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Renewable & Clean Energy Hydro-Electric Dams

Lecture Notes. Renewable & Clean Energy Hydro-Electric Dams. Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia. Hydro-Electric Dams. Hydro-electricity can be generated in numerous ways: dams, rivers, tides and waves.

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Renewable & Clean Energy Hydro-Electric Dams

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  1. Lecture Notes Renewable& Clean EnergyHydro-Electric Dams Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

  2. Hydro-Electric Dams • Hydro-electricity can be generated in numerous ways: dams, rivers, tides and waves. • Here we describe the simplest and oldest method, the dam. • The analysis can easily be applied to run-of-the-river power generation. Intro Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

  3. Hydro-Electric Dams • The energy transformations are: • Solar radiation evaporates water from the ocean • Rain falls on mountains, and runs into lakes • The runoff is interrupted by a reservoir and dam • Water is extracted at the base of the dam to turn generators Dams Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

  4. Hydro-Electric Dams • A reservoir (may be a natural lake): • h – height below water level the water is extracted • Q – flow rate (in m3/s) • A - surface area  Dams Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

  5. Hydro-Electric Dams • In principle, one can calculate a maximum value of Q from h and the size of the hole using Bernoulli’s principle. • In real hydro-electric dams Q is determined by the amount of rainfall landing on the catchment area A of the lake. Dams Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

  6. Hdro-Electric Dams • Let’s look at the W.A.C. Bennett Dam in north-eastern BC. • A = 70 000 km2 • Rainfall = 600 mm/year W.A.C Bennett Dam Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

  7. Hydro-Electric Dams • Potential energy per unit volume at the surface is ρgh (in J/m3) • Potential energy at the turbines is ρghQ • ρ = density of the water = 1000 kg/m3 • h = 186 m • Efficiency = η • Pturbines= ηρghQ W.A.C Bennett Dam Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

  8. Hydro-Electric Dams • Assuming ηgenerators = 1 • The calculated maximum available power is 2.4 GW • The maximum power rating of the dam and its 10 turbines is 2.73 GW • The maximum power cannot be sustained as it is greater than the calculated value when assuming 100% efficiency and no evaporation W.A.C Bennett Dam Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

  9. Hydro-Electric Dams • The annual average power generated is given to be 13 100 GWh per year. • This is of the same order as, but comfortably less than, our “ideal” maximum value of 2.4 GW W.A.C Bennett Dam Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

  10. Hydro-Electric Dams • GHG emissions from hydro-electric dams are small to other means of electricity generation, but not negligible • They arise from the construction and decay of biomass in the flooded valley (if that is how the project is constructed) Greenhouse Gas Emissions Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

  11. Hydro-Electric Dams • The proposed “Site-C” dam is just downstream of the Bennett Dam • This project has a rated power of ~1 GW and flood 10 000 hectares • A study predicts ~150 000 tonnes of CO2 will be emitted for the first 20 years, half from construction and half from biomass decay in the artificial lake. • 10 000 000 tonnes/GWh of electricity is produced by coal-fired plants Greenhouse Gas Emissions Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

  12. Home Heating BC Hydro.  The Peace/Williston Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (PWFWCP) (online).   http://www.bchydro.com/pwcp/program.html [12 May 2010]. Natural Resources Canada.  The Atlas of Canada (online).  http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/environment/climate/precipitation/precip [12 May 2010]. The Vancouver Sun.  Site C Dam No Green Power Project, Critics Say (online). http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=297338f7-f072-47d5-babb-1a20e58664ab&k=49198 [9 April 2010]. MacKay DJC. Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air (online). UIT Cambridge.http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/sustainable/book/tex/ps/1.112.pdf [12 May 2010]. Bibliography Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

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