SIMPLCIO HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

ON THE PARABA DO SUL RIVER

This paper was written by a team composed by: Claudio Motta from Furnas and the following engineers from Engevix: Sergio Luiz
de Freitas Capello, Jos Bernardino Borges, Mauricio Carvalho Ortega, Roberto Borges de Moraes

Main Brazilian Dams III

SIMPLCIO HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

ON THE PARABA DO SUL RIVER
1. INTRODUCTION
The Simplcio Hydroelectric Project, owned by
FURNAS S.A., is an energy generating complex
comprising the power plants of Simplcio (05 MW) and of
Anta (28 MW), totalling 333 MW of installed power.
Construction was initiated in April 2007 and its conclusion
is scheduled for June of 2010.
This article, written in March 2008, basically describes
the project design and the first areas of construction in
progress since barely a year has passed since the job
commenced. In its final configuration the project may
suffer modifications due to the natural evolution of the
job resulting from the situations encountered during the
construction.
The Anta power plant is located in the lower middle
stretch of the Paraba do Sul River, about 3 km upstream
from the city of Anta; and the Simplcio Power Plant is
located about 9 km upstream of the city of Alm Paraba.
The enterprise also contains a long branch, composed by
tunnels and channels, embracing the municipalities of Trs
Rios and Sapucaia, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and
Chiador and Alm Paraba, in the state of Minas Gerais.
The access to the site of the project is made starting
from the city of Rio de Janeiro, initially along the BR040, until its junction with the BR-393, close to the city
of Trs Rios and about 140 km away from Rio de Janeiro.
The basin of the Paraba do Sul River is entirely
located in the Southeast Region, covering part of the
states of So Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.
The portion of the Paraba do Sul River basin that
comprises the stretch of this river between the cities of
Sapucaia and So Fidlis was the subject of studies by
various entities since 1964. The inventory studies,
concluded by FURNAS CENTRAIS ELTRICAS S.A. in
mid 1986, defined a division of the head in the stretch of
interest constituted by two developments:
Sapucaia Hydro Power Plant, with the dam implanted
close to the city of Anta, with its backwater reaching to
the city of Trs Rios and the powerhouse in the vicinity
of the city of Sapucaia; and the
Simplcio Hydro Power Plant, with dam and concrete
structures implanted in the Paraba do Sul River, 9 km
upstream of the city of Alm Paraba and with its
backwater reaching to the tailrace of the Sapucaia Hydro
Power Plant.
In 1993, the solution of integrating the projects of
Sapucaia and Simplcio was visualized. This alternative
contemplated the damming at Anta, with a headrace
circuit located in the left bank of the Paraba do Sul River,
constituted by a series of channels, dikes and tunnels,
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and with the generation structures situated close to the

site of the Simplcio power plant.
In the period of 1995 to 1996, FURNAS developed
the feasibility studies for this arrangement of a single
project called Simplcio - Queda nica (Single Fall), with
reservoir at El. 260.00 m.
Around the middle of 2000, FURNAS resumed its
studies on the project. After five years, the socialenvironmental interferences resulting from the backwater
in the urban zone of the city of Trs Rios during passage
of floods, increased with the growth of the city.
With the objective of improving the acceptance of the
enterprise among the affected communities and of
minimizing the costs entailed by the environmental
interferences, the reservoir level of the Anta power plant
was lowered to El. 255.00 m.
In November of 2001, the enterprise was tendered by
the National Electrical Energy Agency - ANEEL for the
energy exploitation concession, which was won by the
LIDIL group, under the leadership of the LIGHT S.A.
corporation, which subsequently declined to implant the
project (2002).
In 2002, an investor group led by FURNAS was
qualified by ANEEL to continue the studies, proceeding
to make a revision of the environmental studies with a
view to obtaining the prior licence, based on a Reference
Commitment obtained from the Brazilian Institute of the
Environment and Renewable Natural Resources - IBAMA,
in September of 2002.
As a result of the new series of maximum flows
imposed by the National Agency of Waters - ANA,
complementary checks on the backwater in the reservoir
were made and resulted in the reduction of the water
level in the Anta reservoir to El. 251.50 m, in order to
maintain the commitments, impacts and interferences
described in the environmental impact studies presented
in the public hearings and approved by the IBAMA.
A new competitive bid tender for the project, in
December 2005, was won by the group led by FURNAS.
The basic project was given to protocol by ANEEL in
August 2006 and the licence for the installation was
obtained in August 2007, leading to the start of the works.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENTERPRISE

2.1. General Description
The sole purpose of the Simplcio Hydroelectric Project
is the generation of electric energy. The final layout
(Figures 1 and 2), provides for the damming of the Paraba
do Sul River at Anta, forming a main reservoir, designated
as Anta, with the maximum normal water level at

Figure 1 - General Layout of the Project - Part One

Parte One

Key Map

Parte Two

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413

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Figure 2 - General Layout of the Project - Part Two

Part One

Key Map

Part Two

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Main Brazilian Dams III

El. 251.50 m, and its diversion through the smaller

reservoirs of Tocaia, Lourial, Calado, Antonina and
Peixe, formed by dikes in valleys located in the left bank
of the original riverbed, until the Simplcio Power Plant,
situated near the city of Alm Paraba. The interconnection
between the reservoirs is obtained through an extensive
system of tunnels and channels, totalling about 30 km,
permitting the exploitation of a difference in levels of
approximately 115 m.
With the construction of the Anta dam and the diversion
of the waters to the headrace circuit, it is necessary to
maintain a minimum flow to address the needs of the
riverside communities and of the environment in the stretch
of the natural bed of the Paraba do Sul River between the
dam and the tailrace channel of the Simplcio Power Plant.
The ANA determined that the residual flow to be maintained
in this stretch of reduced flow should be compatible with
the flow defined for the river stretch downstream of the
Santa Ceclia dam, which is 71 m3/s in critical situations
and 90 m3/s in the case of normal hydrology.
The installation of the Anta power plant, with an installed
power of 28 MW, was made feasible as a form of taking
advantage of the energy generated from this minimum flow
and from existing difference in levels at the dam site, as
well as the surplus flow during flood periods, up to a certain
limit defined by the energy studies. The power plant
contains two hydrogenerator units of 14 MW.

Simplcio is designed to receive three units of

101.9 MW each, totalling an installed power of 305.7 MW.
The firm energy totals an average of 191.3 MW.
2.2. Anta Power Plant
The Anta power plant layout (Figure 3) presents the
structures of the spillway, stilling pool, water intake and
powerhouse situated in the right bank of the river and the
dam, with the overflow sill, in the main channel and the
left bank.
The discharge channel of the spillway evacuates its
water, together with that of the tailrace of the powerhouse,
into the original river bed, immediately downstream of
the dam.
The spillway, in concrete, possesses three bays of
15.00 m width, controlled by radial gates. For constructing
the dam it is planned to divert the river through the
openings of this spillway. The stilling pool is totally lined
in concrete, with the sill at the end. The water is returned
to the river bed by a channel excavated in rock. Photos
1 to 3 depict some aspects of the spillway construction.
The water intake is situated in the same alignment
as the axis of the crest of the dam, with two sluiceways.
The powerhouse is of the indoor type, with two
generator units of 14 MW installed power, containing in
its interior the control room of the units.
The substation is situated on a platform in the right

Figure 3 - Layout of the Anta Dam

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Photo 1 - Aerial View of the Works for the Anta Spillway, Powerhouse and Assembly Area

Photo 2 - Anta Spillway during Construction

Photo 3 - Anta Spillway during Construction

bank, close to the access to the water intake/powerhouse.

