The document summarizes the Dokan Dam located in Iraq. It describes the dam's purpose of storing water for human use and preventing excess flow downstream. It then discusses the dam's characteristics such as its arch structure, 360m length, 116.5m height, and 6.8 cubic km normal reservoir capacity. The dam provides hydroelectric power and includes components like turbines, spillways, and outlet works. While bringing benefits, the dam has significantly impacted the environment through changes to river flow and sedimentation. The dam requires ongoing maintenance and safety protocols to protect both the structure and surrounding area.
The document summarizes the Dokan Dam located in Iraq. It describes the dam's purpose of storing water for human use and preventing excess flow downstream. It then discusses the dam's characteristics such as its arch structure, 360m length, 116.5m height, and 6.8 cubic km normal reservoir capacity. The dam provides hydroelectric power and includes components like turbines, spillways, and outlet works. While bringing benefits, the dam has significantly impacted the environment through changes to river flow and sedimentation. The dam requires ongoing maintenance and safety protocols to protect both the structure and surrounding area.
The document summarizes the Dokan Dam located in Iraq. It describes the dam's purpose of storing water for human use and preventing excess flow downstream. It then discusses the dam's characteristics such as its arch structure, 360m length, 116.5m height, and 6.8 cubic km normal reservoir capacity. The dam provides hydroelectric power and includes components like turbines, spillways, and outlet works. While bringing benefits, the dam has significantly impacted the environment through changes to river flow and sedimentation. The dam requires ongoing maintenance and safety protocols to protect both the structure and surrounding area.
The document summarizes the Dokan Dam located in Iraq. It describes the dam's purpose of storing water for human use and preventing excess flow downstream. It then discusses the dam's characteristics such as its arch structure, 360m length, 116.5m height, and 6.8 cubic km normal reservoir capacity. The dam provides hydroelectric power and includes components like turbines, spillways, and outlet works. While bringing benefits, the dam has significantly impacted the environment through changes to river flow and sedimentation. The dam requires ongoing maintenance and safety protocols to protect both the structure and surrounding area.
Dams are structures which can limit the flow of water in rivers, so as to create a reservoir, which saves the water in a lake form for humans to use and prevent excess water from flowing into other regions. There are many reasons for constructing a dam, to name a few:
● Water is an important material for humans and environment and having clean water from a river saved in a lake is a very convenient thing for the population. ● Dams can be used to create hydroelectric power, that can benefit the population as a source of clean and renewable energy. ● Dams can help regulate the flow of water downstream, this is very useful for areas downstream which are prone and vulnerable to floods. ● Dams can change the geography of a region by creating lakes which are great places to allow for other industries to flourish, such as recreational and fishing industries, which in turn benefit the region as a whole.
HISTORY OF DOKAN DAM
Dokan dam began construction in 1954. The construction was carried by a British company by the name of Binnie & Partners. The dam was to be built for multi-purpose reasons, mainly for water storage, irrigation and hydroelectricity generation. The dam impounds the Little Zab river, thereby creating lake Dokan.
The dam finished construction in 1959 and the power generation station was operational in 1979.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DAM
Dokan dam is a concrete arch type dam built on the Little Zab and creates lake Dokan. The dam is 360 metres long and 116.5 metres high. At its base it is 32.5 metres wide, tapering off to 6.2 metres at the top.
At normal operation, the capacity of the reservoir is 6.8 cubic kilometres while its maximum capacity is 8.3 cubic kilometres. The combined maximum discharge of the dam is 4,300 cubic metres per second, divided over a spillway tunnel with three radial gates having a combined maximum discharge of 2,440 cubic metres per second, and an emergency bellmouth spillway with a capacity of 1,860 cubic metres per second. Two irrigation outlets with a combined discharge of 220 cubic metres per second. its hydroelectric power station has a maximum capacity of 400 MW.
COMPONANTS OF THE DAM
1. Arch Dam
The structure that stops the water and creates the lake.
