hydropower_lab_report.docx
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School
University of Notre Dame *
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Course
ENL1501
Subject
Aerospace Engineering
Date
May 22, 2024
Type
Pages
4
Uploaded by rritam94
`Hydropower Lab Report
Instructions: In this lab activity, you will investigate the operation of a simple hydropower
system coupled with a wind generator and a gasoline back-up generator. You will test two
independent variables:
Upper Tank Capacity
and
Pump Limit
. You will run three trials for each
test. Use this lab report to collect data and analyze your results. Submit your lab report to your
instructor when completed.
Title: Hydropower Lab Report
Objective(s):
See
slide 1
of virtual lab for these objectives. List the objectives below.
●
investigate the use of hydroelectricity and wind power generation
●
examine the effects of hydroelectricity and wind power on the environment
●
discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type of renewable energy resource
Variables:
The variables are described in detail your virtual lab activity. Be sure to read these descriptions
in the virtual lab before completing this section.
List your controlled variables, independent variable, and dependent variable of
each test
of the
lab activity. Remember, controlled variables are factors that remain the same throughout the
experiment. An independent (test) variable changes so that the experimenter can see the effect on
other variables. The dependent (outcome) variable will change in response to the test variable.
Test 1
Test 2
Controlled variables
initial water level
initial gas level
Independent variable
Upper tank capacity
Pump Limit
Dependent variable
Gas usage rate, water level
wind output, consumption
Hypothesis:
Complete the predictions below. Each test has three dependent variables that may change in
reaction to the independent variable, but you are only required to predict the change in the gas
usage rate.
Prediction 1: If we increase the upper tank capacity of the water, the gas usage rate will decrease.
Prediction 2: If we increase the pump limit, the gas usage rate will increase.
Procedure:
Access the virtual lab and complete the procedures described. Provide a brief summary of the
steps you followed during the experimental procedure.
Materials:
Hydropower Virtual Lab
Summary of Steps:
I looked at the Slide for the corresponding Table and marked down the values for
eacof the 4 different outputs (Gas usage, water level, wind output, consumption). I then
took the average of all of these and marked it below in the table.
Data:
Table 1: Upper Tank Capacity and Gas Usage
*ALL VALUES ARE APPROXIMATES AND UNITS ARE kWh
Upper Tank Capacity
Gas Usage
Water Level
Wind Output
Consumption
Trial 1
6 kWh
9
39
25.5
27.5
Trial 2
8 kWh
7.5
52
25.5
27.25
Trial 3
12 kWh
6.75
64.5
25.5
27.5
Table 2: Pump Limit and Gas Usage
Pump Limit
Gas Usage
Water Level
Wind Output
Consumption
Trial 1
2 kWh
8
51
25.5
27.75 Trial 2
1 kWh
7.5
47.5
25.5
27
Trial 3
0 kWh
11.25
17.5
25.5 27.5
Conclusion:
Write a conclusion statement that addresses the following questions:
●
Describe
how gas usage, water level, wind output, and consumption were affected by
changes in upper tank capacity.
●
Describe
how gas usage, water level, wind output, and consumption were affected by
changes in pump limits.
●
Does your data support or fail to support your hypotheses (include examples)?
At a higher tank capacity, the gas usage tended to lower, water level tended to rise, wind output
stayed the same and consumption stayed around the same. At a lower capacity the opposite
occurred. As for changes in pump limits, the gas usage tended to vary between lowering and
rising, water level tended to lower, wind output stayed the same, and consumption stayed
relatively the same. My data mostly support the hypothesis. For the upper tank capacity, we can
see that an increase in the tank caused a decrease in gas usage. For the pump limit, we can see
that it varies so my hypothesis is partially correct.
Post-Lab Reflection Questions
Answer the reflection questions, using what you have learned from the lesson and your
experimental data. It will be helpful to refer to your class notes. Answer questions in complete
sentences.
1.
Compare
and contrast the different forms of energy that are represented in this lab.
There are 3 forms of energy in the lab: hydroelectric, wind and gas. Comparing gas to
hydroelectric, hydroelectric is actually a renewable source. Additionally, wind power is
also renewable, making it a better source of energy for the environment.
2.
How is energy generated in this lab simulation?
Describe
the process.
Energy is created from the wind and hydroelectricity we talked about earlier. Wind is
caught by the turbines and causes the turbine to spin which created energy.
Hydroelectricity is created from water and it uses that PE and convert it to ME
3.
Analyze the overall energy consumption in a 24-hour period for all trials. Which trial
exhibited the least gas usage with the most output from hydropower? (Hint: High water
levels represent stored potential energy for hydropower use.)
Trial 3
4.
Explain
how the energy system depicted in the lab minimizes the use of non-renewable
energy consumption.
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Since the lab uses hydroelectric and win power to generate energy, it is using renewable
resources rather than something like coal which is non renewable.
5.
Describe
the pros and cons for the use of hydroelectric power.
The pros are quite obvious in the fact that hydroelectric power is renewable, causing the
Earth to not die over time. However, the con is that hydroelectric power can be quite
expensive.