Between the water intake and the spillway there is a
connecting wall, of the gravity type, which divides the
flow between the headrace channel of the water intake
and the approach channel to the spillway.
The Anta dam is of roller compacted concrete (RCC),
of the gravity type. In order to reduce the number of
openings in the spillway, an overflow sill with a length of
250 m was installed at El. 251.50 in the crest of the
dam, to evacuate the flood corresponding to a ten
thousand year recurrence.

2.3. Interconnection Works between the Reservoirs

The interconnection works (see Figures 1 and 2),
composed of tunnels, channels, dikes and reservoirs,
have the purpose of conducting, along the left margin of
the Paraba do Sul River, the flows that feed the Simplcio
Hydroelectric Power Plant. This complex of works
extends from the Anta dam to the Simplcio Power Plant,
situated approximately 25 km downstream.
The following list discriminates the diverse structures
composing the interconnection works, with their
respective extensions.

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Connection Link 1: Channel 1 (940 m); Tunnel 1

(1,458 m) and Channel 2 (500 m)

Connection Link 2: Channel 3 (565 m); Tunnel 2
(1,755 m); Channel 4 - Part 1 (85 m); 2nd Tunnel
(782 m); and Channel 4 - Part 2 (105 m)
Connection Link 3: Area 5 (500 m) and Channel 5
(1,620 m)
Connection Link 4: Channel 6 (115 m); Tunnel 3
(6,030 m) and Channel 7 (200 m)
Connection Link 5: Channel 8 (580 m)
The dikes in the interconnection works are composed
of compacted embankments with typical homogeneous
sections, in soil, and composite ones of earth and rockfill,
adopted in each location in order to obtain the best use
of the materials provided by the excavations requires for
the tunnels and channels. It is planned to install the
following dikes:
Tocaia Reservoir - Tocaia Dike
Lourial Reservoir - Lourial Dikes 1 and 2
Calado Reservoir - Estaca Dikes 1 and 2
Antonina Reservoir - Antonina Dike
Peixe Reservoir - North and South Dikes
Calado Reservoir - Estaca Dikes 1 and 2
Antonina Reservoir - Antonina Dike
Peixe Reservoir - North and South Dikes
2.4. Simplcio Power Plant
The Simplcio Power Plant (Figure 4) presents the
water intake structure positioned along an elevation
situated in the right watershed of the Peixe stream. The
adduction of the waters is obtained by means of a
channel, approximately 350 m in length, which

commences in an area limited by the North and South

Dikes. After the water intake, three penstock tunnels
conduct the water to the powerhouse, located in the right
bank of the above-mentioned stream.
The final outflow of the water from the turbines is by
means of a tailrace channel close to 750 m in length,
interconnecting the powerhouse with the bed of the
Paraba do Sul River, by its left bank.

3. GEOLOGY, GEOTECHNOLOGY AND

FOUNDATIONS
3.1. Geological-Structural Framework
The geology of the Simplcio region is essentially
constituted by the gneissic-migmatitic terrains of the
Complexes of Juiz de Fora and Paraba do Sul, from the
Archean and Proterozoic eons, intruded by diabase dikes
from the Upper Cretaceous and partially covered by alluvial
and colluvial sediments, and residual soils from the
Cenozoic era. The principal regional structural feature is
the Shear Zone of Alm Paraba, consisting of a
considerable sub vertical milonitic belt several kilometres
wide and dozens of kilometres in length, with development
of sub vertical milonitic foliation, aligned in the N60E
direction.
In the region of the project, the lithologies can be
grouped into three parallel bands, aligned in the SW-NE
direction, and constituted by granulites, paragneisses,
orthogneisses and granitoids. The Juiz de Fora Complex
is represented by banded granulitic orthogneisses with
a strong milonitic texture. There is predominance of felsitic

Figure 4 - Layout of the Simplicio Powerhouse

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milonitic orthogneiss, commercially referred to as "wood

stone", containing variable proportions of amphibolite, in
the form of centimetre-thick layers, lenses and boudins1
conferring on the assembly a black and white striped
appearance.
The Paraba do Sul Complex is represented by two
types of paragneisses: a banded pyroblastic gneiss biotite
hornblende, containing fine layers, lenses and boudins
of amphibolite, and a (sillimanite) of granate gneiss biotite
containing layers and lenses of calcium-silicate rock.
The sedimentary precursors of these two lithofaces
comprise feldspatic psamites with a probable volcanic
and aluminous metapelite contribution, respectively.
This unit forms relatively rare outcroppings, frequently
covered by a thick mantle of weathering, which leads to
the formation of appreciable colluvial deposits. The major
part of the channels planned for the project is implanted
in drainage channels excavated by nature in the
weathered rocks of this unit.
The surface surveys identified three fracture systems,
with the most frequent running parallel to the cataclastic
foliation of the rocks, oriented in the N60-65E direction
with sub-vertical dips showing a tendency sometimes to
the NW, sometimes to the SE, occurring with an average
spacing of 1.5 m. The second system is formed by subhorizontal diaclases close to the surface, with dips of
about 10 and average spacing of about 0.5 m. It is
confused with relief fractures; however, the information
provided by soundings indicates a probable tectonic origin.
The third system, less frequent, is oriented towards the
N30-45W direction, sub-vertical, approximately
perpendicular to the foliation.
3.2. Geological-Geotechnical Characteristics of the
Rock Mass
According to the data from the soundings and
excavations underway, in general, the rock mass at the
project site presents good geomechanical quality,
predominantly sound, little fractured and with low to
medium permeability.
The zones of weathered and fractured rock, of low
geomechanical quality, occur in the superficial region of
the rock mass in a band with a thickness of 3 to 10 m.
Due to the gneissic banding, with an alternating
composition of the rock, and to the presence of shear
zones parallel to the regional foliation, bands are
encountered with thicknesses of a metre to tens of
metres, where the weathered and very fractured rock
extends in depth (dozens of metres), forming a top of
"dented" sound rock.
As described under the previous item, the studies
demonstrated the existence of three main systems of
discontinuities. The density of the fracturing decreases
with the depth, to the extent that much fractured stretches
were rarely detected at depths greater than 10 m below

the rock surface.

The results of the permeability tests showed that in a
general manner, the rock mass is little permeable.
Absorptions greater than 5 Hv occurred in less than 10%
of the tests executed and were mainly restricted to the
first 10 m, corresponding to the most relieved part of the
bedrock.
An exception is the region of the river channel, in the
zone upstream of the Anta dam axis, where the intrusion
of a diabase dike resulted in the most intense fracturing
of the encasing rock. The presence of open
discontinuities promotes elevated hydraulic conductivity.
In other places, the presence of stretches of high
permeability in the rock mass is sporadic and restricted.
3.3. Overburden
The earth-rock transition presents heterogeneous
geological-geotechnical properties and behaviour that
reflects its transitional condition between the underlying
residual soils and the underlying rock mass. They are
constituted by predominantly earthen masses that with
depth go changing into rocky nuclei, with a variable degree
of degradation, wrapped in an earthen mass. The earthen
portion is predominantly constituted by sand with a
variable gradation, micaceous, little silty, heterogeneous
colouring. The levels of extremely decomposed rock were
also considered as pertaining to this horizon.
The young residual soil has a heterogeneous colouring,
occurs underlying the superficial horizon of colluvial soil
/ mature residual soil and seldom appears in outcrops,
save in cuttings for roads or the walls of cave-ins due to
rain. It is predominantly sandy-silty (fine sand),
micaceous, with kaolinitic pockets, medium to low
plasticity and evidence of structural remains (foliation and
fractures) of the original rock mass. Its mean resistance
is high (see Table 1), however, SPT values below ten
blows are frequent and occur in kaolinitic or very
micaceous pockets, as also in some more superficial
stretches of this horizon.
The mature residual soil runs practically in the entire
area, below the colluvial soil. It is predominantly clayeysandy (fine sand), with medium to high plasticity,
homogeneous, without remnant structures, with colouring
that is brown, reddish brown and yellowish brown.
The colluvial soil runs generally through the region,
covering practically all the surface, excepting the low
zones and some hill tops. It possesses characteristics
that are very similar to those of the mature residual soil,
and is intended to be used in the earthworks. It is
predominantly of fine grading, generally clayey-sandy (fine
sand), with medium to high plasticity, homogeneous,
porous and with a generally yellowish brown colour. In
some places it is heterogeneous, presenting blocks and
fragments submerged in an earthy matrix.

