The entire complete system of this materialistic world depends on water. All the plants, animals, birds, insects and human beings completely depend on water. Without water there is not one who can survive. More than 70% of the world's covered by water. Water is used all over the system and process of life. Whether it is for living lives or manufacturing goods, industrialization, agriculture or energy sector. Without water everything is incomplete. Water has foremost importance in this materialistic world.
Water is also used as the main source of energy development sectors. It is the largest source of energy as 70% of the world's is covered by water. The concept of production of energy by water begins in the mid 4th to 5th BC century which was started by water wheels. Hydroelectric energy also becomes first source of renewable energy which is from 1800s.
WATER WHEEL:
The first concept of the water wheel was given by a Roman engineer in the 4th to 5th century BC over 3000 years ago. However, there is no evidence that the theory which was described by this engineer was put in practical or not.
The waterwheels were made-up of a wood which is not used to generate electricity but for agriculture and plantations, for lifting of water etc. But later after some advancements it becomes the whitest and most powerful source of energy which becomes also renewable.
1ST WATER WHEEL FOR POWR PRODUCTION:
For the first time the water wheel is used for power generation in 1878 in Nevada city, California by Lesser Pelton who an American inventor was one of the fathers of hydroelectric field. This water converts the kinetic energy of water into electricity by rotating due to pressure of water streams on it. The concept of harnessing electricity by water was given by that Roman Engineer. He can use the concept of generating electricity by falling water on the water wheel.
PELTON’S WHEEL:
Pelton's wheel is the type of impulse turbine which can generate electricity by using the concept of impulse. It can generate electricity by falling water on a power plant.
It consists of several buckets which are connected to the rim of the circular wheel. When the water falls and hits the bucket, it can start rotating. The wheel is then connected to the shaft of the engine which can start working and produce electricity. The buckets are designed in such a way that they deflect the water and direct it back in opposite direction which increase the force on wheel and direct it to rotate faster.
Pelton's wheel is used to generate electricity in areas like mountainous regions where water falls on it from lofty heights. It is often used for small-scale hydroelectric production where the water falls from the height of 2o feet.
The efficiency of water wheel depends on several factors. The nozzle diameter, number of nozzles, bucket shape, number of buckets and height of water head. However, the efficiency of Pelton’s wheel is 60% to 90%. They are very efficient wheels. The efficiency is highest when the water falls on it at best speed and when buckets are designed in such a way to minimize losses.
Another way to increase the efficiency of wheel is to fall the water from higher height or with higher pressure. But ensure that the pressure is not too high, which causes breakdown of buckets or wheel mechanisms.
However, Pelton’s wheel is the most reliable and much efficient way to generate electricity in the mountainous areas for small scale.
FIRST HYDRO ELECTRIC SCHEME:
The first hydroelectric power scheme was built by the Scottish engineer, William Armstrong in 1878 Northumberland home. His friend Newcastle chemist Joseph William Swan invented the first incandescent lamp or light bulb. William wants to lighten that bulb using electricity which was generated by water. So, he invented the first hydroelectric power plant to lighten that bulb in home. This plant was in Crag side, England.
To generate the electricity this plant uses a water turbine which converts the energy of flowing water into mechanical energy. It used the water of streams that flow through that property.
To start a plant, the valve is open and allows water to flow through the pipe which is connected to turbine. As the water flows to the turbine, it turns the blades of turbine which causes shaft to rotate due to which the generator’s shaft start working and then mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy. This energy is supplied to the house for lighting and other electrical works. This power plant generates electricity which is enough to operate the house. This is the first ever practical hydroelectric power plant.
After Pelton's wheel and Williamsons hydroelectric scheme the hydro power plant became more popular. Many engineers and researchers work hard to make more advancement in it and build them for commercial use from here the era of hydroelectric starts.
EARLY ERA (1882-1900):
After many research and hard works by engineers of Wisconsin, the first recorded commercial hydropower plant was designed and built by Wisconsin utility company in Vulcan Streat, Appleton, Wisconsin in 1882 after five years of Wilson's scheme. It used the energy of fox river which is in Wisconsin USA and generate electricity for paper mill and his owner's house. This plant can supply around 12.5 kilowatts of energy for two local mills and the owner's house. This also becomes the America's first commercial power plant. The name of this company was Fox River Electric Company in North America. They produce more different power plants like Michigan, Ottawa, Ontario etc.
After that Germany came forward and produced first three phase hydroelectric power plants which can produce 500 kilowatts of electricity for lightning and other purpose of City Stuttgart. This power plant was built at Lauffen Neckar river near Stuttgart. It was designed and built by inventor Oscar Von Miller, who was one of The Pioneers of hydroelectric. It has become a significant milestone in the history of hydropower.
After Germany, Australia takes part in hydroelectric field. The first publicly owned power plant was designed and built by the engineer and inventor Dr Herman Sprenger which had a capacity of 400 kilowatts. This plant was built in the town of Bellingham in South Australia in 1895 in New South Wales. It is used to generate electricity for the town. The plant was owned by Ballinger Electric Light and Power Company which was a public utility owned company that was owned by local government. This plant was a significant milestone in the history of hydroelectric in Australia.
In 1895, the world largest power plant came into being in New York in Nigeria falls. It was named after Edward Dean Adams, who was a prominent businessperson philanthropist who was instrumental in the development of hydroelectric power in United States. It produced 2000-kilowatt electricity for a region. In the 1960s it was decommissioned and is no longer in operation. It is now a museum and is open to the public for tours.
Expansions In Hydroelectric (1900-1940):
From 1900 there is much more expansion seen in the field of hydroelectric. The concept becomes more powerful for harnessing electricity from water. In 1905, China had step forward in hydroelectric field and build a power plant on Xinjian Creek River near Taipei which has the capacity of 500 kilowatts of generating electricity.
In 1936, the Colorado river generates almost 4 billion kilowatts of electricity. It was a large river that flows from several states like Colorado, Utah, Arizona and California. There are several hydroelectric power plants installed there. These power plants include the Hoover dam, the Glen Canyon dam and the Parkar dam, among others.
Hoover dam is found on the border of Arizona and Nevada which was an incredibly famous powerplant that was completed in 1935 and has a capacity of about 2080 megawatts. It is the main source of electricity for Southwestern United States.
Some other most famous power plants are Grand Cullee plant developing 6,809 megawatts of electricity in United States, Aswan power plant found in southern Egypt which have a capacity of 2,100 megawatts, Itaipu dam which located on the border of Brazil produce 1400 megawatts of electricity and so on. By the 1940s, nearly 75% of the US west and pacific west electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants.
In this blog we discussed detailed about the history of hydro power and some of it's eras. In the next blog we will discuss about further more eras of hydropower. If any querries related this so feel free to contact with us. If you like it share with your friends and fellows knowledge grows by sharing. Thankyou.
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