Hydro Basics
"A hydraulic turbine converts the energy of flowing water into __________________.
mechanical energy
The ___________________ is authorized by Congress to build hydroelectric plants in the 1920s. Today, the Corps operates 75 power plants, which makes the organization the fifth largest electric supplier in the United States.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
hydroelectric facilities have a major environmental impact on __________.
aquatic ecosystems.
true or false:
Colorado has more than 60 hydropower units collectively capable of producing 1,160 megawatts of power at any given time.
true
true or false:
hydropower supports more than 143,000 jobs in engineering, manufacturing, construction and utility operations and maintenance
true
Providing about 7 percent of the nation’s electricity,
A hydroelectric generator converts this mechanical energy into electricity. The operation of a generator is based on the principles discovered by _____________.
Michael Faraday.
In 1936 _______________, one of the most famous hydroelectric projects in history, is completed on the border of Nevada and Arizona.
The Hoover Dam - The dam, built on the Colorado River, was created for three purposes: providing irrigation water, controlling floods, and supplying power.
When rains are extremely heavy or reservoirs over-fill, the potential for widespread ________________ increases
flooding (2013 in Boulder County).
true or false:
About 90% of the dams in the United States produce electricity.
false:
Only a small percentage of the dams in the United States produce electricity. Most dams were constructed for irrigation and flood control and do not have hydroelectricity generators.
ture or false:
According to Energy.gov, by 2050, hydropower can reduce cumulative greenhouse gas emissions by 5.6 gigatonnes -- equivalent to nearly 1.2 billion passenger vehicles driven in a year -- saving $209 billion from avoided global damages from climate change.
true
He found that when a magnet is moved past a ____________, it causes electricity to flow.
conductor
In 1994 this Association established the Hydropower Research Foundation to facilitate research and promote clean, affordable hydropower.
The National Hydropower Association
Because hydroelectric powerplants utilize the flow of water, operating costs are low and are immune to rising ____________.
fossil fuel prices.
According to 2018 data, which state is ranked 1st in Hydropower Energy production?
Washington
less impactful on fish populations or aquatic populations; "fish friendly"
What are three main types of conventional hydropower technologies? impoundment (dam), diversion, and pumped storage. Impoundment is the most common type of hydroelectric power plant. An impoundment facility, typically a large hydro-power system, uses a dam to store river water in a reservoir.
impoundment (dam), diversion, and pumped storage.
Impoundment is the most common type of hydroelectric power plant. An impoundment facility, typically a large hydro-power system, uses a dam to store river water in a reservoir.
July 29, 2005
President George W. Bush signs the _____________ into law as an attempt to combat growing energy problems. The act changed U.S. energy policy by providing tax incentives and loan guarantees for energy production of various types including hydropower.
Energy Policy Act
In years of ample runoff, hydropower plants produce _________________.
extra energy
Which country generates the most hydroelectric power?
China
What is the focus of Stream-Reach Development Assessment when it comes to the future of hydro? What is the intention of this assessment?
Stream-Reach Development Assessment provides a national picture of the remaining hydropower development opportunities in U.S. rivers and streams
A micro hydropower plant has a capacity of up to _______________. A small or micro-hydroelectric power system can produce enough electricity for a home, farm, ranch, or village.
100 kilowatts
August 9, 2013
The Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act (H.R. 267) and the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act (H.R. 678) aim to boost the development of __________
small U.S. hydropower projects and are signed into law by President Obama.
The full cost of building and operating these plants must be repaid, with interest, in ______________.
fifty years
Which country is 2nd in Hydroelectric power generation on earth?
Brazil
The ____________________ was developed to produce a maximum amount of electrical power with the kinetic energy of flowing waters. Because it is powered by kinetic energy instead of potential energy, it is known as a so-called “zero-head” or “in-stream” turbine.
Smart Hydro Power turbine