The Xiluodu Hydropower Station, with an installed capacity of 13.86 million kilowatts, ranks as China's second-largest and the world's third-largest hydropower station. As the启动 project for the development of the Jinsha River, it finally completed its magnificent transformation in 2014, with cumulative power generation exceeding 150 billion kWh.

Looking at the entire construction process of the Xiluodu Project from the early stages to commissioning, one cannot fail to mention the fourth chief designer, Wang Renkun, Chief Engineer of PowerChina Chengdu Engineering Corporation Limited (referred to as Chengdu Institute). A PhD graduate of Tsinghua University, Wang Renkun has reaped abundant rewards on his journey of staying true to his original aspiration. He enjoys special government allowances from the State Council and was selected for the New Century Hundred, Thousand and Ten Thousand Talent Project, being one of the youngest selected at the time. In December 2016, he was elected as a National Engineering Survey and Design Master in the eighth batch, becoming the third person from the institute to receive this honor after Liu Keyuan and Li Wengang.

Dedication: 30 Years Devoted to Xiluodu

The Xiluodu Project is highly challenging in terms of comprehensive technology, featuring a high arch dam, high seismic intensity, massive discharge capacity, and super-large underground cavern groups. In order to design a construction scheme that is safe and reliable, technically feasible, economically reasonable, and environmentally beautiful, generations of Chengdu Institute personnel have made arduous and outstanding efforts.

Wang Renkun is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding representatives among them. After graduation, he has been engaged in hydropower engineering design, presiding over or participating in the design of more than 20 large and medium-sized hydropower projects at home and abroad. From an ordinary engineer, he gradually grew into one of the top technical decision-makers of the Chengdu Institute. The successful commissioning of super-high arch dam mega hydropower stations such as Xiluodu, Jinping I, and Dagangshan, which Wang Renkun presided over designing, represents the highest level of hydropower technology in the world today. He is hailed as the technical leader and leading figure in China's super-high arch dam design field.

Wang Renkun worked on the Xiluodu Project for 30 years. To describe his relationship with Xiluodu in one word, it would be "love." He believes that excellent design cannot be separated from advanced design thinking and concepts. The double-curvature arch dam is a dam type suitable for narrow valleys with superior safety and economy, featuring a reasonable structure, good force distribution, and the ability to greatly save concrete.

Wang Renkun often asks himself: "Is the arch dam shape we designed already optimal? Can raising the foundation surface guarantee safety?"

In the dead of night, Wang Renkun seems to hear the call of distant rivers again, and see the great river flowing ceaselessly day and night. He is determined to blaze a new trail and open up new horizons.

So he started with the most challenging aspect—the arch dam foundation surface—and began optimizing the foundation surface.

Responsibility: Think Thrice Before Acting to Solve Problems

Wang Renkun has interpreted Confucius's "think thrice before acting" as follows: when facing a problem, think more, find a approach, and elevate it to the height of thought to determine a way out. Action after such repeated thinking will not deviate from the proper path that truly solves the problem. The Xiluodu team, under his leadership, matured and grew strong, which is inseparable from his wisdom.

Speaking of this, one must mention the Xiluodu shafts. The underground powerhouses on the left and right banks of Xiluodu each have 2 cable shafts. Three of the shafts have an inner diameter of 10 meters, and one has an inner diameter of 11 meters. The shaft depth is 488.5 meters on the left bank and 493.5 meters on the right bank. In addition to cable laying, the shafts are important channels connecting the surface and underground, ventilation, and safe evacuation.

With current construction technology, excavating a shaft of such depth in rock is not difficult. However, the Xiluodu shafts encountered a stumbling block—the overburden layer, which is 120 meters deep, with rock mass only below it.

Considering the need for structural lining, the excavation cross-section diameter is 14 to 15 meters. A cable shaft of such large size passing through such a massive overburden layer has no precedent in hydropower engineering or other mining engineering. How to design? How to construct? The problem is there and must be solved. Wang Renkun once again demonstrated the wisdom and capability of a chief engineer; he was determined to find a method suitable for the Xiluodu shafts.

"Think thrice before acting"—Wang Renkun started with the essence of the problem.

The biggest problem in overburden excavation is stability, and a circular shaft has the best force distribution, which is most favorable for stability. Considering the shaft structure itself, the shaft wall is used to ensure stability—excavate a section and line a section. This is the first step of the approach. But after excavating to a certain depth and lining to a certain distance, a problem arises: when the overburden below the lining structure is excavated, the shaft wall will slide downward under the action of gravity.