1
Boudin - Deformation process suffered by layers, bands or more competent and breakable lenses that fracture into the form of boudins
(sausages) on being stretched within more ductile rocky material, and which flows when the assembly is subjected to compressive or
tensile stresses.

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Table 1 - Soil Characteristics

The alluvial deposits are little developed and mainly

occur in the valleys of the Paraba do Sul River and in the
brooks of the Areia, of the Estaca and of the Peixe. They
also appear, in small amounts, in the bottom of the valleys
in which the interconnection channels are to be installed.
They present features of variable gradation and are
constituted, in some places, by sand and, in other places,
by clayey sand or sandy clay.
The talus deposits appear in some locations and
present little importance in the project. They are
constituted by blocks of rocks of varied sizes and are
situated in the middle and at the foot of the slopes,
always in the vicinity of large rocky outcroppings which
are areas of the source of the blocks.

71 m3/s. The hydrograph is presented in Figure 5.

4.1.2. Flood Studies
The probabilistic study to determine the extreme flows
at the jobsite was prepared based on the series of mean
daily flows at the Anta G station, obtained from the data
available in the HIDROWEB, Hydrological Databank of
the National Agency of Waters - ANA, covering the period
between 1930 - 2003. Table 2 lists the instantaneous
flows obtained.

4. HYDROLOGY, HYDRAULICS AND

ENERGY STUDIES
4.1. Hydrological Studies
4.1.1. Series of Flows
As a result of various works located upstream of the
Barra do Pira, which exerted an important influence on
the fluvial regime of the Paraba do Sul River since 1952,
the reconstitution of the natural series was obtained
through the hydric balance methodology commencing
with the operational data of the power plants and other
interventions in the Paraba do Sul River. The mean
measured hydrograph of the monthly natural flows is
presented in Figure 5.
A series of natural flows served as the initial data for
the energy simulation models, which considered the
influence of all the cascading interventions in a static
model in time. The questions relating to the job utilized a
series of regulated flows, which is a depiction of what
occurs in practice. A series of regulated flows incoming
to the Anta was obtained as a result of the energy
simulation model - MSUI - Simulation Model of
Individualized Power Plants -, of Eletrobrs, version 3.0.
The simulation series was decreased by the subtraction
of the advised use flow indicated by the ANA for the year
2005, equal to 17.07 m3/s, as well as the minimum
residual flow in the reduced flow stretch, equal to

Table 2 - Results of the Flood Studies

For the dimensioning of the spillway, the flood of

8,500 m3/s was taken as corresponding to the ten
thousand year recurrence. Now, for the first and principal
phase of the diversion, the flood adopted was
4,611 m3/s, equivalent to a recurrence interval of 50 years.
The watersheds contributing to the intermediate
reservoirs and to the Peixe stream lack sufficient streamgaging information to carry out a flood study. The solution
adopted was to obtain the floods indirectly through the
rain-flow transformation, utilizing synthetic unit
hydrographs. The initial studies covered the intense
precipitations based on the rainfall regime of the region
and determined the physical characteristics of the
watersheds, in order to subsequently generate the desired
hydrographs. The results of this study were important for
dimensioning the diversion galleries for the construction
of the dikes and for the diversion of the Peixe stream to
enable the construction of the Simplcio plant tailrace
channel. A flow with a 25 year recurrence was adopted
for the diversion of the brooks and of 100 years for
dimensioning the cofferdam that protected the
construction of the Simplcio plant powerhouse.

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Figure 5 - Monthly Mean Incoming Flows to Anta

4.1.3. Residual Flow - Reduced Flow Stretch

The construction of the Simplcio project results in a
long stretch of the Paraba do Sul River, of about 30 km,
subject to a reduced flow. The minimum flow maintained
in this stretch is 71 m3/s during the filling. During the
operation, the flow to be released by the Anta is 90 m3/s
under normal conditions or 71 m3/s under adverse
hydrological conditions. These values were defined by
the ANA with a view to compatibility with the outgoing
flows from the Santa Cecilia pumping station.
4.1.4. Residual Flows
The system of channels and dikes to be installed will
result in the interruption of some brooks and streams in
the left bank of the Paraba do Sul River. With the objective
of guaranteeing a residual flow, corresponding to 70% of
the Q7,10, in the stretch of the brooks downstream of
the dikes, small transposition structures are planned in
the abutments of the dikes, composed of permanently
submerged tubes taking in the better quality water close
to the surface of the reservoirs and releasing it
downstream by means of stepped descents in the
abutment.
4.2. Hydraulic Studies
4.2.1. Water levels
The maximum normal water level of the Anta reservoir
was defined on the basis of a backwater study, with the
objective of not interfering with the confluence of the
Paraba do Sul, Piabanha and Paraibuna Rivers, situated
immediately downstream of the city of Trs Rios. Since
the first studies in the 80s decade until the construction
of the power plant, the increasing concern with reducing
the environmental impacts led to two reductions in the
planned level for the reservoir, which was initially at
El. 260.00 m, and then was reduced to El. 255.00 m and
finally to El. 251.50 m. In the case of the occurrence of a
420

ten thousand year flood, a surcharge of 2.20 m is

permissible in the reservoir water level.
The downstream levels of both power plants were
defined based on rating curves. In the case of the Anta,
the rating curve (Figure 6) was obtained by transposition
of the Anta G rating curve, by correlation of levels with a
gage installed at the site of the tailrace. In the case of
Simplcio, a more complex study was necessary, since
the outlet of the tailrace channel restores the water to
the Paraba do Sul River in front of the island of Ildefonso,
interfering, therefore, with the natural parting of the flows
at the two arms of the island. Furthermore, the levels
observed in the Simplcio tailrace channel depend on the
flow released at Anta, so that we are dealing with a family
of rating curves, one for each band of the flow released
by Anta, and which are best represented in the form of a
table. Table 3 provides values assuming a normal logic
of operation.
4.2.2. Head Losses
The extensive system composed by channels, tunnels
and reservoirs results in a significant loss of hydraulic
head, of around 5% of the gross head, whose control
received careful consideration by the designer. With a
view to reducing the head losses, all the tunnels had the
vault lined in shotcrete and the inlets and outlets
excavated in the shape of funnels. The sections of the
channels and tunnels were defined to permit discharge
velocities exceeding 2.0 m/s.
4.3. Energy Studies
The firm and mean energies of Simplcio were
calculated by the use of the Model for Simulation of
Individualized Power Plants - MSUI, Version 3.0, manually
withdrawing from the series of incoming flows to the
reservoir the value of 71 m3/s, i.e., the value to be
maintained in the reduced flow stretch under situations

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Table 3 - Rating Curve of the Simplcio Tailrace Channel

Figure 6 - Rating Curve of Paraiba do Sul at Anta Tailrace Channel

of unfavourable hydrology, as in the case of the critical

period. In the case of the Anta, since the MSUI model
does not support power plants operating in parallel, a
model was prepared in Excel, using as the incoming
data the regulated series provided by the MSUI.
The resulting values of the simulations are shown in
Table 4.

