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MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING HYDROPOWER ENERGY APPLICATION

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved. 1

BELL WORK ACTIVITYAnswer the following questions on a sheet of paper.

1. Generators are devices used to create electricity; identify five different ways to power them.

2. Would you consider a barrel of water a form of stored energy? Why or why not?

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Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.

WARM-UP ACTIVITY HYDROPOWER ENERGY APPLICATION TERMS 1. Complete The Hydropower Energy Application

Terms and Definitions handout.

2. Students may work in groups.

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OVERVIEW

Hydropower energy production has increased globally in the past decade. China, Canada, Brazil, USA, and Russia are the top five users of hydropower. Hydropower plants produce approximately 24% of the world’s energy used. The US has over 2000 hydropower plants in operation. Technology gives us the ability to capture and use the stored energy, available in large bodies of water, to create electrical energy.

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THE GROWTH OF HYDROPOWER Hydropower is created by water flowing through large dams. The energy produced is connected to a powergrid. Hydropower plants do not generate energy ata level sufficient to replace energy produced by coalor nuclear plants. Hydropower plants generate energyto supplement energy produced by coal and nuclear energy plants.

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HYDROPOWER SYSTEM COMPONENTS


DamIntakeControl gatePenstockTurbineGeneratorTransformer Power lines Outflow

HYDROPOWER ENERGY SYSTEM COMPONENTS

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Reservoir

Dam

Transformers Power lines

Outflow

TurbinePenstock

Control gate

Intake


Generator

HYDROPOWER THEORY OF OPERATIONWhen the control gate is raised, water from thereservoir flows through the intake and penstock. Water pressure increases as it reaches the turbinewheel. The turbine wheel turns and drives a shaft onthe generator. Electrical energy is produced by thegenerator and is fed from the transformers to thepower grind through the power lines.

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