APES Renewable Energy Resources Lab Angelina

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Georgia Institute Of Technology *

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1101

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Electrical Engineering

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Apr 3, 2024

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E5.05.1 Renewable Energy Resources II Lab Harvesting energy from wind and water is a "green" alternative to burning fossil fuels for energy. Clean and renewable energy can be derived from various water technologies, including harvesting energy from the movement of tides and waves, or the use of hydroelectric plants, which gather energy from the movement of running water through a dam. Wind turbines are an additional alternative energy source that can be relatively inexpensive compared to other clean energy options. Each energy alternative has its advantages and drawbacks. However, the need to reduce carbon emissions may outweigh any disadvantages related to wind and water energy use. For this lesson's science skills, you described potential approaches to alternative energy and justified its use by explaining the positive advantages of alternative energy technologies. Hydropower has been used for thousands of years to produce energy. Any form of moving water can provide energy. Waterwheels, paddlewheels, water mills, hydroelectric dams, tidal power, and wave power are some of the ways that people have used the energy of moving water in the past and present. Although many of these systems are large scale, it is possible to construct small- scale hydropower systems to provide energy for a single home. 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. The virtual hydropower system uses two tanks of water at different altitudes. The height differential between the tanks causes the water to move from the upper tank to the lower tank by gravity. Energy must be used to move the water in the lower tank back to the upper tank, and this is provided by wind energy (when available) or by the gasoline-powered generator. 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: Angelina Villamar Hydropower Lab Report Objective(s): 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 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 Initial water level Initial gas level Independent variable Upper tank capacity Pump limit Dependent variable Gas usage Gas usage 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: During this experiment the steps I followed were first changing the upper tank capacity in test one and I watched how the graphs changed from its original levels with water level, pump limit, and energy. To calculate the kWh for the different levels of data I added all the different date from the graph together and dividing them by 8 to get the average. I repeated this for test 2 but with the pump limit graph. Data:

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)? In conclusion this lab taught me about how different energy sources like renewable and nonrenewable affect various different things such as gas usage, water levels, and wind power. My hypothesis was right, when we increased the upper water tank, gas usage went down. For example, when we went from 6 to 8 to 12 in tank size, gas usage went from 24 to 22 to 20. Also, when we increased the pump speed, gas usage went up, just like I predicted. For instance, when we changed the pump speed from 2 to 1 to 0, gas usage went from 21 to 22 to 26. Overall, this lab helped me see how renewable energy can help both me and the environment, and even save me money in my daily life. 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. Compare and contrast the different forms of energy that are represented in this lab. -The forms of energy that are represented in this lab are gasoline and hydroelectric power. The similarities between them is that they both form electricity and are used as energy resources to turn on electricity through a generator. While gas is a nonrenewable

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resource, hydroelectric power is renewable. Gas is less kind to the environment due to its emission of carbon dioxide into the air while in contrast hydroelectricity is better for the environment. How is energy generated in this lab simulation? Describe the process. -Energy is generated through wind in this lab. Wind energy is generated when Earth’s surface is heated through the sun’s rays. For wind energy to occur, a wind turbine captures wind and proceeds to produce energy. This wind causes the root on the turbine to spin. The movement of the blades turns because of the wind making kinetic energy which produces electricity. 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.) -Within a 24-hour period, we utilize 52 kwh of wind energy, 49 kwh of hydropower and 54 kwh of gasoline power. This shows that hydropower would be utilized the most during a 24- hour period for all trials. It is most efficient because it is a clean fuel source and doesn’t pollute air. Explain how the energy system depicted in the lab minimizes the use of non-renewable energy consumption. -The energy system in the lab minimizes the use of nonrenewable energy consumption by attempting to utilize renewable resources instead. Renewable resources although more expensive and harder to achieve will save our planet before we use up all the depleting non renewable resources. In the lab it uses hydroelectric power and wind. Describe the pros and cons for the use of hydroelectric power. -The pros of using hydroelectric power is that it is renewable. The only pollution hydroelectric power emits is construction for power plants, ultimately producing no waste. It also does not use fuel and is much better for the environment. A negative to the use of hydroelectric power would be that it is hard to find suitable locations for power plants since there is only a number of locations offering them. A con to the power plants would be that it can result in environmental consequences due to the damming of the water. It can cause potential flooding to a habitat of an animal leading to change to river temperatures, which can disrupt the entire ecosystem. E5.05.1 Renewable Energy Resources II Lab Rubric – Total Points x 2 Master ScientistSkilled ScientistDeveloping Scientist N ovice Scientist Title and Objective3 points The title and objective represent the purpose of the experiment. They are stated with clear and concise language that avoids

ambiguity. 2 points The title and objective represent the purpose of the experiment. They are stated with concise language, but the purpose is slightly vague . 1 point The title and objective represent the purpose of the experiment. However, the language used adds ambiguity to the purpose or the title, or the objective is missing . 0 points Both the title and objective are missing.Hypothesis3 points The hypothesis predicts and clearly explains how the variables of the experiment are related. 2 points The hypothesis predicts and attempts to explain how the variables of the experiment are related. 1 point The hypothesis makes a prediction but does not explain how the variables of the experiment are related. 0 points The report does not include a hypothesis. Procedures4 points The procedures include clear and concise language, numbered steps, and appropriate details for others to follow and repeat the experiment. 3 points The procedures include clear and concise language and numbered steps, but they are missing some important details needed for others to follow and repeat the experiment. 2–1 points The procedures lack clear and concise language, and/or numbered steps, and/or appropriate details for others to follow and repeat the experiment. 0 points The report does not include procedures. Variables5 points The controlled, independent, and dependent variables are accurate . Only one independent variable is tested at a time. 4–3 points The controlled or independent or dependent variables are not accurate . Only one independent variable tested at a time. 2–1 points The controlled and/or independent and/or dependent variables are not accurate . Or more than one independent variable is tested at a time. 0 points The report does not state any of the variables. Data and Calculations10 points Data are organized in a data table and/or graph. Measurements and calculations are precise and accurate . They include appropriate

units and significant figures. 9–6 points Data are organized in a data table and/or graph. Measurements and calculations are partially precise and accurate . They include appropriate units and significant figures. 5–1 points Data and/or graphs are lacking organization and labeling. Measurements and calculations are not precise and accurate . They lack appropriate units and significant figures. 0 points The report does not include a data section. Conclusion10 points The conclusion is written clearly and accurately addresses all bullet points and explains whether the hypothesis is supported or not with data . It also describes how the investigation could be tested further. 9–6 points The conclusion is written clearly , but it may not explain whether the hypothesis is supported or not. Some bullets are not addressed fully addressed. It also may lack a description on how the investigation could be tested further. 5–1 points The conclusion is written clearly , but it does not explain whether the hypothesis is correct or not. Many bullets are not addressed fully addressed. It also lacks a description on how the investigation could be tested further. 0 points The experiment does not include a conclusion. Post-Lab Reflection Questions15 points Answers to questions include full and accurate responses. Complete sentences are used. 14–8 points Answers to questions include partially accurate responses. 7–1 points Answers to several questions lack accurate responses. 0 points The experiment does not include the answers to the questions.

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