Table 4 - Results of the Energy Simulation

5. PRINCIPAL STRUCTURES
5.1. Anta Power Plant
5.1.1. River Diversion
The diversion of the Paraba do Sul River to permit
the construction of the power plant, of the spillway and
of the Anta dam (Figure 7) will be executed in two phases.
The first phase begins with the construction of a
channel in the left bank and, immediately following, a
cofferdam laid out longitudinally to the right bank (see
Photo 4).
The portion of the riverbed to the right of the deep
channel will be dewatered to permit the construction of
the concrete structures of the water intake, of the
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Figure 7 - Diversion Phases for Construction of Anta Dam

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Photo 4 - Aerial View of Phase 1 of the Anta Diversion

powerhouse, of the spillway and walls.

The cofferdam of the first phase of the diversion was
dimensioned to ensure, in the eventuality of a 50 year
recurrence flood (instantaneous annual = 4,611 m3/s) an
upper freeboard of 1.00 m.
In the second phase, with the construction of the
cofferdams across the river flow, upstream and
downstream of the dam axis, the river will be totally
diverted to the three openings of the spillway, thus
releasing the entire river bed and the left bank for the
construction of the dam.
The cofferdams, upstream and downstream,
respectively, were dimensioned to contain the greatest
flood during the drought period with a recurrence of
50 years (1,478 m3/s).
The first phase cofferdam will have its crest at
El. 245.50 m. For the upstream and downstream
cofferdams of the second phase, the crests are planned
to reach elevations El. 242.50 m and El. 238.60 m,
respectively.
The downstream cofferdam of the second phase of
the diversion will be removed after the concrete placement
of the CCR dam.
5.1.2. Dam and Spillway
The main dam across the river (Figure 8) is constituted
by structures in conventional concrete and in roller
compacted concrete, with a total length of 396.60 m.
The structure of the hydraulic power generation circuit
is located in the right bank, followed by the structures of
the discharge organs, which extend to the left bank of
the river.
The discharge organs are composed by two spillways,
one of them with gates and the complementary second
one of the overflow type, part of the dam. The total
capacity of the two spillways is 8,500 m3/s; slightly greater
than the ten thousand year flood.
The gated spillway (Figure 9), designed in conventional
concrete, possesses three bays with a width of
15.00 m, with the sill at El. 233.50 m, controlled by radial

gates. The stilling pool is totally lined in concrete, with

the bottom inclined initially and complemented by a
horizontal stretch with a sill at the end. The water is
returned to the river bed by a channel excavated in the
rock, with its bottom inclined at a ratio of 1V:6H.
The bridge is supported upon spillway gated pillars. It
is composed of precast longitudinal beams solidly
integrated with transverse members and floor of the bridge
in reinforced concrete, cast in situ. The bridge permits
the displacement of the gantry crane used for handling
the stoplogs of the spillway and of the trash racks and
the stoplogs of the water intake.
Between the water intake and the gated spillway there
is a gravity-type connecting wall, which divides the flow
between the forebay of the water intake and the approach
channel to the spillway.
Between the gated spillway and the overflow spillway
there are two gravity-type walls: the first with a hydraulic
cross section to adequately direct the flow to the gated
spillway and the second one constituting a 20.00 metre
gravity-type wall, designed to include an enclosure for
storing spillway stoplog panels. Both have their crest at
El 254.20 m.
The overflow spillway has a length of 250.00 m and
its crest at El. 251.50 m. The downstream face is in
steps, in order to dissipate the energy of the spilled water.
The dam terminates at the left bank with a small
13.50 m stretch of gravity wall, with its crest at El. 254.20 m.
The overflow spillway and the gravity walls that form
part of the dam will be built in roller compacted concrete.
5.1.3. Water Intake and Powerhouse
The water intake and the powerhouse (Figure 10) were
designed as a single structure, without an expansion
joint, and 36.50 m in length.
The region of the water intake has its foundation at
El. 223.50 m and its crest at El. 254.20 m, along which
runs the gantry crane. It possesses four water intakes
protected by trash racks, two for each of the machines.
The access to the pits of the stoplogs is made from this
platform.
The powerhouse is of the conventional indoor type,
with its foundation at El. 214.90 m, and contains two
Kaplan generator units of 14.4 MW, with a total installed
capacity of 28.8 MW. Its construction is justified by the
obligation to maintain a minimum residual flow of
71 m3/s in the natural river bed of the Paraba do Sul
River, downstream from the Anta dam and upstream of
the tailrace at Simplcio.
The unit centreline is situated at elevation
El. 229.36 m and the outlet from the draft tube is at
El. 220.33 m.
The downstream face of the powerhouse has its crest
at El. 249.26 m, the level for the installation of the
transformers for the interconnection with the substation.

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Main Brazilian Dams III

5.2. Interconnection Works

5.2.1. Channels
The general concept of the channel project sought:
excavation for reworking of the slopes in some of
the steepest sections, seeking, whenever possible, the
removal of unstable material (or originated by slides) and
geometric profiles with stabilities within the specific criteria
of the detailed design, considering surface drainage
systems, vegetation cover and rockfill protection as
needed;
application of lines of horizontal drainage holes
executed from the berm at El. 254.50 m, until perforating
the weathered rock or the soil-rock transition and, where
possible, reaching the top of the rock. The spacing
between drains will be variable, possibly attaining values

of around 3.0 m, since it depends on various factors,

such as: the relief, the soil thickness above the rock
surface, the hydraulic conductivity at the top of the rock
and at the soil-rock transition, among others.
All the slopes and the base of the channel should be
protected with "rip-rap" (rockfill and transition), with a
total thickness of 1.00 m at the base and a width of
4.00 m in the slopes, up to the El. 254.50 m.
For the Channels 1, 2, 3 and 4, slopes in soil were
adopted with a declivity of 1(V):1.5(H) up to elevation
El. 254.50 m and declivities of 1(V):1.3(H) for higher
elevations, interspersed with berms 4 m in width, typically
every 10 m in height, also considering rockfill protection
4 m wide up to a general elevation 20 m above the rock
contact (see Photo 5 and 6).

Figure 8 - Anta RCC Dam - Sections

Figure 9 - Spillway Longitudinal Section

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Main Brazilian Dams III

Figure 10 - Anta Powerhouse - Cross Section

Photo 5 - Channel 1 and Mouth of Tunnel 1

Photo 6 - Channel 2 Excavations

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Main Brazilian Dams III

The elevations at the bottom of Channel 1 are variable,

with a stretch at El. 245.50 m and another at
El. 244.50 m, more lowered stretches with bottom widths
reaching up to 20.0 m, passing to El. 235.00 m at the
mouth of Tunnel 1.
The Channel 3 (Figure 11 and Photo 7) develops along
a sinuous valley, with accentuated narrowing at its initial
and final stretches. The excavations to form the channel
at these strangle points were distributed between both
slopes, including the reduction in the level of its base to

El. 234.50 m in order to obtain an adequate hydraulic

section, resulting in rock excavation along almost its entire
length.
The Channel 4 - Part 1 (Photo 8) becomes,
simultaneously, the mouth of Tunnel 2 and the mouth of
Tunnel 2A, which follows it. It presents sub-vertical lateral
and frontal walls, totally encased in the rock.
The Channel 4 - Part 2 presents a conventional
excavation, both in soil and in rock, with no expectation
of difficulty of a geotechnical nature.

