Number one in Asia and number two in the world: Tiangaping Pumped Storage Power Station, a superproject among China’s hydroelectric power stations

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Claimed to be the number one pumped storage hydroelectric power station in Asia and the second in the world. The amount of water transported each day is enough to create another West Lake; it is the world’s first pumped-storage hydroelectric power station – China’s Tianhuaping Power Station. The Tianhuaping Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Station was a key construction project in China during the Ninth Five-Year Plan period. Construction began on March 1, 1994, and it was completed by the end of December 2000, with a total investment of 7.377 billion yuan. During the construction phase, the designers made full use of the area’s unique mountainous terrain and favorable geographical location to build a pear-shaped reservoir for the Tianhuangping Pumped Storage Power Station. And it is this uniquely shaped reservoir, combined with its extremely high altitude, that makes the Tianhuangping Pumped Storage Power Station famous worldwide. The lower reservoir of the hydropower station is located in a canyon, built by damming a stream, and is called Longtan Lake by the local people. If we look down from a high vantage point, we will be amazed by its magnificent scenery. The phrases \"a deep gorge giving way to a calm lake\" and \"green mountains on either side facing each other\" are probably the best descriptions of what lies before our eyes. When we enter this hydroelectric power station, we are drawn to its simple yet grand style. Hydropower stations that are primarily built using asphalt and concrete appear to have an ancient vibe, yet they are also integrated with modern design elements. The dam reaches a height of 72 meters, with an average water depth of 42.2 meters, and its storage capacity exceeds 8.85 million cubic meters. The storage capacity of such a facility is on par with that of West Lake. The Tianhuaping pumped-storage hydroelectric power station has a total installed capacity of 1.8 million kilowatts, equipped with six 30-kilowatt vertical-axis reversible pump-generator sets. Among the similar power stations that have been built or are under construction in China, Tianhuangping Pumped Storage Power Station has the largest installed capacity and the highest head among them. It is also the first large-scale pumped storage power station in East China, and holds the title of the largest in Asia and the second largest in the world. What is most noteworthy about this hydroelectric power plant is its daily water extraction volume; it truly is a world-class superproject! It’s as if a new West Lake could be created every day! The water level at the Tianhuaping pumped-storage hydroelectric power station can change by as much as 29 meters in just one night! That’s almost equivalent to the height of ten floors! Now, some of you might be wondering: what is the principle behind pumping water to generate electricity at the Tianhuaping power station? Actually, it’s quite simple. It is the process of converting electrical energy into the potential energy of water, and then converting that potential energy of water back into electrical energy. Inside the plant of Tianhuaping Hydropower Station, there are six generating units, and these units not only serve as water pumps but also function as turbine generators for producing electricity. Some might ask, isn’t this against common sense? What is the purpose of converting electricity into the potential energy of water, and then converting that potential energy back into electricity? Isn’t that a waste of resources for no reason? Actually, that’s not the case. What happens is that when electricity demand in the power grid is low, these six units use the remaining electricity to pump water from the lower reservoirs up to the upper reservoirs for storage. During peak electricity demand, water from the reservoir is released to generate power. As we mentioned earlier, the Tianhuaping Power Station has a height difference of 600 meters, and the electricity that can be generated from such a large drop is truly enormous. The released water flow hits the turbine, driving it to generate electricity, thereby supplying a continuous supply of power to thousands of households. Having read this, friends should now understand the principle of pumped storage power stations. In fact, such power stations effectively regulate the relationship between peak and off-peak electricity consumption. At the same time, this hydropower station plays a crucial role in China’s East China power grid. Through continuous pumping in and out of water, it is equivalent to storing the amount of electricity that could be generated by the volume of water in West Lake. In this way, the significant losses caused by the start-up, shutdown, and operation of thermal power generators during periods of low electricity demand can be effectively avoided. In addition, the Tianhuaping pumped-storage hydroelectric station has also played a key role in the economic development of Anji County. In 1991, before the Tianhuaping Pumped Storage Power Station was built, Anji County was just a poor county. By 1994, during the peak period of construction at the power plant, a large number of people from outside moved into this poor county town. With the increase in population and economic development, the town underwent tremendous changes. Meanwhile, during the construction of the hydropower station, the Tianhuangping Pumped Storage Power Station Construction Company invested 50.67 million yuan in the development of local transportation and water management projects. The road that connects the upper and lower reservoirs of the power plant also goes by the affectionate name of the \"Ten-Mile Road to Prosperity,\" as it plays an important role in the economic development of the surrounding villages. Since the Tianhuaping Pumped Storage Hydropower Station was completed, the local government’s revenue has **increased**, and the local infrastructure has also seen **improvements**. What is even more noteworthy is that, thanks to the existence of the Tianhuaping Pumped Storage Hydropower Station, the surrounding area has been turned into an attractive scenic spot, and local development has reached a new level. The Tianhuaping Pumped Storage Hydropower Station is a world-renowned achievement of China in the field of infrastructure construction, and it represents a tremendous accomplishment that others are far from matching. China continues to push the limits in the field of infrastructure development, setting one world record after another. China’s strong infrastructure capabilities are the result of the joint efforts of people across the country, as well as the result of the Chinese people’s indomitable spirit and persistent struggle; they are also a clear indication of China’s strong national strength. Source: Teacher Mao Says