Overview

The Seimare Dam, also known as Hini Mini or spelled Seymareh, is an arch dam located on the Seimare River in Badreh County, Ilam Province, Iran. The facility serves primarily as a hydroelectric power station, utilizing water as its primary energy source. The power plant is situated downstream from the dam structure and features an installed capacity of 480 MW. This capacity is generated by three 160 MW Francis turbine-generators housed within the downstream power plant building. The dam is currently operational, with its first generator becoming operational in 2013.

Construction of the Seimare Dam followed a multi-phase development timeline. Studies for the project were carried out in the mid to late 1970s, establishing the initial engineering and hydrological assessments for the site. Construction began on the diversion works in 1997, marking the start of significant on-site engineering activity. Concrete placement for the arch dam structure commenced in 2006. On 19 May 2011, the dam began to impound the Seimare River, initiating the filling of the reservoir. The first generator became operational in 2013, marking the beginning of power generation for the region.

History and Construction Timeline

Planning for the Seimare Dam, also referred to as Hini Mini or Seymareh, commenced several decades before its physical realization. Initial studies for the hydroelectric project were carried out during the mid to late 1970s, establishing the technical and geographical foundations for the structure on the Seimare River in Badreh County, Ilam Province, Iran. Despite these early investigations, the project entered a period of relative dormancy before active construction phases began nearly two decades later.

Construction Phases

Active construction on the diversion works officially began in 1997. This initial phase involved preparing the riverbed and establishing the necessary infrastructure to manage water flow during the main dam's erection. Following the completion of the diversion works, the project moved into the concrete placement stage in 2006. This marked the beginning of the main arch dam structure's rise, a critical period for the structural integrity of the facility.

Impoundment and Commissioning

This milestone allowed for the gradual filling of the basin and the testing of the downstream power plant infrastructure. The power plant, located downstream from the arch dam, houses three Francis turbine-generators, each with a capacity of 160 MW, contributing to the total installed capacity of 480 MW.

The first generator became operational in 2013, marking the official commissioning of the facility. This date signifies the start of the dam's primary purpose: hydroelectric power generation for the region. The timeline from the initial studies in the 1970s to the operational status in 2013 reflects a prolonged development process, characteristic of major hydroelectric infrastructure projects in the region.

What are the technical specifications of Seimare Dam?

Seimare Dam is an arch dam located on the Seimare River in Badreh County, Ilam Province, Iran. The structure is primarily designed for hydroelectric power generation, with studies for the project conducted in the mid to late 1970s. Construction of the diversion works commenced in 1997, followed by the start of concrete placement in 2006. The dam began to impound the river on 19 May 2011, and the power plant’s first generator became operational in 2013. The hydroelectric power plant is situated downstream from the dam and houses three 160 MW Francis turbine-generators, providing a total installed capacity of 480 MW. The dam is also known as Hini Mini or spelled Seymareh. The provided grounding sources do not specify the exact dimensions of the dam, including its height, crest length, width, or concrete volume. Therefore, a detailed table of dimensions cannot be constructed without introducing unverified data. The structural type is confirmed as an arch dam.
Parameter Value
Structural Type Arch dam
Height [?]
Crest Length [?]
Width [?]
Concrete Volume [?]
The lack of specific dimensional data in the cited sources limits the technical profile to the confirmed structural type and power generation capacity. The dam's role in the regional energy infrastructure is defined by its 480 MW output, achieved through the three Francis turbines installed downstream. The project's timeline, from initial studies in the 1970s to the operational status in 2013, reflects a multi-decade development process.

Hydroelectric Power Station Details

The Seimare Dam project includes a dedicated hydroelectric power station situated downstream from the main arch dam structure on the Seimare River. This facility serves as the primary mechanism for converting the potential energy of the impounded water into electrical power, fulfilling the dam's principal design objective of hydroelectric generation within Ilam Province, Iran.

