1Q70.20 • Simple Machines: Water Turbine with Power Generation and Grid

Location: Floor Demo (behind the pizza oven table)

Photos show the demonstration used at the University of Texas at Austin.

Concepts Conveyed:

Mechanical energy to electrical energy represented by the filled reservoir, pump, and yellow water turbine

From the plant to high voltage lines, the transformers raise voltage to minimize losses during transport (higher flow=less % losses).
At the end of transmission, transformers again reduce the voltage to safe and practical voltage.
This system is represented by the black connections that divide the different sized tubes.

Feeder lines carry power from substation.
Uses small transformers and is distributed to residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
The tubes decrease in diameter as they pass through the industrial facility buildings that require a lot of energy, like schools and grocery stores, then smaller commercial buildings, to residential buildings.

Instructions / Notes:

Use black pump to move water through the system.
As water rotates the turbine, the green light should illuminate faintly.
The more water there is in the system, the harder it is to pump it, and the wheel may sometimes not spin. Best results will be seen with the first few pumps when the tubes start out empty.

Demo Staff:

Fill one blue tub 50% with water, add a few drops of blue coloring, and set both tubs side by side on the lower part of the long brown table (otherwise the tube won't be able to reach the bottom of the jug).
Place board on table with the pump on the same side as the filled tub and put receiving tube into the tub. Make sure it is deep in the water.
Place the end tubes into the empty tub. Make sure they are all the way in to avoid spillage.
Pump water to test that the light turns on and that there are no leaks.
Provide a towel or paper towels in case of water spills.
Make sure there aren’t any closed loops, or the wheel will not spin.

Last updated on March 11, 2025