Figure 11 - Channel 3 - Plan View and Typical Excavation Section

Photo 7 - Channel 3 and Tunnel 2 Mouth

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Photo 8 - Channel 4 - Part 1 and Tunnel 2 Outlet

Main Brazilian Dams III

Situated in an intermediate position between Channel

4 and Channel 5, the site designated as Area 5 possesses
a length of approximately 502 m. It presents a relatively
ample hydraulic section but requires localized rebates
and excavations to conform the hydraulic section. In the
left slope there are two soil slides of great height, involving
considerable volumes of dislocated material, of which an
important part remains on the slope. The option of a
tunnel is being studied for this stretch in order to avoid
the stabilization and onerous maintenance of the slopes.
The Channel 5 presents the greatest excavation
volumes in relation to the other channels, with
approximately 1,980,000 m3 basically concentrated in
Part 1.
In the detailed design now underway, it is sought to
optimize the studies in order to transform the Channel
5 - Part 1, with an excavation profile that entails cuttings
exceeding 100 m in one tunnel project, with advantages
that include the railway relocations, avoiding the
necessity of building a bridge over the channel.
For the Channel 5 - Parts 2 and 3, the prediction is
for excavation and protection geometries similar to those
of Channels 1 and 3.
The Channel 6 constitutes the approach to Tunnel 3
(Photo 9). It possesses 20.00 m in width at the base and
extends close to 73 m, beginning with the floor at
El. 236.50 m and then diving to El. 231.50 m. The original
project provided for the execution of slopes 1.0(V):0.7(H)
with approximately 20 m in height and the implantation
of a wedge of compacted rockfill with the slope
1.0(V):1.5(H). During the excavations, a discrepancy was
observed with brusque variations in the profile of the rock
top, demanding the repositioning of the portal to Tunnel
3. With this, the limitations represented by the forest
clearing and the steep declivities of the slope made the
adoption of a stabilization solution for the rockfill wall
(rock wedge) unfeasible. On the other hand, the
provisional slope was of relatively lower height. In order
to make the requirements for operational stability
compatible with the original solution, the slope of the

Photo 9 - Channel 6 and Mouth of Tunnel 3

cutting with the resulting variable inclination of 1(V):1.0(H)

to 1(V):0.7(H) was stabilized by the adoption of two lines
of plates with St-105/85 steel anchors, with a working
load of 350 KN and 2.0 m horizontal spacing. All the
faces between the plates and upstream received a lining
of shotcrete associated with wire mesh.
Due to the low declivity of the slope, the Channel 7,
which follows the mouth of the Tunnel 3, is fairly long, with
close to 202 m. The channel possesses a width at its
base of 20 m and develops at two levels: at El. 228.50 m
beside the portal, and at El. 233.50 m. in the stretch
with less height in the cutting. The cutting through the
rock has walls close to the vertical (inclination of 1V:0.1H).
The project was executed in successive berms of 4 m
width, separated by different levels 7 m in height. The
cutting has a slope of 1V:1.0H. Both the berms and the
slopes must be protected by vegetal soil immediately
after their excavation. In the lower part of the cutting in
soil, the excavation slopes in soil shall be protected by
compacted rockfill up to El. 254.50 m, i.e., up to 3 m
above the static water level in the channel.
The connection link between the reservoirs of Antonina
and Peixe is made by Channel 8, implanted in a
topographical saddle that reaches a height of 275.00 m.
Considering that the elevation of the bottom of the channel
is El. 234.50 m, the slopes of the excavation could reach
a height of 66 m at the right side and close to 76 m on
the opposite side. In the detailed design in process,
optimization is sought by means of studies with the aim
of transforming Channel 8 into a tunnel, with advantages
to the environment and in terms of the job schedule and
the future maintenance costs, with the decrease of the
excavation of the permanent slopes.
5.2.2. Headrace Tunnels
The headrace tunnels will be excavated in rock with
and arch-rectangle cross-section, of an area of
214.5 m2. The excavation will be executed in two stages,
in the first stage excavating the vault, which has a circular
cross-section with a diameter of 16 m and, in the second
stage the recess, with a bench height of 8.20 m. Figure
12 presents the mouth, outlet and a typical section of
Tunnel 1, which is similar to the others.
It was initially planned to construct three headrace
tunnels, designated tunnels 1, 2 and 3, of which tunnel 2
was subdivided into tunnel 2 and 2A, due to the need for
opening an open sky section due to the topographical
saddle that imposed a low cover over the tunnel. In the
headrace tunnel 3, due to its length and conditions of
the job schedule, two auxiliary access tunnels were
executed with an arch-rectangle section and an opening
of 8 m and height of 7 m.
During the basic design, with a view to reducing the
volumes of open sky excavation, reducing the
geotechnical risks and minimizing environmental
impacts, the possibility was considered of substituting
the channel 5 - part 1, of the area 5 channel and of the
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Main Brazilian Dams III

Figure 12 - Typical Section of Intake and Outlet Mouths of Tunnels

channel 8 by tunnels. These alternatives are being

studied at present in the detailed design, and possess a
high probability of real application.
Table 5 presents a summary of the planned lengths
of headrace and auxiliary tunnels.

Table 5 - Characteristics of the Headrace Tunnels

5.2.3. Earth and/or Rockfill Dikes

The Dikes, in sequential order, are the following:
Tocaia, Lourial 1, Lourial 2, Estaca 1, Estaca 2,
Antonina, North and South.
428

The typical cross-section of all the dikes is of rockfill

with a clay core. The majority of the embankments are
seated on sound rock in the central stretch and on
residual soil in the abutments, with the adoption of a cutoff trench in some cases (Lourial 2).
In the case of the Dikes Tocaia and Lourial 1 and 2,
inclinations of 1V:1.5H and 1V:1.4H are planned,
respectively, for the upstream and downstream slopes.
For the Tocaia Dike, the clay core is symmetrical in
relation to the axis of the structure, with an inclination of
1V:0.25H, passing into 1V:0.5H in the stretch founded
upon decomposed rock, in which the external slopes of
the embankment are more gentle, with an inclination of
1V:1.7H. In the case of the Lourial 1 Dike, the central
core is symmetrical with inclinations of !V:0.25H, and in
the Lourial 2 Dike the core presents an inclination, in
the upstream slope, of 1V:0.5H and of 1V:0.75H in the
downstream slope.
The Dikes of Estaca 1, 2 and Antonina present an
upstream slope with an inclination of 1V:1.5H up to
El. 244.50 m, easing to 1V:2.0H in the passage to the
back-slope of compacted soil. The downstream slope
presents an initial inclination of 1V:1.5H up to
El. 251.50 m and passes into 1V:2.0H until it intercepts
the foundation terrain. The dike cross-section is zoned,

