Penstock Rupture
On December 12, 2000, at approximately 20:10, the Cleuson-Dixence penstock, feeding the Pelton turbines at Bieudron, ruptured at ~1234 meters AMSL (under more than 1000 meters of head). The failure appears to have been due to several factors including the poor strength of rock surrounding the penstock at the rupture location. The rupture was approximately 9 m long by 60 cm wide. The flow rate through the rupture was likely well in excess of 150 m3/s (5,300 cu ft/s). The ensuing rapid release of a very large quantity of high pressure water destroyed approximately 100 hectares (1 km²) of pastures, orchards, forest, as well as washing away several chalets and barns around Nendaz and Fey. Three people were killed in the tragedy.
The Bieudron facility was inoperative after the accident; however it became partially operational in December 2009 and fully operational in January 2010. Much investigation went into the accident resulting in the almost complete redesign of the penstock. Legal action is still in process and there is no clear definitive publicly available information on the root cause of the rupture.
Read more about this topic: Bieudron Hydroelectric Power Station
Famous quotes containing the word rupture:
“Awareness requires a rupture with the world we take for granted; then old categories of experience are called into question and revised.”
—Shoshana Zuboff (b. 1951)