hydropower
Post on 17-Jan-2015
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HYDROPOWER
• Energy of moving water
• As long as sun shines and rain and snow fall we will have hydropower
History
• Greeks used water wheels to grind wheat into flour over 2000 years ago
In early 1800’s, water wheels were used to power machines in factories
In the late 1800’s,
hydropower was first used
to generate electricity
Photograph of old power plant above Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls , American Falls
Easier to build on a river where there is a natural waterfall
Athabasca Falls, Oregon
Dams make artificial waterfalls
Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River between Washington & Oregon
The water held back by the dams (reservoirs) are stored energy
Lake Powell Utah
The dam needs gates to open & close
The water spins the blades of the turbines
This is a turbine that has been
replaced at the
Bonneville Dam
Old turbine being removed
Replacement Turbine
the generator (the turbine is underneath)
Row of turbines
in the
powerhouse
Power plant at Bonneville Dam
Advantages
Cheapest way to produce electricity in the United States
Does not pollute
Does not add to global warming
Is a renewable energy source
Disadvantages
*Changes the flow of the river
*Land floods where reservoir is formed
*Some beautiful, fertile land might be flooded
*People and businesses may need to relocate
* Fish and wildlife may be disturbed
Example: Pacific Salmon
Top view offish ladders
Window into fish ladder
Hydropower in the U.S.
Most hydropower
1. Washington
2. California
3. New York
4. Oregon
5. Tennessee
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