Turbine Configuration and Technology

The power plant is equipped with three identical turbine-generator sets. Each unit utilizes a Francis turbine, a type of reaction turbine widely used in hydroelectric applications for its efficiency across a range of heads and flow rates. The specific configuration at Seimare involves three 160 MW Francis turbine-generators, which are housed within the downstream power house. This technology choice allows the plant to effectively manage the water flow regulated by the upstream arch dam, which began impounding the river on 19 May 2011.

Installed Capacity and Operational Status

The combined installed capacity of the three turbine units totals 480 MW. This aggregate figure represents the plant's maximum power output potential under optimal operating conditions. The facility achieved initial operational status when its first generator became active in 2013, marking a key milestone in the project's timeline following years of construction that included diversion works starting in 1997 and concrete placement beginning in 2006. The plant remains operational, contributing to the regional energy infrastructure of Badreh County and the broader Ilam Province grid. The operator of the facility is not explicitly specified in the primary cited sources, though the plant functions as a key component of Iran's hydroelectric network.

How does the spillway system work?

The provided ground truth snippets for Seimare Dam do not contain specific technical details regarding the spillway system, including gate types, auxiliary structures, or precise discharge capacities. The available information confirms that the dam is an arch dam on the Seimare River in Badreh County, Ilam Province, Iran, with concrete placement beginning in 2006 and river impoundment starting on 19 May 2011. However, the textual extract does not elaborate on the hydraulic design of the spillways required to manage the reservoir's water levels.

. The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, housing three 160 MW Francis turbine-generators with a total installed capacity of 480 MW. While the power plant is located downstream, the specific infrastructure for water release during peak flow or emergency conditions is not described in the cited sources. The construction timeline indicates that diversion works began in 1997, which typically involves temporary spillway structures, but the permanent spillway configuration is not specified.

General principles of arch dam spillways suggest the presence of gated or ungated outlets to regulate flow into the downstream river channel. However, without verifiable data from the ground truth, assuming specific gate types (such as radial or vertical-lift gates) or discharge rates would constitute an invention of facts. The studies for the dam were carried out in the mid to late 1970s, implying a design period that likely considered the hydrological characteristics of the Seimare River, but the resulting spillway specifications remain unlisted in the provided text.

The first generator became operational in 2013, marking the initial phase of the hydroelectric output. The dam began to impound the river in 2011, a critical phase where spillway performance is essential for managing the initial water levels. Despite the operational status of the dam and its significant capacity, the specific engineering details of the spillway system are not available in the current grounding materials. Therefore, a detailed explanation of the main and auxiliary spillways, gate types, and discharge capacities cannot be accurately constructed from the provided sources.

Why it matters

The Seimare Dam represents a critical node in the hydroelectric infrastructure of Ilam Province, Iran. As an arch dam situated on the Seimare River in Badreh County, the facility serves as a primary source of renewable energy for the region. The project’s development timeline underscores its long-term strategic importance; initial studies were conducted in the mid to late 1970s, with construction of diversion works commencing in 1997. Concrete placement began in 2006, and the dam started impounding the river on 19 May 2011, marking a significant milestone in the region’s water management and energy generation capabilities.

Regional Energy Contribution

The operational significance of the Seimare Dam lies in its substantial power generation capacity. The first generator became operational in 2013, initiating the plant’s contribution to the national and regional grid. This capacity provides a reliable baseline of hydroelectric power, reducing dependence on thermal generation and enhancing energy security in western Iran. The use of Francis turbines, a widely adopted technology for medium-head hydroelectric projects, ensures efficient energy conversion from the Seimare River’s flow.

Infrastructure and Development Impact

Beyond electricity generation, the Seimare Dam plays a vital role in regional water resource management. By impounding the Seimare River, the dam regulates water flow, supporting downstream agricultural activities and potentially aiding in flood control. The construction phase, spanning from the late 1990s through the early 2010s, involved significant engineering efforts, including the creation of diversion works and large-scale concrete placement. These infrastructure developments have had lasting effects on the local economy and landscape of Badreh County. The dam’s operational status as of 2013 continues to provide stable energy output, reinforcing Ilam Province’s position within Iran’s broader hydroelectric network. The project exemplifies the integration of water management and power generation in Iran’s energy strategy.

See also