dam structure is segmented into the main dam and a separate relief wall. The relief wall is constructed downstream of the main dam to create a relief lake, allowing pressure relief without requiring complete renovation of the main dam structure. This segmentation enables targeted reinforcement while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Reliability
If complete renovation of the main dam is performed, then the dam structure reliability is improved, but the loss of time and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The relief wall is constructed as a preliminary measure to relieve hydrostatic pressure on the main dam before any renovation work is required. This preliminary action maintains dam safety and allows the power plant to continue operating without shutdown during the relief construction phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief lake created by the relief wall continuously counteracts hydrostatic pressure on the main dam, providing ongoing pressure relief without interrupting the power plant's electricity generation. The useful action of energy production continues uninterrupted while the dam structure is relieved.
3Reliability
If complete renovation of the main dam is performed, then the dam structure reliability is improved, but the loss of energy and operational losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The relief wall and relief lake system enables continuous electricity generation by maintaining dam safety without requiring power plant shutdown. The hydrostatic pressure relief is achieved while the turbine continues to operate, preventing energy production losses.
4Stress or pressure
If the main dam height is reduced to relieve pressure, then the hydrostatic pressure force on the main dam is reduced, but the reservoir capacity and water management capability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reducing the main dam height vertically, the solution introduces a new spatial dimension by constructing a relief wall downstream at a lower elevation. This creates a relief lake in the space between the main dam and relief wall, relieving pressure on the main dam while preserving the full reservoir capacity above the main dam crest.
Solution Approach 2:
The water storage function is segmented between the main reservoir (above main dam) and the relief lake (between main dam and relief wall). The main reservoir maintains full capacity for water management, while the relief lake provides pressure relief without compromising the primary storage function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively reduces the pressure on the main dam by up to 50%, extends its lifespan, and reduces construction costs and time, while enabling continued electricity production and avoiding reservoir emptying.
Implementation Method 1
A relief lake is then formed between the relief wall and the main dam. The relief lake is preferably designed in such a way that the level of the water in the relief lake is within a height between the low point of the main dam wall on the reservoir side and the level of the water in the reservoir. While the water in the reservoir exerts a pressure against the main dam, this pressure is at least partially compensated by a counter-pressure in the discharge lake, so that the main dam is subjected to a lower resultant pressure.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
In a method for relieving the pressure on a main dam (1) of a dam assembly (13), wherein the dam assembly (13) comprises a main dam (1) for impounding a reservoir, a relief wall (5) is constructed downstream of the main dam (1), which has a lower height than the main dam (1), wherein a relief lake (6) is formed between the main dam (1) and the relief wall (5) such that the resulting hydrostatic pressure forces on the main dam (1) are reduced.