hydropower_lab_report
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School
Tennessee State University *
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Course
BIOL-1520
Subject
Aerospace Engineering
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by ChiefFerretPerson288
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. 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
Pump limit, initial gas level, initial water level
Upper tank capacity, the initial gas level, the initial water level
Independent variable
Upper tank capacity
Pump limit
Dependent variable
Water level, wind output, consumption, gas usage rate
Water level, wind output, consumption, gas usage rate
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 increases.
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:
Data: Table 1: Upper Tank Capacity and Gas Usage
Upper Tank Capacity
Gas Usage
Water Level
Wind Output
Consumption
Trial 1
6 kWh
14kwh
38kwh
25kwh
27kwh
Trial 2
8 kWh
15kwh
50.5kwh
25kwh
26.6kwh
Trial 3
12 kWh
14kwh
63kwh
25kwh
26kwh
Table 2: Pump Limit and Gas Usage
Pump Limit
Gas Usage
Water Level
Wind Output
Consumption
Trial 1
2 kWh
6.75kwh
51kwh
24.6kwh
26.4kwh
Trial 2
1 kWh
6.8kwh
51kwh
24.6 kwh
26.4kwh
Trial 3
0 kWh
0kwh
16.5kwh
24.5kwh
26.5kwh
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)? Gas consumption, wind output, and consumption all stayed within the same range as the upper tank values increased, but water level went up with the increase. Water
level, gas usage, wind output, and consumption were within the same range of numbers when the pump limit was at 2 and 1. However, when the pump limit reached 0, the water level plummeted while the other numbers stayed within the range. My hypothesis was incorrect, as the upper tank capacity increased, but gas usage remained the same. When on the Pump Limit, gas usage stayed relatively the same.`
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. In order to compare hydropower, we must understand that it is produced when water flows through openings in dams. Initial costs of hydropower are high, but once the equipment is installed, production costs are low. Wind energy, on the other hand, is considered a very clean source of energy since it does not emit greenhouse gases. Nevertheless, some people still consider wind turbines to be a source of visual pollution. It is known that natural gas has an unlimited amount of power, unlike hydro and wind, which are subject to environmental factors. Natural gas also produces pollution unlike the other two discussed.
2.
How is energy generated in this lab simulation? Describe
the process. For the hydroelectric power simulation, energy was generated by the turbines. We also built dams across rivers to collect water and use the moving water to drive turbines. Water enters a penstock and flows toward a turbine during this process. The turbine spins a generator, which generates electricity.
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.) The trial that exhibited the least gas usage and the most output from hydropower was trial 3. This is because trial 3 had the least amount of gas usage yet it had the most output from hydropower
4.
Explain
how the energy system depicted in the lab minimizes the use of non-renewable energy consumption. The energy system depicted in the lab minimizes the use of non-
renewable energy consumptions because it used very low levels of gas and was using both hydroelectric and wind power as power sources. This made it so there were more renewable sources being used than non-renewable sources.
5.
Describe
the pros and cons for the use of hydroelectric power.
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One of the pros can be that it is green and renewable energy. Another pro for hydroelectric power is that the power is flexible and reliable. Some cons of Hydroelectric power are that the plants can damage fishing ecosystems and other aquatic life. These plants also change the temperature of water making it inhabitable for animals that need the temperature in a certain range.