Marmelos Zero Power Plant

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Marmelos Zero Power Plant
Usina Marmelos Zero (1903).jpg
The power plant in 1903
Relief Map of Brazil.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of Marmelos Zero Power Plant in Brazil
Official nameUsina de Marmelos Zero
Country Brazil
Location Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais
Coordinates 21°47′12″S43°18′30″W / 21.78667°S 43.30833°W / -21.78667; -43.30833 Coordinates: 21°47′12″S43°18′30″W / 21.78667°S 43.30833°W / -21.78667; -43.30833
StatusDecommissioned
Owner(s) CEMIG
Dam and spillways
Impounds Paraibuna River
Commission date1889
Decommission date1896
Type Conventional
Turbines 2 (125 kW)
Installed capacity 250 kW (340 hp)

The Marmelos Zero Power Plant is a decommissioned hydroelectric power plant on the Paraibuna River in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Inaugurated in 1889, plant was the first major hydroelectric power plant constructed in South America, specifically for public use. [1] [2] It was purchased by CEMIG in 1980 and now serves as a museum. The Marmelos IA and II downstream are still in operation and are serviced by the original dam.

Paraibuna River (Minas Gerais) river in Brazil

The Paraibuna is a river in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, and a major tributary of the Paraíba do Sul. It flows through the important commercial and industrial city of Juiz de Fora.

Juiz de Fora Municipality in Southeast, Brazil

Juiz de Fora, also known as J.F., is a city in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the state border with Rio de Janeiro. According to 2017 estimates the current population is about 563,769 inhabitants. The geographical area of the municipality is 1,437 km2 (555 sq mi).

Minas Gerais State of Brazil

Minas Gerais is a state in Southeastern Brazil. It ranks as the second most populous, the third by gross domestic product (GDP), and the fourth largest by area in the country. The state's capital and largest city, Belo Horizonte, is a major urban and finance center in Latin America, and the sixth largest municipality in Brazil, after the cities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Brasilia and Fortaleza, but its metropolitan area is the third largest in Brazil with just over 5,800,000 inhabitants, after those of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Nine Brazilian presidents were born in Minas Gerais, the most of any state.

Contents

History

Bernardo Mascarenhas (1846-1899) became a resident of Juiz de Fora and as an adult became interested in providing electricity for the city. In 1886, Mascarenhas and banker Francisco Batista de Oliveira received approval from the city to use the Marmelos Falls for electric production and they subsequently incorporated the Minas Electricity Company. [1] In February 1889, construction on the power plant began and by August, it began to produce initial electricity. The plant was inaugurated on September 5, 1889. [3]

The power plant was supported by a 51-metre (167 ft) long and 2.4-metre (7 ft 10 in) high dam which diverts water into a canal on the river's southern bank that supplies the power station downstream. [4] At first, the power plant utilized two 125 kW (168 hp) generators which operated single-phase alternators at a frequency of 60 hertz. In the next year, the plant powered 180 light-bulbs. In the following years, a third generator was added to the plant and it powered over 700 light-bulbs and contributed to industrial and public use in the city. [1] By 1896, the power plant was decommissioned as new and improved plants such as the Marmelos I, IA and II were built that could better utilize the Marmelos Falls. [1] Marmelos I is also decommissioned while IA and II continue operations with a capacity of 4 MW (5,400 hp). [4] [5]

Dam A barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface or underground streams

A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aquaculture, and navigability. Hydropower is often used in conjunction with dams to generate electricity. A dam can also be used to collect water or for storage of water which can be evenly distributed between locations. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. The earliest known dam is the Jawa Dam in Jordan, dating to 3,000 BC.

Alternator Electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current

An alternator is an electrical generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current. For reasons of cost and simplicity, most alternators use a rotating magnetic field with a stationary armature. Occasionally, a linear alternator or a rotating armature with a stationary magnetic field is used. In principle, any AC electrical generator can be called an alternator, but usually the term refers to small rotating machines driven by automotive and other internal combustion engines. An alternator that uses a permanent magnet for its magnetic field is called a magneto. Alternators in power stations driven by steam turbines are called turbo-alternators. Large 50 or 60 Hz three-phase alternators in power plants generate most of the world's electric power, which is distributed by electric power grids.

In 1980, CEMIG purchased the power plant and renovated it. It became licensed as a museum in 1983 and as of 2000 it is maintained by Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora under an agreement with CEMIG. [3]

CEMIG Brazilian power company

CEMIG is a Brazilian power company headquartered in Belo Horizonte capital of the state of Minas Gerais. The company is one of the largest power generators and distributors in Brazil being responsible for 12% of the national distribution. The company is the fourth largest electricity company in Brazil by revenue after Eletrobras, Energisa and CPFL Energia.

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Marmelo may refer to:

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Marcolin, Neldson (December 2005). "Routes of Electricity". Pesquisa Online. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  2. ↑ "Cultural Projects". CEMIG. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Museu Usina Marmelos Zero" (in Portuguese). Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Cemig promotes meeting on management of reservoirs in Juiz de Fora" (in Portuguese). Radio Cultura. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  5. ↑ "IEPHA MG features: Power Plant Quinces". IEPHA. August 9, 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
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