Bhumibol Dam
{{Infobox dam
| name = Bhumibol Dam
| name_official =
| image = Bhumibol dam front.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_alt =
| location_map = Thailand
| location_map_size =
| location_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|17|14|33|N|98|58|20|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = Thailand
| status = In use
| construction_began = 1958
| opening = 1964
| demolished =
| cost =
| owner = Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
| dam_type =
| dam_height = {{Convert|154|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| dam_length = {{Convert|486|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| dam_width_crest = {{Convert|8|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| dam_width_base =
| dam_volume =
| dam_crosses = Ping River
| spillway_count =
| spillway_type =
| spillway_capacity =
| res_name = Bhumibol Reservoir
| res_capacity_total = {{Convert|13462000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}}
| res_capacity_active = {{Convert|9762000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}}
| res_capacity_inactive=
| res_catchment = {{Convert|26400|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}
| res_surface = {{Convert|300|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}
| res_max_depth =
| res_tidal_range =
| plant_operator =
| plant_commission = 1964–1996
| plant_decommission =
| plant_type =
| plant_turbines = 2 x 76.3 MW Francis-type, 1 x 115 MW Pelton-type, 1 x 175 MW Francis pump-turbine
| plant_capacity = 779.2 MW
| plant_annual_gen =
| website =
| extra =
}}
The Bhumibol Dam (formerly known as the Yanhi Dam) is a concrete arch dam on the Ping River, a tributary of the Chao Phraya River, in Sam Ngao District of Tak Province, Thailand. It is about {{Convert|480|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of Bangkok and was built for the purposes of water storage, hydroelectric power production, flood control, fisheries and saltwater intrusion management. The dam was named after King Bhumibol Adulyadej and it was Thailand's first multi-purpose project. It is the highest dam in Thailand at {{Convert|154|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall.{{cite book|author=Philip Hirsch, Carol Warren |date= 31 January 2002|title=The Politics of Environment in Southeast Asia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kuiFAgAAQBAJ&q=highest+Dam+in+Thailand+154m&pg=PA51 |page= 51 |publisher=Routledge |isbn= 9781134690459|access-date=2 November 2019}}{{cite book|author=Martin Wieland, Qingwen Ren, John S.Y. Tan |date= 14 May 2014|title=New Developments in Dam Engineering: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Dam Engineering, 18–20 October, Nanjing, China |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q7YL5MkwRmEC&q=highest+dam+in+Thailand+154+m&pg=PA178 |page= 178 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn= 9780203020678|access-date=2 November 2019}}
Background
The dam was originally called Yanhee Dam in 1951 when the government of prime minister Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram initiated the project. It was renamed Bhumibol Dam in 1957.{{cite news|title=Nai Luang, the great traveller|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special-reports/1114797/nai-luang-the-great-traveller|accessdate=20 October 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=20 October 2016}}
The dam, among others in the Chao Phraya basin, was constructed beginning in the 1950s to exploit the agricultural and hydroelectric potential of the basin. Construction on the dam began in 1958 and was finished in 1964 at a cost of 3.5 billion baht. The reservoir was completely filled in 1970. The first two generators were commissioned in 1964. In 1972, the Sirikit Dam was completed on the Nan River, one of two major tributaries of the Chao Phraya including the Ping. The Bhumibol and Sirikit Dams control 22 percent of the Chao Phraya's annual runoff combined.