Hoover Dam.

[ZenOps]

http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/...le.cfm?GAGE=30

Strange things afoot at Hoover. By my estimation, they should be producing about 14,400 MWH per day with a slow increase into the heat of summer as electrical demand rises for running air conditioners.

http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060002129

If Lake mead drops below 1050 feet, Hoover Dam was originally designed to be producing 0 MWH, although they can retrofit it to work all the way down to 950 feet at very low electrical output, theoretically at least.

Much of the prosperity of the west coast for the last 70 years was due to the availability of cheap energy from Hoover.

If I had to guess, they either changed intakes - or they shutdown their ultra-efficient generators (ultra efficient generators only work when there is enough water pressure, and no surface air pocket "foam" mixed in with the water)

[ExtraSlow]

Coming soon . . . .

» Click image for larger version

[CanmoreOrLess]

ZenOps, I'd need to see the math, you say you did it. Let's see the math.

[ExtraSlow]

If you knew me at all, you'd know I NEVER do any math.

[GTS4tw]

Are you going to post the same couple articles monthly until the lake stops producing power? You know that'll take decades at this rate right...? I'm assuming this situation has pretty much stayed the same as it was the last time you made a thread about this since you're posting a year old article.

No new news in the world of Nickel?

[ExtraSlow]

Dang Ninja Edit! I thought you were talking to me, or at least to this version of my many multiple personalties.

[snowcat]

I was there last summer and you can see the old water line. I was there in 2000 as well. It's really low!

[CanmoreOrLess]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
Dang Ninja Edit! I thought you were talking to me, or at least to this version of my many multiple personalties.

Sorry, not asking for your math. When Zen posts anything, I want to see the math. The guy uses bar-stool numbers for every freaking thing.

[ZenOps]

Rate at which the lake stops producing power is up to debate, but the efficency curve drops off quickly below its rated intakes at 1050 feet - it is not a linear drop.

At the current level of 1076 feet they only have 26 feet worth of water pressure to work with. Its a little bit decieving to think of zero as the place where you run out of water, because it isn't. Technically, Glemore reservoir in Calgary is at 3,540 feet - but it does not need to go to zero before its empty, nor does it need more than a hundred feet above average before it overflows.

The absolute technical "deadpool" for Hoover is 895 feet.

http://www.nps.gov/lake/learn/nature...-lake-mead.htm

Hoover dam should technically be producing about 4.2 Billion Kwh per year. The "degraded output" started in 2009, when they only managed 3.7 Billion kwh. They are well on track to producing under 3 Billion Kwh this year, and probably less than 2 next year if this trend continues.

A decade to go from full output (2009) to no output (possibly 2019) is actually, a very very good estimate. Yes you are correct on that.

When it came close to not producing the maximum output back in the 1950's, it wasn't as big a deal back then - as it was all excess back then as it served a much much smaller population.

[ZenOps]

Originally posted by CanmoreOrLess
ZenOps, I'd need to see the math, you say you did it. Let's see the math.

Don't need to, the tables are all there every Acre foot put through the dam, every kwh produced each hour. You just have to flip through them.

[lasimmon]

An earthquake is going to take care of the Hoover Dam. Dwayne Johnson told me so.

[ZenOps]

Yes on earthquake.

But even if not, there is much less water as it drains. All lakes are shaped like a V, or a martini glass.

There is a heck of a lot more water at 1200 to 1150 feet then there is at 1100 to 1050 feet. Less water in acre-feet, with less pressure. At a certain point, the turbines start to introduce air "chop" which actually damages the equipment. Its gotta be close now.