Muddy Run at Work

Muddy Run at Work. . Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility sits on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, just upstream from Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, and is critical to meeting dynamic peak electricity demands. , Pumped storage is a two-step process to generate electricity during peak times of the day; , . When demand is high, water is released from the upper reservoir (Muddy Run Reservoir) to flow through and run the plant's turbines. , . During periods of low electricity demand, the plant's turbines are turned into pumps-by changing the rotation of the turbine's shaft-to refill the upper reservoir and store then "energy" until it is needed., 1. In the "generating mode", the water from the upper reservoir is drawn downward. The water flows through the turbines via the wicket gates to generate power and then returns to the Susquehanna River. , 2. In "pump mode", energy from the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station is used to run the Muddy Run generators in reverse. This draws water from the lower reservoir and sends it 400 feet uphill through the connecting waterways to fill the upper reservoir., Muddy Run quick facts:, > Construction completed: 1968 , > Dam: 4800 foot (1,500 m) long, 250 foot (76 m) high , > Creates: The Muddy Run Reservoir , > Turbines: 8 , > Generating Capacity: 1,072 megawatts (MW)