hydropower_lab_report.docx

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University of Notre Dame *

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ENL1501

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Aerospace Engineering

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May 22, 2024

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pdf

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`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.