Hydro-Electric Energy
Hydro-electricity is energy made from moving of water.
"Hydro" means water
Hydro-electricity is an alternative energy resource.
Pros of hydro-electricity:
1) It's renewable (Because of the water cycle)
2) It's reliable (Rarely has short outs)
3) You can never run out (Does not use the water only the energy)
4) It's eco-friendly (Does not pollute or use oil)
5) It doesn't take much man-power (The water runs through the dam with no man power)
Cons of hydro-electricity:
1) There's not a lot of power plants for it
2) Droughts can cause trouble for it
3) Dams can change water flow causing people and animals to move
4) Expensive to build dams
5) Water pressure could break the dam
Interesting facts
1) Most significant renewable energy source
2) It generates 9% of the power used in the U.S
3) We have been using Hydro-electric energy for over 1,000 years
The picture you see to the side is how Hydro-electricity is made. A hydraulic turbine converts the energy of flowing water into mechanical energy. A hydroelectric generator converts the mechanical energy into electricity.
The operation of a generator was discovered by Faraday. He found that when a magnet is moved past a conductor, it causes electricity to flow. In a large generator, electromagnets are made by circulating direct current through loops of wire wound around stacks of magnetic steel laminations. These are called field poles, and are mounted on the perimeter of the rotor. The rotor is attached to the turbine shaft, and rotates at a fixed speed. When the rotor turns, it causes the field poles (the electromagnets) to move past the conductors mounted in the stator. This, in turn, causes electricity to flow and a voltage to develop at the generator output terminals.
The History of Hydro-electricity:
Hydroelectric energy has been in use for thousands of years. Ancient Romans built turbines, which are wheels turned by flowing water. Roman turbines were not used for electricity, but for grinding grains to make flour and breads.
Water mills are another source of hydroelectric energy. Water mills, which were common until the Industrial Revolution, are large wheels usually located on the banks flowing rivers. Water mills generate energy that powers such as grinding grain, cutting lumber, or creating hot fires to create steel.
The first U.S. hydroelectric power plant was built on the Fox River in 1882 in Appleton, Wisconsin. This plant powered two mills and one home.
Hydro-electricity is energy made from moving of water.
"Hydro" means water
Hydro-electricity is an alternative energy resource.
Pros of hydro-electricity:
1) It's renewable (Because of the water cycle)
2) It's reliable (Rarely has short outs)
3) You can never run out (Does not use the water only the energy)
4) It's eco-friendly (Does not pollute or use oil)
5) It doesn't take much man-power (The water runs through the dam with no man power)
Cons of hydro-electricity:
1) There's not a lot of power plants for it
2) Droughts can cause trouble for it
3) Dams can change water flow causing people and animals to move
4) Expensive to build dams
5) Water pressure could break the dam
Interesting facts
1) Most significant renewable energy source
2) It generates 9% of the power used in the U.S
3) We have been using Hydro-electric energy for over 1,000 years
The picture you see to the side is how Hydro-electricity is made. A hydraulic turbine converts the energy of flowing water into mechanical energy. A hydroelectric generator converts the mechanical energy into electricity.
The operation of a generator was discovered by Faraday. He found that when a magnet is moved past a conductor, it causes electricity to flow. In a large generator, electromagnets are made by circulating direct current through loops of wire wound around stacks of magnetic steel laminations. These are called field poles, and are mounted on the perimeter of the rotor. The rotor is attached to the turbine shaft, and rotates at a fixed speed. When the rotor turns, it causes the field poles (the electromagnets) to move past the conductors mounted in the stator. This, in turn, causes electricity to flow and a voltage to develop at the generator output terminals.
The History of Hydro-electricity:
Hydroelectric energy has been in use for thousands of years. Ancient Romans built turbines, which are wheels turned by flowing water. Roman turbines were not used for electricity, but for grinding grains to make flour and breads.
Water mills are another source of hydroelectric energy. Water mills, which were common until the Industrial Revolution, are large wheels usually located on the banks flowing rivers. Water mills generate energy that powers such as grinding grain, cutting lumber, or creating hot fires to create steel.
The first U.S. hydroelectric power plant was built on the Fox River in 1882 in Appleton, Wisconsin. This plant powered two mills and one home.