Main Brazilian Dams III

with the core constituted by colluvial and/or mature

residual soil, turned towards the upstream back-slope
that admits, below the El. 244.50 m, young residual soil.
In relation to the drainage system, it is planned to execute
a blanket underlying the rockfill shell, in the regions of
the abutments where there is occurrence of remnant soil
in the foundation. This blanket has the purpose of avoiding
the migration of fine soil particles from the foundation
soil through the rockfill, it being constituted by 3 layers,
i.e.: sand filter, fine transition and coarse transition.
For the construction of the Stake 2 Dike (see Figure
13 & Photo 10), it will be necessary to divert the Ouro
Fino brook through a concrete gallery seated upon, and
partially embedded in sound rock, with inclined external
walls (1V:0.15H), in order to facilitate the compaction of
the compacted embankment. The gallery has a length of
approximately 342 m and a declivity of 1.3%. It is planned
for the crest of the upstream cofferdam to reach El. 209.00
in order to avoid overtoppings caused by the design flood
for the construction phase (water level at El. 207.90 m).
The North Dike prevents the waters of the development
from being spilled into the valley of the Peixe stream
and, to this effect, it bars an unnamed brook.
The dike project consists of a homogeneous
embankment, with a watertight zone situated upstream
of the vertical filter of sand, of colluvial soils and/or mature,
compacted, residual soils, while the shells are constituted
by young and mature residual soils.
The maximum height of the dike is around 45 m. The
upstream slope, which incorporates the compacted rockfill
embankment, has an inclination of 1V:1.5H up to
El. 245.50 m and, immediately following, an inclination
of 1V:2.0H in the shell of compacted soil.
Downstream of the vertical sand filter, the section

incorporates compacted soils originating from young and

mature residual soils. At the external face of the slope,
in a band with a horizontal width measurement of 4.0 m,
the soil embankment was replaced by compacted rockfill,
increased by a 1.0 m width of graded transition, with the
purpose of protecting the downstream slope against the
surface run-off. The inclination of the downstream slope
is 1V:1.5LH up to El. 251.50, passing into 1V:2.0H from
that elevation onwards.
It is intended to execute a drainage blanket of the
sandwich type up to El. 240.00 m. In the abutments,
from that elevation onwards, the drainage blanket will be
constituted by a layer of sand.
In the North Dike, as in the Stake 2 and Antonina
Dikes a cement grout curtain of an exploratory character
is to be executed in the foundation stretch of the core
close to the thalweg, were the soundings indicate the
presence of a more permeable rock mass. The bore-

Photo 10 - Stake 2 Dike

Figure 13 - Stake 2 Dike - Embankment Section

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Main Brazilian Dams III

holes will be inclined 30, with a spacing of 12.00 m

measured on the rocky top, and will reach a depth of
13.00 m. The execution of complementary injections will
depend on the results obtained by the exploratory drillings.
The South Dike was basically designed with a
homogeneous section of compacted soil with a vertical
sand filter connected to the horizontal filter-drain, planning
for an optimised utilization of materials obtained from
the obligatory excavation. The dike has a maximum height
of 35 m in the region of its axis, but presents an elongated
embankment in the downstream back-slope due to the
declivity of the downstream terrain, reaching the
maximum vertical difference in levels of around 82 m
between the elevation of the crest and the elevation of
the downstream heel of the dam. It possesses a sealing
zone, immediately upstream of the vertical filter,
constituted by colluvial/mature residual soil, sided by
back-slopes that accept the presence of young residual
soil. Its upstream slope, which incorporates compacted
rockfill embankment up to El. 239.50 m, presents a
declivity of 1V:1.5LH, and of 1V:2.0H below this elevation
in compacted soil.
In the same manner as with the North Dike, at the
external face of the downstream slope, in a band with a
width of 4.0 m in the horizontal plane, the soil
embankment was replaced by compacted rockfill,
increased by 1.0 m of graduated transition, with the
purpose of protecting the downstream slope against the
surface run-off of the rainfall. The inclination of the slope
shall be 1V:1.5H up to El. 251.50 m, passing through
1V:2.0H from that elevation until El. 219.50 m, where
there is to be a berm with a width of 7.50 m. From that
elevation another slope follows with a declivity of
1(V);2.0(H) until the next berm at El. 195.00 with a width
of 7.50 m and down to the foundation the slope continues
with an inclination of 1V:2.0H.
In a similar manner as with the North Dike, it is
planned to remove a soil overburden with a thickness of
5.00 m.
For internal drainage it is planned to execute a
sandwich-type blanket along almost the entire extension
of the dike. In regions where the sandwich-type blanket
is seated upon rock, the lower layer of sand can be
suppressed.
In order to permit the construction of these dikes, it
is planned to execute simple or double galleries in
concrete, closed by gates or concrete filled-in plugs, for
diverting the floods during their respective constructions.
5.3. Simplcio Power Plant
5.3.1. Diversion of the Peixe Stream
The Simplcio tailrace channel, in large part excavated
in the rock, is going to demand the rectification and
widening of the stream bed, including the demolition of a
natural elevation that, today, separates the tributary from
the main river. The channel was dimensioned to handle a

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flow of 572.5 m3/s, equivalent to the sum of the maximum

flow through the turbines of the plant (336.9 m3/s), plus
the maximum flow of the Peixe Stream, for a time of
recurrence of 25 years (235.57 m3/s).
For the execution of this job, it is necessary to implant
a diversion scheme for the Peixe Stream. The handling of
the waters of the stream will be obtained though the
excavation of a channel along the left bank and the
construction of four cofferdams, in the principal channel and
in the existing branch in the right bank, with its crest at
El. 150.50 m, dimensioned for a recurrence of 5 years during
the dry period, corresponding to a flow of 4.55 m3/s.
At the end of this channel, a crossing will be built to
the opposite bank, a small aqueduct, at the point in which
the Peixe Stream makes a bend and moves away from
the tailrace channel. This structure will have the purpose
of maintaining a residual flow in the stretch of
approximately 1,000 m which runs parallel to the Paraba
do Sul River, in the opposite direction. This structure was
dimensioned for a flow corresponding to 70% of the Q7,10
(0.40 m3/s). Any flow greater than this would spill into
the already finished stretch of the tailrace, discharging
into the Paraba do Sul River itself. This would also occur
during the operational phase of the power plant.
5.3.2. Water Intake
The Simplcio water intake has its crown at
El. 254.00 m, with a mean height above the foundation of
31.65 m. The structure is constituted by three independent
blocks, with their centrelines separated 12.80 m.
Each one of the mouths, of rectangular section, is
directly connected to the inclined stretch of the
penstocks. Between the rectangular section of the
hydraulic circuit and the penstocks there is a transition
stretch, in concrete, changing from this cross-section to
a circular cross-section. The hydraulic circuit and the
openings were dimensioned for a rated flow of
113.33 m3/s per mouth. The entry section, where the
trash-racks are installed, is divided by a central pillar
into two openings per block, each with a rectangular crosssection of 4.40 m in width by 12.00 m in height. The
hydraulic section goes gradually reducing until reaching
the region of the fixed-wheel gate, maintaining the flow
always in compression.
Three emergency fixed-wheel gates were installed,
actuated by hydraulic cylinders. For the inspection and
maintenance of these gates a stoplog is employed,
installed in slots upstream of the fixed-wheel gates. These
gates have their sills at El. 224.85 m.
The movement of the stoplog and of the metallic trashracks, as well as the maintenance of the fixed-wheel
gates, is effected by a gantry crane with a capacity of
400 kN/50 kN, which runs along the entire crest of the
structure.
Photo 11 shows the excavations for the Simplicio water
intake.

Main Brazilian Dams III

Photo 11 - Excavations for the Simplicio Water Intake

5.3.3. Power Tunnels

The Simplcio Power Plant will be fed by three power
tunnels excavated in rock, which will have a vertical
stretch with an approximate extension of 33 m and a
circular cross-section 7 m in diameter, with an area of
38.48 m2, followed by an inclined stretch with a declivity
of 12.5%, with an approximate length of 285 m and a
horse-shoe cross-section with an opening of 7 m and an
area of 39.76 m2.
The power tunnels will be steel lined over a length of
93.5 m from the mouth in the powerhouse, and concrete
lining along the rest of the extension up to the water
intake, and also in the vertical stretch.
For the excavation of the power tunnels, an auxiliary
access tunnel is to be executed with a length of
193.32 m and cross-section in arch rectangle, with an
8 m opening and a height of 7 m, with its mouth
commencing at the yard of the powerhouse.
The drainage of the steel-armoured section will be
obtained by a tunnel developed in the shape of a T. This
tunnel will have a length of 156 m, arch-rectangular crosssection with dimensions of 6 x 6 m, with its mouth starting
from the interior of the auxiliary access tunnel to the
penstock tunnels.
Table 6 presents a summary of the predicted lengths
for the penstock and auxiliary tunnels.

