BC Power Story

Hydroelectric generation

The hydroelecric dam uses water to create electricity. It all starts in a water reservoir behind the dam . This is where they keep the potential energy. The water starts flowing down the penstock. (The penstock is like a gate that controls water flow.) When the water is flowing down the penstock it is converted to kinetic energy. At the end of the penstock the water hit’s a bunch of blades attached around a shaft. This causes the turbine to rotate. When the turbine rotates it converts kinetic energy into mechanical energy. So when the shaft turns it is powering the generator and the generator converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy. So the water starts as potential energy then it is converted to kinetic energy, then the kinetic energy is converted to mechanical energy. Finally the mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy.

Once this is all done the electrical energy has to get to our houses. Unfortunatly the generator produces energy with very low voltage. So the step- up transformer increases the voltage. This is needed so the transmission lines can carry more elecrticity faster. The transsmission lines are where the electricity goes next. They carry the elecricity to cities. Once they reaach the cities, they go to a terminal station, which reduces the voltage to subtransmission voltage. Subtransmission line carry electricity large industrial customers. The voltage is still to high though to enter a house so transformers reduce the voltage even more. Then it flows through a meter that calculates how much electricity you use in a month. Now you can use the electricity!

Pros of a hydroelectric dam:

Not bad for nature because it uses water
Reuseable you don’t waste anything
Safe you won’t get electricuted

Cons of a hydroelectric dam:

There are a lot of steps to making useable in a home
Could hurt the fish if they some how swim into it
Expensive
If there is a drought it uses a lot of water and it might run out of water

Thermal generation

In a thermal generation, water starts in a boiler. It boils and goes up a tube to the turbines. The steam pushes against the fan blades, which causes them to turn. It also turns the steam into kinetic energy. It then goes into the turbines which turns it into mechanical energy. The turbines cause the generator to turn on. The generator turns the mechanical energy into electrical energy. From there it does the same thing as the hyrdoelecrial dam. It goes into the Step- up transformer which increases the voltage. After that it goes into the pylons. Then it goes into the terminal station which changes it to subtrasmission voltage. The voltage goes into the subtransmission lines, then to the trasformer, and last the meters.