blic lands. 1937 saw the first Federal dam start operations on the Columbia River, 1937 40% of all power being generated is by the use of hydro-plants. Over the next sixty-three years the use of hydro powered plants drop to just 10% of total electric production in the United States. With the new restrictions on the environment and cost of fossil fuels new ventures into the use of hydro-powered plants are being looked at. The following are types of hydro-plants and how they work. Impoundment An impoundment facility, typically a large hydropower system, uses a dam to store river water in a reservoir. The water may be released either to meet changing electricity needs or to maintain a constant reservoir level. Diversion A diversion, sometimes called run-of-river, facility channels a portion of A river through a canal or penstock. It may not require the use of a dam. Pumped Storage When the demand for electricity is low, a pumped storage facility stores energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. During periods of high electrical demand, the water is released back to the lower reservoir to generate electricity. After looking at the types of power productions there are different sizes of plants in relationship to the type of power consumed, Facilities range in size from large power plants that supply many consumers with electricity to small and micro plants that individuals operate for their own energy needs or to sell power to utilities. Large Hydropower Although definitions vary, DOE defines large hydropower as facilities that have a capacity of more than 30 megawatts. Small HydropowerAlthough definitions vary, DOE defines small hydropower as facilities that have a capacity of .01 to 30 megawatts. Micro Hydropower: A micro hydropower plant has a capacity of up to 100 kilowatts (0.1 megawatts) Turbine Technologies There are many types of turbines used for hydropower, and they are ...