5.3.4. Powerhouse and Tailrace Channel

The power house (Figure 14) is of the indoor type, with
three blocks of 16.00 m in width each, destined to house
the Francis type generator units, as well as the blocks
destined to enclose the erection area, with 24.00 m, the
unloading platform, with 10.00 m, and the lateral block
with 8.00 m, the latter adjacent to Unit 3, destined for the
drainage sumps. The total length of the powerhouse is
90.00 m, the width 39.50 m, and the height is 42.20 m.
The tailrace channel, for the turbine discharge flows
to the Paraba do Sul River, is composed of an ascending
ramp with declivities of 1:6 until El. 134.00 m and a long
horizontal stretch. The bottom of the tailrace channel is
rock, with a cross-section width at the bottom of close
to 42 m. The maximum flow velocity, for the condition of
the three units in operation, is of around 1.40 m/s.
The tailrace channel will be built, in part, upon the
natural bed of the Peixe Stream, that immediately makes
a 90 bend and meanders in the opposite direction to the
flow of the Paraba do Sul River for a stretch of close to
600 m before flowing into it. To permit the maintenance
of the flow in this stretch even with the implantation of
the power plant, it will be necessary to implant a hydraulic
crossing over the tailrace channel, associated with a
lateral channel, thus guaranteeing the transposition of
part of the stream waters from one bank to the other of
the channel. All the surplus water spills into the tailrace
channel, through a lateral free-spilling structure.
The final part of the tailrace channel crosses the preexisting railway (FCA - Ferrovia Centro Atlntica), it being
necessary, therefore, to build a railway bridge with a span
of 42 m. Photos 12 and 13 depict the works for the
Simplicio powerhouse and tailrace.

6. CONSTRUCTION
In the present construction phase (March of 2008),
the work fronts are concentrated in Tunnel 3, Channels
2, 3, 6 and 7, common and rock excavations of the

Table 6 - Characteristics of the Penstock and Auxiliary Tunnels

Photo 12 - Aerial View of the Works for the Simplicio

Powerhouse and Tailrace

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Main Brazilian Dams III

Simplcio powerhouse and water intake, and common

excavation of the left abutment of the Anta.
Since we are dealing with a job containing many work
fronts and engineering interventions, two main industrial
yards were planned (yards 1 and 10), and more than eight

secondary industrial yards spread along the interconnecting

works (yards 2 to 9). At present, there are three yards in
operation. Photo 14 shows an aerial view of the
construction yard for Simplicio intake and powerhouse.

Photo 13 - Excavation and Rock Stabilization Works for the

Simplicio Powerhouse

Photo 14 - Construction Yard for Simplicio Intake and Powerhouse

Figure 14 - Simplicio Powerhouse - Cross Section

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Main Brazilian Dams III

7. ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND

ECONOMIC ASPECTS
The environmental licensing process was initiated with
the request for a Prior License - LP and with the
presentation of the Environmental Impact Study - EIA.
Four public hearings were held, one in each
municipality, in March 2005.
Twenty eight environmental programmes were
prepared in order to support the request for the Installation
License - LI with the IBAMA.
7.1. Environmental Programmes
The twenty eight environmental programmes
presented in the Basic Environmental Design - PBA of
the development correspond to those foreseen in the
EIA/RIMA and those recommended by the LP. The
environmental programmes are listed below, indicating
their principal objectives and the respective observance
of the LP contingency of the IBAMA.
1. Programme of Climatological Monitoring
2. Programme of Monitoring the Water Table and
Subterranean Water Quality
3. Programme for Recuperating Degraded Areas
4. Programme for Accompanying the Mining Interferences
5. Programme of Seismological Monitoring
6. Programme of Hydro-Sedimentation Monitoring
7. Programme for Cleaning the Accumulation Basin
8. Programmes for Monitoring Aquatic Ecosystems
(Limnological and Water Quality Monitoring,
Accompanying the Proliferation and Re-Use of Aquatic
Macrophytes, Optimization of Water Circulation in the
Reservoirs)
9. Programme for the Conservation and Monitoring of the
Ichthyofauna (Monitoring of the Ichthyofauna,
Implementation of the System of Fish Transposition)
10. Programme for the Rescue and Monitoring of the
Fauna
11. Programme for the Conservation of the Flora and
Recomposition of the Vegetation (Forest Inventory, Saving
the Genetic Characteristics, Recomposition of the
Vegetation)
12. Programme of Consolidation of the Conservation Unit
13. Programme of Social Communication
14. Programme of Environmental Education
15. Programme of Indemnities for Lands and
Improvements Affected by the Development and
Relocation of the Population
16. Programme of Support to the Rural Producer
17. Programme of Re-Adaptation of the Productive
Activities
18. Programme of Public Health (Epidemiological
Vigilance, Prevention and Control of Diseases, Labour
Health and Safety for the Population Directly Linked to
the Job)
19. Programme for Monitoring Chiroptera (bats)

20. Programme for Monitoring Faunal Vectors

21. Programme for the Redimensioning and Relocation
of the Infrastructure (Recomposition of the Highway and
the Traffic Systems, Relocation of Garbage Dumps and
Construction of the Sapucaia Sanitary Earthfill, Treatment
of Domestic Sewage Released into the Paraba do Sul
River in the Stretch between the Anta Dam and the
Simplcio Powerhouse)
22. Programme of Support for Municipalities (Support for
Planning, Improvement of the Infrastructures of Public
Safety, Health/Sanitation, Education/Preservation,
Implantation of Sporting, Recreational, Leisure and
Cultural Installations)
23. Programme for Minimizing the Hydrological and
Environmental Effects in the Reduced Flow Stretch.
24. Programme for Saving the Prehistoric Archaeological
Heritage
25. Programme for Saving the Archaeological, Historical
and Cultural Heritage.
26. Programme of Environmental Management
27. Programme of Environmental Construction - PAC
28. Environmental Plan for the Conservation and Use of
the Reservoir Surroundings.
7.2. Special Constructions
The existing highway and railway systems in the
region will suffer interference from the reservoirs of the
Anta and Simplcio Power Plants and from their structures,
demanding the relocations indicated in Table 7.

