Hydroelectric

=__Hydroelectric power__ =

__ Group members: __
Maija Carol-maijacarol Shayla Brink-shaybrink Brandon Snyder-HiImBrandon Tyler Young- Tyler.Y Garrett Neal- GarrettN70

Hydroelectric power
A common image of this source of power would be the wheel, constantly carrying water to produce energy from the constant spinning wheel (figure a).

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=active&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS344&biw=1280&bih=557&q=hydroelectric+power+system&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi (figure a)

-The use of water with gravity to produce energy -Science behind the energy source:

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/hyhowworks.html (figure b)

-**Advantages** : all natural resources are used, such as water, the process produces no direct waste. It has a low output level of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
-Inexhaustible fuel source -A limited amount of negative effects on the environment -A viable source of energy production -Can be used anywhere throughout the world

-**Disadvantages** : smaller models must have fast flowing streams or rivers to provide a constant amount of energy being produced -Run-of-the-river plants can impact the mobility of fish and other riverlife, and building a fish ladder can lessen hydroelectric power, slowing the streams or rivers. Another disadvantage of build these hydroelectric plants is that when the dam is completed and the reservoir that holds the water fills up it destroys a lot of land.

-**Cost to build** :Hydroelectricity is a renewable resource that does little harm to the environment. The Hoover dam in Nevada powers the entire city of Las Vegas. Dams can be very expensive to install; they can range from 300 million to 1.4 billion dollars. It really depends on how big the dam is, the amount of water and labor costs. The cost to operate a dam depends on the river it crosses, the storage lake and how big it will be. Cost for electricity: The cost to produce the power is actually a lot less compared to the other sources of power. It currently cost around .6 cents per kilowatt per hour, while a coal powered plant cost around 2.2 cents to produce the same amount of electricity.

-**Cost to operate** : it cost about 7.3 million to operate a small town of 20,000 people. That is about 35 megawatts. The Hoover Dam in Nevada costs approximately 50 million dollars to operate a year. It costs a lot to operate them but with how much money they make from the amount of electricity we use it goes beyond the cost.

-**Geographic factors** : in order for this process to work properly, there would have to be a slight or major decline in elevation for the intake of water to get quickly through the pen-stock, through the turbine, and to the outflow of the river (figure b).

-**Impact on the population** : The population could potentially increase because the availability of jobs would attract more workers. the space: This is minimal because is is mainly used within a stream or river, and within the walls of the stream or river. health: Health could improve because other energy sources can produce smoke and gas or any harmful substances for the surrounding environment that the citizens intake every day.

This is a picture of the top 5 hydro power states in the U.S. Washington, Oregon, New York, California, and Alabama. These five states produce more energy using hydroelectric energy than any other states in the U.S. []

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricity

This is a circle graph of the many energy sources that we use for power.

Due to this process of evaporation and condensation it makes water a renewable resource that can be used countless times and wont run out. Link http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/hydro_how.html

**Jobs**
There are many jobs that can be created when a hydroelectric plan is put into operation. To work at a dam it takes a lot work because you have to be up all the time to monitor its activity. One major corporation that uses hydroelectric power is the TVA, Tennessee Valley Authority, which was created around the time of the Great Depression. They work all over the Southern United States. People can make good money working at dams and power plants. Although working in dams can make a good profit it has many dangers. When you have to work under the water it could break and you could be crushed by the huge amount of water. Also the generators inside the dam are huge but can be dangerous to be around. The last job that can be generated by a hydroelectric plant and is the safest is being an engineer that designs the plant as well as oversees the construction is up to par with current construction standards.

**Health**
The only really bad health factors of working at a dam are cave-ins and location of the reservoir. In China their was an earthquake and caused 70,000 casualties which was caused by the shear mass of the reservoir. This event occurred in 2004. Also rushing water can destroy many water ecosystems along the river. It may seem bad that it is destroying many ecosystems but we as humans really want our electricity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_electricity_generation

**Space Required**
You need enough space to block the river and ensure the dam is secure. Also you need a valley with water that is stately flowing. It does take a lot of space to build a dam but the advantages of hydroelectric energy. It is safe and easy to use.