For Wang Renkun, who is well-versed in various mechanical principles, a solution immediately came to mind. Design a structure for the shaft wall from the very beginning and lock it at the shaft opening—Wang Renkun thought of a bell-mouth-shaped collar at the shaft opening.

This collar not only effectively solves the above-mentioned problem but also provides downward gravity to compact the soil layer below, which is beneficial for excavation. This original construction method ensured the safe and smooth formation of the shafts and also obtained various patents and awards.

Philosophy: Excellent Design Is Always in Progress

Beyond engineering technical issues, a detail about the Xiluodu Jinsha River Bridge that Wang Renkun mentioned casually is even more deeply moving.

The Jinsha River Bridge is an important transport channel connecting the left and right banks of the Xiluodu Project. In the initial design scheme, the right end of the bridge was close to the rock wall, and there were many dangerous rock masses on the wall. To ensure road traffic safety, it would inevitably be necessary to treat dangerous rock masses distributed at heights of hundreds of meters, which is difficult and costly.

Considering the harmony of the entire Xiluodu project environment, Wang Renkun hoped not to destroy the natural rock wall landscape. He proposed moving the bridge position up by 100 meters. For the problem of insufficient turning radius for connecting the right bank bridge end with ground traffic, he suggested using a half-interchange solution.

Wang Renkun likes to talk about Xiluodu. The scenes he describes make listeners both excited and warm. He said: "These rock walls are majestic and magnificent. Viewed from a distance, various mythological figures are lifelike—there are Xi Xiangu, Diaochan, Maitreya Buddha, and even gods and demons from Journey to the West. You can find them all here. They are truly diverse in form and exquisite in workmanship. They are a gift from nature to Xiluodu, and we must never ruin them." Wang Renkun has always viewed engineering problems through the eyes of an excellent engineer. He once said: "There is always more than one solution to any engineering problem. Which solution is more suitable for a specific project is what an outstanding designer should consider." Later, the Jinsha River Bridge was built in its current form according to Wang Renkun's suggestions, with vehicles shuttling freely on and under the bridge, as if telling a beautiful story.

Character: An Endless Climb on the Journey of Life

In technical breakthroughs and innovative research, Wang Renkun is a rare talent. It is also rare to find someone like him who possesses such passion and understanding for the hydropower cause. With his broad mind, Wang Renkun deeply cherishes his love for the motherland's hydropower cause and for every employee who works with him day and night, demonstrating the excellent humanistic qualities of the Chengdu Institute. Now holding multiple positions, despite his busy work, he still enjoys communicating with employees. He often delivers witty remarks, hitting the nail on the head with humor and charm, making listeners feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

In fact, Wang Renkun's intelligence and talent are not much greater than others'. If you see him humbly asking questions like a student about things he doesn't understand, and carefully taking notes on unfamiliar fields of knowledge, then you will understand that there are no "supermen" in this world.

In addition to caring about the development of the hydropower cause, Wang Renkun also focuses on the research and application of new technologies. He led the promotion of the "3D Collaborative Design System," significantly enhancing the design level of China's hydropower and water conservancy industry. He keeps his mission firmly in mind and bravely takes responsibility, going deep into the Wenchuan earthquake-stricken project areas and barrier lake danger elimination efforts. His outstanding knowledge and abilities and his valuable hydropower passion have won widespread recognition from the industry and society.

Through more than 30 years of struggle, Wang Renkun has received numerous honors, including "National Outstanding Science and Technology Worker," "National May 1 Labor Medal," "Outstanding Communist Party Member of Central Enterprises," and "First Outstanding Engineer of China Dams." He serves as Director of the National Certified Enterprise Technology Center, and Director of the National Energy High Concrete Dam Sub-center and the Large Underground Engineering Sub-center.

However, Wang Renkun has not immersed himself in one success after another, nor has he rested on his laurels and gloated over his honors. He always maintains humility, prudence, and freedom from arrogance and impetuosity.

"These achievements and honors were jointly created by the collective of the Chengdu Institute, and more importantly, they are the mission bestowed on hydropower workers by this great era," Wang Renkun said.

The next project site, the next conference speech, the next technical challenge, the next research breakthrough... there are still many such "nexts" waiting for him.

Rivers surge endlessly, and the climb never stops—this is the hydropower life that Wang Renkun firmly practices.