What is Pumped Storage Hydropower?
Figure 1. Closed-Loop Pumped-Storage Hydropower Diagram
Components:
Upper and Lower Reservoir
The upper reservoir is used to store potential energy, and the lower reservoir is to store waterÂ
Penstock/Tunnel
The tunnel is the system that connects the two reservoirs
Powerhouse
The housing for the generator and turbine.
Generator
For closed loop systems we will be using reversible generator assemblies to act as both a pump and a generator.
Turbine
With the turbine we are looking at using a Francis turbine instead of a Pelton turbine, because it allows for pumping back to the top reservoir.
What is a Closed Loop system?
A closed loop system is a system where the water used is only in the water in the reservoirs and they are connected to each other through a tunnel.
Why Closed Loop?
Closed loop hydropower storage have generally lower environmental impacts compared to their open loop counter parts. This environmental impact is mostly regarding the terrestrial and aquatic habitats of creatures.Â