{{cite web|title=Chao Phraya River Basin (Thailand)|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:dJY3IyC4BXcJ:www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/chao_phraya/chao_phraya.pdf+Chao+Phraya+River+Basin+UNESCO&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESg3lABnssp5mFjeTatxs2X9DXQGcpYfNPZbnKyWS70cXtoYLmWGgIimAtG5BScHso3p50ik3Gklc7lsZl9sPlb3d0rktulAno7Pqd7VX0mAXofve20yvgrs5xsHmQFqmYxK5TTs&sig=AHIEtbRml7z8FMbtyRH491Xm94Rpc482tQ |publisher=UNESCO |pages=392| accessdate=6 March 2011}} Both dams also help provide for the irrigation of {{Convert|1200000|ha|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} in the wet season and {{Convert|480000|ha|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} in the dry season.{{cite web|title=Bhumibol Dam |url=http://www.rid.go.th/eng/kw-13_eg.htm |publisher=Royal Irrigation Department - Thailand |accessdate=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917023206/http://www.rid.go.th/eng/kw-13_eg.htm |archive-date=17 September 2008 }}
In 1991, the Lower Mae Ping Dam ({{Coord|17|14|31|N|99|00|58|E|name=Lower Mae Ping Dam}}) was constructed {{Convert|5|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} downstream to create a lower reservoir for the one pumped-storage turbine that was installed. When constructed, the Bhumibol Dam contributed 73.66 percent of Thailand's power generation and in 2003 that number was 2 percent.{{cite web|title=Bhumibol Dam, Thailand|url=http://www.sustainablehydropower.org/site/social/schemes/bhumibol.html|website=Sustainable Hydropower|accessdate=6 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319214530/http://www.sustainablehydropower.org/site/social/schemes/bhumibol.html |archive-date=19 March 2018 }}
During the 2011 Thailand floods, rainfall for March 2011 over the area of northern Thailand was an extraordinary 344 percent above normal. Bhumibol Dam in particular got {{convert|242.8|mm}} of rain, {{convert|224.7|mm}} above the mean of {{convert|25.2|mm}} and since 1 January had accumulated {{convert|245.9|mm}}, {{convert|216|mm}} or 186 percent above normal.{{cite news |title=The Thai floods, rain, and water going into the dams – Part 2 |author=Bangkok Pundit |newspaper=Asian Correspondent|date= 3 November 2011|quote= Monthly Current Report Rainfall and Accumulative Rainfall March 2011. Source: Thai Meteorological Department}}{{failed verification|date=March 2018}}
Design
The dam is an arch-gravity type and is {{Convert|154|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall, {{Convert|486|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} long and {{Convert|8|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} wide at its crest. It withholds a reservoir of {{Convert|13462000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}} of which {{Convert|9762000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}} is active or "useful" storage. The dam's catchment area is {{Convert|26400|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}
while its surface area is {{Convert|300|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}. The Lower Mae Ping Dam is {{Convert|8|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} high, {{Convert|300|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} long and has a storage capacity of {{Convert|5000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}}. In off-peak hours, the one pump-turbine returns water back into the Bhumibol (upper) reservoir and when demand is high, the pump serves as a generator for power production.
Power station
The power plant contains eight turbines for an installed capacity of {{convert|779.2|MW}}.{{cite web|title=Bhumibol Dam|url=https://www.egat.co.th/en/information/power-plants-and-dams?view=article&id=50|website=Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)|accessdate=19 March 2018|archive-date=5 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105044209/https://www.egat.co.th/en/information/power-plants-and-dams?view=article&id=50|url-status=dead}} Six are {{convert|76.3|MW}} Francis-type, one is a {{convert|115|MW}} Pelton turbine and one is a {{convert|175|MW}} Francis pump-turbine.{{cite web|title=Bhumibol Hydroelectric Power Project Thailand|url=http://globalenergyobservatory.org/geoid/41501|website=Global Energy Observatory|accessdate=19 March 2018}}
The dam's power house underwent upgrades and renovations in the 1990s.
