II. Answer the following questions:
What does a coal-fired power plant use to turn the turbine blades?
What does a hydroelectric plant use to turn the turbine?
Where is the water intake?
What is a turbine propeller turned by?
Does the generator produce the power?
Is demand for electricity «flat» and constant? Why? Why not?
What is «pumped storage»?
Does a reservoir act much like a battery? Why? Why not?
Why are construction costs generally low compared with conventional hydropower facilities?
III. Complete the following sentences according to the text.
Hydroelectric and coal-fired power plants produce electricity in … .
The theory is to build a dam on a large river that has … .
…causes water to fall through the penstock inside the dam.
There is less need for electricity in homes, businesses, and other facilities … .
Hydroelectric plants are more efficient at providing for peak power demands during short periods than are … .
An advantage of pumped storage is … .
IV. Combine the words and translate them:
1) similar a) intake
2) metal b) generator
3) water c) way
4) turbine d) shaft
5) hydroelectric e) propeller
6) magnetic f) load
7) field g) poles
8) fixed h) power demand
9) peak period i) storage
10) heavy j) adjustment
11) pumped k) steel laminations
12) rapid l) hydropower facilities
13) conventional m) speed
V. Fill in the correct prepositions, translate the phrases, then choose any five items and make up sentences of your own.
1) ___ a similar way; 2) ___ both cases; 3) a drop ___ elevation; 4) to fall ___ the penstock; 5) the shaft ___ the turbine; 6) the shaft goes up ___ the generator; 7) to be connected ___ the generator; 8) to carry electricity ___ one’s home; 9) to convert the energy of flowing water ___mechanical energy; 10) to be mounted ___ the perimeter of the rotor; 11) need ___ electricity; 12) to flow ___ the turbines back ___ a storage pool ___ the power plant; 13) to place load ___ the system; 14) to start ___ quickly; 15) to compare ___ smth.
VI. Find key words and phrases which best express the general meaning of each paragraph.
VII. Write a summary of the Text 4.
VIII. Discuss with your groupmates or in pairs:
1) Is it possible to use energy from water in our republic? Why? Why not?
2) What European countries actively utilize hydroelectric power? Give examples (Find out additional information).
IX. Study the diagram (see Fig. 3). It shows one method of converting wave energy into electrical power. Decide how it works and make ex. X.
Fig. 3. Converting wave energy into electrical power
X. Read the following presentation and fill it in with the words listed below.
a) seabed d) rotates g) high
b) chamber e) renewable h) turbine
c) down f) energy i) pistons
Wave Energy Converter
Definition: system for converting 1) ___ from sea waves into electrical power.
Location: fixed to 2) ___.
Main components: a flexible disk, a 3) ___ which takes in sea water, a set of 4) ___, many sea water pipes, a 5) ___ on the land.
Operation: wave oscillates → pushes disc 6) ___ → lever oscillates → reciprocating pumps push water through pipe at 7) ___ → lever oscillates pressure → 8) ___ → generates electricity.
Benefits: Wave energy is a 9) ___ energy resource; uses no fossil fuel.