2. Bell Mouth Emergency Spillway
This is the structure that send water downstream in case of the capacity of water reaching its maximum capacity that the lake can handle
1 3. Electricity Generation Turbines
Power Machines was selected as the turbine supplier for the hydro power project. There are 5 units of francis turbines, each with 81.7MW nameplate capacity.
4. Intake Tower
The intake tower is a large structure that houses the gates and valves used to control the flow of water into the turbines. It is located at the base of the dam and extends down into the reservoir.
5. Powerhouse
The powerhouse is the building where the electricity generated by the turbines is converted into a form that can be transmitted to the power grid. At Dokan Dam, the powerhouse is located at the base of the dam and houses the six turbines.
6. Spillway Gates
The spillway gates are large metal gates that are used to control the flow of water over the dam. They can be opened or closed depending on the level of water in the reservoir.
7. Outlet Works
The outlet works are a series of pipes and valves that allow water to be released from the reservoir for irrigation and other purposes. They are located near the
2 base of the dam.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE DAM
One of the most noticeable impacts of the Dukan Dam has been the alteration of the river's natural flow. The dam has disrupted the natural cycle of the river, causing fluctuations in the water levels and altering the ecosystem that relies on the river. This has led to changes in the water quality, sedimentation patterns, and the distribution of fish species.
The construction of the dam has also caused changes in the surrounding landscape. The dam and its reservoir have flooded large areas of land, including agricultural land and forests. This has led to the loss of habitats for various plant and animal species, as well as the displacement of local communities.
Another significant impact of the Dukan Dam on the environment has been the alteration of the river's sediment load. The dam has trapped sediment that would normally flow downstream, which has led to downstream erosion and the loss of habitats for aquatic species. It has also affected the river's natural floodplain, which has important ecological functions, such as nutrient cycling and flood control.
In conclusion, while the Dukan Dam has brought many benefits to the region, it has also caused significant environmental changes. The alteration of the river's natural flow, the loss of habitats, and the alteration of the sediment load are just a few of the impacts that have been observed. It is essential to continue to monitor these impacts and mitigate them as much as possible to ensure the long-term sustainability of the surrounding ecosystem.
MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY
Maintenance
● Regular Inspections: The dam is regularly inspected to ensure that it is
structurally sound and operating correctly. Inspection reports are used to identify any issues that require attention, and appropriate measures are taken to address these issues.
3 ● Maintenance of Equipment: The turbines, gates, and other components of the dam are subject to regular maintenance to ensure that they are in good working order. This maintenance is carried out by trained professionals using specialized equipment.
● Emergency Preparedness: The dam is subject to emergency preparedness
measures to ensure that any issues can be addressed quickly and effectively. These measures include the maintenance of emergency response equipment and the training of personnel in emergency procedures.
Safety
● Monitoring Systems: The dam is equipped with a range of monitoring systems to
ensure that any issues can be identified and addressed quickly. These systems include sensors that monitor the water level, the stability of the dam structure, and the flow of water through the turbines.
● Safety Protocols: The dam has established safety protocols that are designed to protect both the dam and the surrounding area. These protocols include procedures for shutting down the turbines in the event of an emergency and evacuating the surrounding area if necessary.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the Dukan Dam is a significant landmark and source of pride for the people of Suleimaniyah and Iraq as a whole. Built in the 1950s, the dam has served as a crucial source of hydroelectric power and irrigation for the region, providing clean energy and water for agriculture, industry, and domestic use. The construction of the dam was a massive engineering feat, involving the relocation of thousands of people and the construction of a massive concrete structure across the Little Zab River. Despite its age, the Dukan Dam remains an important contributor to the economic and social well-being of the region, and its continued maintenance and development will be essential for the continued prosperity of the area. Overall, the Dukan Dam is a testament
4 to the power of human ingenuity and collaboration in the pursuit of sustainable development and the betterment of society.
REFERENCES
1. "Dukan Dam Reservoir Bed Sediment, Kurdistan Region, Iraq" By Rebwar Hassan, Nadhir Al-Ansari, Salahalddin S. Ali, Ammar A. Ali, Twana Abdullah, Sven Knutsson
