Hydropower and Water Turbines

Renewable Energy Resources

Hydropower

Objectives:• To design and construct a water wheel, using the

principles of hydropower, which will lift the greatest possible load.

• Demonstrate understanding of the required parts of a hydropower turbine.

• Utilize mechanical and conceptual skills through construction and operation of a model hydropower turbine.

Hydropower

Does water have energy?• If so, what type of energy?• What does water need to be doing to utilise its

energy?

Hydropower

Reminder:Potential Kinetic

• Gravitational Potential – energy due to the position of an object.

• Chemical Potential – energy present within the chemical bonds of a substance.

• Elastic potential – energy of a stretched or compressed object.

• Nuclear potential – energy of particles inside an atomic nucleus.

• Radiant solar energy – the motion of EMR

• Sound energy – the motion of sound waves

• Electrical energy – the motion of flowing electrons

• Thermal energy – the motion of particles

Hydropower and Water Turbines

Lake Tyin near Årdal, Norway

Hydropower

According to Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy

• Norway has the world's largest per capita hydropower production.

• Norway is the 6th largest hydropower producer in the world.

• In a year with normal precipitation, hydropower generation is around 120 Terawatt hours per year, corresponding to approximately 99 % of Norway's total power production.

Source: Ministry of Petroleum and Energy

Hydropower History in Norway

• The largest hydropower development projects were carried out between 1970 and 1985, when installed capacity increased on an average of 4.1 per cent per year.

• Towards the end of the 1980s, Norway’s rate of hydropower development declined.

Source: Ministry of Petroleum and Energy

Hydropower History in Norway

• Since the beginning of the 1990s, addition of new production capacity has been consistently low. Capacity increased by 800 MW from 1993 to 2005.

• The increase in the 1990s was primarily due to refurbishment and upgrading of old power stations, which resulted in better utilisation of existing power stations.

Source: Ministry of Petroleum and Energy

Hydropower in Canada

• Provides 60% of Canada’s electricity and is a cornerstone of Canada’s economy.

• 3rd Largest hydro producer in the world.• 355 Terawatt hours per year of electricity

produced.

Source: Canadian Hydropower Association

Comparison of hydropower produced

• Norway– 120 Terawatt hours per year (5 million people)

• Canada– 355 Terawatt hours per year (35 million people)

• Sweden?– 65 Terawatt hours per year (9.5 million people)

Not a “new” idea…Watermill of Braine-le-Château, Belgium (12th century)

Hydropower

• But far more efficient now!• Converting over 90% of available energy into

electricity, hydropower is the most efficient source of electrical energy.

• By comparison, the best fossil fuel power plants operate at approximately 60% efficiency.

Source: Canadian Hydropower Association

Hydropower

• We have seen how it works.• What components make it the

most efficient?• Let’s design and test our

knowledge.

• Most is created when a stored potential energy of water in a reservoir behind a dam is converted to kinetic energy (motion) as it falls through a penstock (pipes and or channels) to a turbine.

Hydropower

• The motion of the turbine's electro-magnets interacts with the coils of a generator to create electrical energy.

Hydropower

Challenge:• Can you design a water wheel to raise a

maximum amount of weight?

Hydropower

Challenge:

Step 1: Design – Things to consider:a. Fin size (small to larger)b. Fin shapec. Number of finsd. Organization of fins

Source

• Adapted from Power Sleuth