EGAT plans to add 205 MW of floating solar panels to the dams catchment area to turn the dam in to a hybrid power generation facility with a planned completion date of 2027.{{cite web |title=Thailand kicks off tender for 205 MW hydro-floating solar hybrid project |url=https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/03/24/thailand-kicks-off-tender-for-205-mw-hydro-floating-solar-hybrid-project/ |website=pv magazine International |access-date=24 March 2025 |date=24 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=Bidding documents for Bhumibol Dam Floating Solar Project 1 now available until April 18, 2025 |url=https://www.egat.co.th/home/en/20250324e_02/ |website=EGAT |publisher=EGAT |access-date=24 March 2025}}
Climate
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Bhumibol Dam (1991–2020, extremes 1960-present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 37.9
|Feb record high C = 40.8
|Mar record high C = 42.3
|Apr record high C = 43.7
|May record high C = 43.0
|Jun record high C = 39.5
|Jul record high C = 39.0
|Aug record high C = 38.5
|Sep record high C = 38.0
|Oct record high C = 36.7
|Nov record high C = 37.4
|Dec record high C = 35.7
|year record high C =
|Jan record low C = 7.0
|Feb record low C = 9.6
|Mar record low C = 12.1
|Apr record low C = 18.0
|May record low C = 20.5
|Jun record low C = 20.0
|Jul record low C = 20.4
|Aug record low C = 20.6
|Sep record low C = 20.1
|Oct record low C = 15.8
|Nov record low C = 10.7
|Dec record low C = 6.3
|year record low C =
|Jan high C = 31.9
|Feb high C = 34.8
|Mar high C = 37.3
|Apr high C = 38.2
|May high C = 35.7
|Jun high C = 33.8
|Jul high C = 33.1
|Aug high C = 32.9
|Sep high C = 33.0
|Oct high C = 32.3
|Nov high C = 31.8
|Dec high C = 30.6
| year high C =
|Jan mean C = 23.8
|Feb mean C = 26.6
|Mar mean C = 29.8
|Apr mean C = 30.9
|May mean C = 29.7
|Jun mean C = 28.7
|Jul mean C = 28.4
|Aug mean C = 28.1
|Sep mean C = 27.7
|Oct mean C = 26.6
|Nov mean C = 25.2
|Dec mean C = 23.2
| year mean C =
|Jan low C = 17.8
|Feb low C = 19.6
|Mar low C = 23.1
|Apr low C = 25.2
|May low C = 25.2
|Jun low C = 25.0
|Jul low C = 24.7
|Aug low C = 24.5
|Sep low C = 23.9
|Oct low C = 22.7
|Nov low C = 20.6
|Dec low C = 17.9
| year low C =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 8.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 6.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 30.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 64.7
|May precipitation mm = 191.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 108.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 69.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 119.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 224.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 186.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 28.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 8.7
| year precipitation mm = 1046.5
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 0.8
|Feb precipitation days = 0.7
|Mar precipitation days = 2.1
|Apr precipitation days = 4.0
|May precipitation days = 10.5
|Jun precipitation days = 10.4
|Jul precipitation days = 9.3
|Aug precipitation days = 10.8
|Sep precipitation days = 12.9
|Oct precipitation days = 11.7
|Nov precipitation days = 2.6
|Dec precipitation days = 0.9
|year precipitation days = 76.7
|Jan humidity = 69.7
|Feb humidity = 58.5
|Mar humidity = 54.1
|Apr humidity = 59.5
|May humidity = 70.6
|Jun humidity = 74.0
|Jul humidity = 73.5
|Aug humidity = 75.4
|Sep humidity = 79.7
|Oct humidity = 83.2
|Nov humidity = 79.4
|Dec humidity = 75.4
| year humidity = 71.1
|Jan sun = 272.8
|Feb sun = 257.6
|Mar sun = 294.5
|Apr sun = 279.0
|May sun = 198.4
|Jun sun = 117.0
|Jul sun = 120.9
|Aug sun = 117.8
|Sep sun = 108.0
|Oct sun = 182.9
|Nov sun = 216.0
|Dec sun = 272.8
|year sun =
|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Thailand/CSV/BhumibolDam_48377.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020: Bhumibol Dam
| format = CSV
| publisher = National Centers for Environmental Information
| access-date = 12 October 2023}}
|source 2 = Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department (sun 1981–2010){{cite web
| url = http://water.rid.go.th/hwm/cropwater/CWRdata/ETo/ETo_PenMon_2554.pdf
| title = ปริมาณการใช้น้ำของพืชอ้างอิงโดยวิธีของ Penman Monteith (Reference Crop Evapotranspiration by Penman Monteith)
| publisher = Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department
| page = 29
| language = th
| access-date = 1 August 2016}}(extremes){{cite web
| url = http://climate.tmd.go.th/content/file/75
| title = Climatological Data for the Period 1981–2010
| publisher = Thai Meteorological Department
| accessdate = 4 August 2016}}
}}
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Thailand|Water|Renewable energy}}}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Bhumibol Dam}}
- [http://www.bhumiboldam.egat.com/ Bhumibol Dam] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118231335/http://www.bhumiboldam.egat.com/ |date=2017-11-18 }} at Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- [ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/TH/48377.TXT WMO Climate Normals: Bhumibol Dam]
Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Thailand
Category:Pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations in Thailand
Category:Dams completed in 1964
Category:Buildings and structures in Tak province