Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
LHASA, May 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese engineers on Sunday successfully extracted a 38.1-meter-long concrete core sample from a dam structure of a hydroelectric power plant under construction, setting a new national standard for concrete core sampling at similar arch dams and demonstrating the country’s advanced concrete pouring and quality control capabilities in challenging high-altitude conditions.
The cylindrical sample was extracted from the structure of the Yebatan hydroelectric dam, a project located at the junction of Sichuan Province and the Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China.
The Yebatan Dam is being built on the upper reaches of the Jinsha River (the name of the Yangtze River in its upper reaches). Situated at its highest altitude of nearly 2,900 meters above sea level, the dam is one of the largest hydropower projects in the country, with a maximum dam height of 217 meters and a total installed capacity of 2.24 million kW.
The lifespan of any dam depends on how well the concrete was poured. The developer of the project reported that a massive concrete core sample, approximately the height of a 12-story building, remained intact when removed, which directly reflects the quality of the concrete pour and demonstrates that in a high-altitude region with a freezing climate, the technology of building an arch dam from concrete is at the leading level in the world. The concrete core, 245 mm in diameter, was drilled vertically through 13 sections of the arch dam, cutting through 12 horizontal joints and 80 layers of poured concrete.
The high altitude location of this project created extreme technical challenges during construction. With temperatures fluctuating from 37.1 degrees Celsius during the day to minus 23.5 degrees Celsius at night, the project team, in collaboration with scientists and experts, successfully extracted concrete core samples using intelligent construction technologies, including an AI temperature control system and a method for heat conservation and thermal insulation for pouring in winter conditions.
Construction of the main structure of the mentioned hydroelectric power station began in September 2018, and its first batch of power units should be put into operation by the end of 2025.
Once operational, the plant, a key part of China’s west-to-east power transmission program, is expected to generate about 10.2 billion kWh of electricity per year.
This will save almost 4 million tons of conventional fuel in coal equivalent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 7.4 million tons per year.