Propelling The Water

Propelling The Water. . Kentucky Dam holds back the water in Kentucky Lake, and the powerhouse encloses the turbines and generators that produce electricity. When power is needed, water is released from the lake through a large pipe called a penstock and into a turbine like the one you see here., Imagine this 102-ton carbon steel turbine spinning at 78.3 revolutions per minute. Puicture more than 78.500 gallons of water per second rushing through the intake to spin its heavy blades, which generate 37 megawatts of electricity. Measuring over 21 feet wide and nearly 12 feet tall this Kaplan propeler-type adjustable-blade turbine, the first to be installed at Kentucky Dam, began commercial operation in 1944. Huge turbines like this play an important role throughout TVA's balanced river system. , Cranes are used to help TVA move large and heavy equipment to maintain the dam. , Spillway gates allow TVA to move water through the dam for flood control, maintaining a navigation channel and cooling other power play downstream. , The powerhouse encloses the turbines and generators that produce electricity., 21 feet wide x 12 feet tall (from blade to tip) , 102 Tons of carbon steel , 78.3 Revolutions per minute , 78,500 Gallons of water per second