Page 87 - Gilbert & Me_Neat
P. 87
After sending him my thoughts on his latest foolishness, I go to the email my Boss sent last
Thursday, and click on the second of the links he sent, which opens up a video tutorial course on
hydropower plants. This is going to be a 3-hour long course covering the more intricate aspects
of hydropower machinery and types of power stations. There are several short video tutorials
interspaced with brief questions.
Trash Racks Pelton
Variable Pitch Blades KAPLAN
Generator Impulse pigs Inlet Gate Bulb Turbine
Transformer Run-of-the-River DAM Pondage
Spillway Draft Tube INLET TUBE Head Water Flow
Rotator MEGA WATTS Axial Flow Reaction
Kinetic Energy Hydraulic Pump Propeller MIXED FLOW Pump
Storage Power Plant Open Air Switchyard DISPATCHABILITY
Penstock Scroll Cage FRANCIS Tail Water Ball Valve
Moving Screen Scrapper PRIME MOVER
I gain more knowledge about Kaplan, Francis and Pelton turbines, I mean I now know the
difference, and I understand where each of these might be deployed and why. It is more
complicated than previously imagined, for sure, so I take notes and find it interesting. Quite how
most of this is relevant to Belize is a different question, but at least I can hold a conversation
about turbines and the benefits to an economy looking to convert to using more renewable
energy, and which mightn’t have considered hydropower before.
Midway through the course, I take a call from one of our regular customers who called on the
off-chance that we were open. He’s after some LED bulbs, so I let him know what I have in
stock right now, since my supplier is still closed and I won’t be able to get my hands on any
additional supplies for the time being. We discussed what bulbs I have available for immediately
delivery, and he agrees to a selection and tells me he’ll send through a purchase order.
A few minutes later, the PO comes through, so I process it immediately and email him an invoice
by return. Then I packed up the items and print the invoice. It’s only a small order, but it’s the
