Farchau hydropower plant
| Farchau hydropower plant | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| location | ||
|
||
| Coordinates | 53 ° 40 '47 " N , 10 ° 45' 53" E | |
| country | Germany | |
| place | Schmilau | |
| Waters | Schaalseekanal , Küchensee | |
| power plant | ||
| operator | Hansewerk Natur | |
| Start of planning | 1909 | |
| construction time | 1923-1925 | |
| technology | ||
| Bottleneck performance | 1.6 megawatts | |
| Average height of fall |
30 m | |
| Others | ||
| Website | https://www.hansewerk-natur.com/de/technologien/projekte/wasserkraftwerk-farchau.html | |
The Farchau hydropower plant is located near Farchau on the Schaalseekanal at the southern end of the Küchensee near Ratzeburg .
It is the largest run-of-river power plant in Schleswig-Holstein . It is operated by Hansewerk Natur GmbH. Today the power plant has an output of 1.6 MW. The fall height is 30 meters.
history
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were also efforts in Schleswig-Holstein to use water power to generate electricity and thus promote industrialization . In 1909, the first planning of a hydropower plant that should use the waters of the Schaalsee area began. However, due to the cost, this project was not carried out. It was only with the defeat of the German Empire in World War I and the associated cession of territories that hydropower became interesting again compared to imported coal. In the spring of 1923 the construction of the Schaalsee Canal was decided by the district council . Construction began in the winter of the same year and the power plant was completed in 1925.
Schaalsee and Canal
The hydropower plant is fed from the water of the nearby Schaalsee . The catchment area of the Schaalsee covers around 180 km². The power plant is connected to the lake via the Schaalsee Canal and a 146-meter-long pressure pipe. The difference in altitude on this route is 30 meters. The output of the power plant results from this gradient.
In addition to generating electricity, the hydropower plant is also used to regulate the water levels in the Schaalsee. So certain highs and lows (high summer = 34.95 m above sea level , high winter = 35.15 m above sea level and year-round low = 34.7 m above sea level ) are observed.
functionality
Two Francis turbines are housed in the building of the hydropower plant . They convert the kinetic energy of the water into a rotary motion. Two three-phase synchronous generators convert this movement into electrical energy with a voltage of 11 kilovolts. It is fed directly into the surrounding grid. In Farchau, up to 1 million kilowatt hours of electricity can be generated per year. This can supply around 200 four-person households. However, electricity production depends on the weather conditions, as the water levels play an important role when the turbine is used.
See also
Web links
- Hansewerk Natur: Farchau hydropower plant