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Pumped storage potential of the Hell's Canyon Area Item Info

This thesis contains the results of a preliminary investigation of the Hell's Canyon area's potential for pumped storage hydroelectric development, an alternative use of the region's water resource. The concept and application of pumped storage are discussed, particularly as they relate to the Pacific Northwest. An overview of the Hell's Canyon area is presented, focusing on its physical characteristics, history, and current National Recreation Area status. Eighteen potential pumped storage sites are noted, and three of the most promising are selected for more detailed analysis. For the three selected sites, preliminary designs are developed based on characteristics of actual pumped storage projects. Also presented are the results of a computer study of the reservoir water level fluctuations which would be induced by pumped storage operation. The computer program developed for the study is documented in the Appendix. The three sites are analyzed for economic feasibility, based on a procedure developed by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is concluded that pumped storage in the area is too expensive to be competitive at the present time, but may be feasible in the future. Possible major social and environmental effects are noted, although no actual analysis was performed. The three selected sites are compared, and one (Barber Flat in Idaho) is recommended for further consideration. Two possible alternative uses of pumped storage in the Hell's Canyon area are briefly discussed: (1) the use of pumped storage to relieve Hell's Canyon Dam of objectionable peaking duties; and (2) the use of a pumped storage reservoir to cool a nuclear power plant. On this last point, one site (Bear Creek #1 in Idaho) is recommended for more study.

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Title:
Pumped storage potential of the Hell's Canyon Area
Authors:
Coupe, Larry Douglas
Date Created (ISO Standard):
1977-04
Description:
This thesis contains the results of a preliminary investigation of the Hell's Canyon area's potential for pumped storage hydroelectric development, an alternative use of the region's water resource. The concept and application of pumped storage are discussed, particularly as they relate to the Pacific Northwest. An overview of the Hell's Canyon area is presented, focusing on its physical characteristics, history, and current National Recreation Area status. Eighteen potential pumped storage sites are noted, and three of the most promising are selected for more detailed analysis. For the three selected sites, preliminary designs are developed based on characteristics of actual pumped storage projects. Also presented are the results of a computer study of the reservoir water level fluctuations which would be induced by pumped storage operation. The computer program developed for the study is documented in the Appendix. The three sites are analyzed for economic feasibility, based on a procedure developed by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is concluded that pumped storage in the area is too expensive to be competitive at the present time, but may be feasible in the future. Possible major social and environmental effects are noted, although no actual analysis was performed. The three selected sites are compared, and one (Barber Flat in Idaho) is recommended for further consideration. Two possible alternative uses of pumped storage in the Hell's Canyon area are briefly discussed: (1) the use of pumped storage to relieve Hell's Canyon Dam of objectionable peaking duties; and (2) the use of a pumped storage reservoir to cool a nuclear power plant. On this last point, one site (Bear Creek #1 in Idaho) is recommended for more study.
Subjects:
water resources development pumped storage feasibility studies
Location:
Hells Canyon
Latitude:
45.91
Longitude:
-116.86
Collection:
IWRRI
IWRRI number:
197709
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
Publisher:
University of Idaho
Contributing Institution:
University of Idaho
Type:
Text
Format:
application/pdf
Cataloger:
wbv
Date Digitized:
2012

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Source
Preferred Citation:
"Pumped storage potential of the Hell's Canyon Area", Idaho Waters Digital Library, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/iwdl/items/iwdl-coupe_1977.html
Rights
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
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