Table 7 - Summary of Highway and Railway Systems to be

Relocated

The region in which the infrastructures to be affected

are located presents a water level for a 100 year flood at
the El. 253.50 m. Taking into consideration a freeboard
to protect the sub-bed of the railway, it was decided that
the minimum grade for the relocation project should be
at El. 254.50 m.
The studies sought solutions involving ideal geometrical
conditions necessary for each type of road, reduced
environmental impacts, both from the physical-biotic
viewpoints, as also regarding the socio-economic and
cost optimization aspects.
7.3. Railway Relocations
The Vitria to Minas Railroad - EFVM will be affected
by the structures of the Anta Power Plant and, in
consequence, by its reservoir, in the stretch situated
between the Railroad Stations of Chiador and of Anta,

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Main Brazilian Dams III

located respectively in the Municipalities of Chiador (MG)

and of Sapucaia (RJ).
The segment to be relocated has a total length of
4,805 m.
Three bridges are planned along the stretch, i.e.:
Bridge over the Macuco River, with a length of 150 m;
Bridge over the water intake channel, with a length of
150 m;
Bridge over the Paraba do Sul River, with a length of
330 m.
It will also be necessary to build a bridge over the
tailrace channel of the Simplcio Power Plant, with a length
of close to 40 m.
7.4. Highway Relocations
The formation of the Anta reservoir will affect a stretch
of the BR-396 situated in the Municipality of Trs Rios,
State of Rio de Janeiro. Along this stretch, the highway
cuts the Bemposta Brook, the Calado River and the
Grama Brook. There is, furthermore, a junction with the
Trs Rios/Bemposta Municipal Road, immediately after
the crossing over the Bemposta Brook, known as the
Bemposta Cloverleaf.
The highway segment to be relocated has a total
length of 8,547.50 m. The alterations involved in the raising
of the grade include the construction of two new bridges,
which become necessary because the maximum level
will reach the existing bridges, and will have the following
objectives:
Construction of the bridge over the Calado River with a
length of 80.0 m;
Construction of the bridge over the Grama Brook, with a
length of 80.0 m;
Provide a higher level of mobility to large volumes of
traffic;
Promote the interconnection of cities and other traffic
generating centres capable of attracting long distance
journeys;
Integrate municipalities and states;
Provide access over reasonable distances to all the
high density developed areas.

8. MONITORING INSTRUMENTATION
In the present phase of construction, instrumentation
has been installed for measuring pore pressure and water
level in the principal slopes of Channels 2, 3, 6 and 7,
and slopes of the mouths of access tunnels 1 and 2 of
Tunnel 3, and the slopes of the excavation for the
Simplcio Powerhouse.
Identical instrumentation (Casagrande-type
piezometers) is planned for all the channels, as well as
in the dikes, in earth embankments and the foundation.

434

In the latter it is intended to install triangular weir

flowmeters and superficial marks for settlement meters.
The tunnels will receive convergence meters, typically at
every 50 metre stake. The concrete structures are planned
to receive standpipe foundation piezometers, orthogonal
jointmeters, extensometers and triangular weir
flowmeters with reference to foundation drainage.

9. TECHNICAL FEATURES
9.1. General
General
Location

RJ/MG, Rio Paraba do Sul,

2202'00"S, 4300'00"W
Year of commencement
2007
Year of conclusion (foreseen)
2010
Owner
FURNAS
Designer
ENGEVIX
Civil Contractors
CCS - CONSRCIO
CONSTRUTOR SIMPLCIO
(CONSTRUTORA NORBERTO ODEBRECHT,
ANDRADE GUTIERREZ)
Manufacturer / Erector
IMPSA
Basic Data
Area of the hydrographic basin
Mean annual precipitation
Mean annual temperature
Quantities
Common excavation
Excavation in rock
Subterranean excavation
Compacted clay
Rockfill
Concrete (RCC, conventional)
Reinforcement steel
9.2. Anta HPP
Reservoir
Area at maximum normal level
Total storage volume
Active storage volume
Length
Maximum width
Maximum normal water level
Maximum flood water level
Minimum water level
Tailrace channel
Maximum normal water level
Maximum flood water level
Minimum water level

29,815 km
1,250 mm
22C

9,136,181 m
2,014,885 m
2,002,647 m
2,616,950 m
1,314,717 m
225,479 m
5,385 ton

10.68 km
83.80 hm
0.00 hm
29 km
1,000 m
251.50 m
253.70 m
251.50 m

233.15 m
247.76 m
232.14 m

Main Brazilian Dams III

Flows
Mean incoming flow
Maximum recorded flow
Minimum daily flow recorded
Residual flow (normal situation)
Residual flow (critical situation)
Diversion flood and time of recurrence
Ten thousand year flood
Dam
Type
Length
Height
Crest elevation
Crest width

557 m/s
3,215 m/s
119 m/s
90 m/s
71 m/s
4,611 m/s;
50 years
8,408 m/s

RCC
274 m
20 m
254.20 m
6.69 m

Main Spillway
Type
Length with the dissipation pool
Useful width of the openings
Capacity
Maximum specific discharge

Gated
133.37 m
45 m
6,800 m/s
151.11 m/s/m

Auxiliary Spillway
Type
Length
Width
Capacity
Maximum specific discharge

Overflow / RCC
250 m
24.92 m
1,700 m/s
6.8 m/s/m

Spillway Gates
Type
Number
Width
Height
Manufacturer
Water Intake
Type
Width
Maximum height
Intake Gates
Type
Number
Width
Height
Manufacturer
Diversion
Type
Diversion structure
Height
Length

Radial
3
15.00 m
18.50 m
IMPSA

Integrated into Powerhouse

27.60 m
29.1 m

Stoplog
4
4.95 m
9.70 m
IMPSA

In stages
Cofferdams and diversion channel
10 to 15 m
600 m

Powerhouse
Type
Height
Length (with Intake)
Installed capacity

Indoor
38 m
36.5 m
28 MW

Draft Tube Gates

Type
Number
Width
Height

Fixed wheel
4
4.76 m
4.40 m

Turbine
Type
Number of units
Rated power
Rated head
Maximum discharge per unit
Rated speed
Manufacturer
Generator
Type
Rated power
Voltage
Frequency
Rotation
Manufacturer

Kaplan
2
14.33 MW
16.47 m
95 m/s
180 rpm
IMPSA

Vertical shaft, synchronous

16,000 kVA
13.8 kV
60 Hz
163.63 rpm
IMPSA

Step-up Transformers
Number
3
Type
Single-phase, submerged in insulating oil,
for outdoor installation
Rated power
11 MVA
Voltage
13.8 - 138 kV
Manufacturer
IMPSA
9.3. Simplcio HPP
Tailrace channel
Maximum normal water level
Maximum flood water level
Minimum water level
Water Intake
Type
Length
Maximum height
Intake Gates
Type
Number
Width
Height
Manufacturer

140.22 m
152.50 m
138.50 m

Gravity
21.40 m
32.00 m

Fixed wheel
3
4.30 m
6.50 m
IMPSA

435

Main Brazilian Dams III

Penstock tunnel
Type
Number
Internal diameter
Length
Manufacturer

Partially steel lined

3
6.00 m
113.00 m
IMPSA

Powerhouse
Type
Height
Length
Installed capacity

Indoor
42.20 m
39.50 m
305.7 MW

Turbine
Type
Number of units
Rated power
Rated head
Maximum discharge per unit
Rated speed
Manufacturer

436

Francis
3
104 MW
101.65 m
113.33 m/s
225 rpm
IMPSA

Generator
Type
Rated power
Voltage
Frequency
Rotation
Manufacturer

Vertical shaft, synchronous

113,330 kVA
13.8 kV
60 Hz
225 rpm
IMPSA

Step-up Transformers
Number
3
Type
three-phase, submerged in insulating oil,
outdoor installation
Rated power
68 / 97.27 / 113.33 MVA
Voltage
13.8 - 138 kV
Manufacturer
IMPSA

10. BIBLIOGRAPHY
[1] ENGEVIX, AHE Simplcio Queda nica - Projeto
Bsico - Relatrio Geral n. 8922-02-10-RL-0002, Braslia,
DF, 2006;
[2] ENGEVIX, AHE Simplcio Queda nica - Projeto
Bsico Ambiental n. 8922-01-60-RL-0016, Braslia, DF,
2006.

Printed in May 2009

Impressul Indstria Grfica Ltda
Rua Venncio da Silva Porto, 1061 - Centro
Jaragua do Sul - SC
Tel: 47 2106-9000