Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 39°50′49″N 76°17′29″W / 39.847024°N 76.291462°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1964 |
| Opening date | 1968 |
| Construction cost | $73 million (1968) |
| Operator(s) | Exelon |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Muddy Run Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 11 billion U.S. gallons (41.57 GL, 33,700 acre-feet, 1000 acres) |
| Power station | |
| Hydraulic head | 410 ft (120 m) |
| Installed capacity | 1072 |
| Annual generation | -361 GW·h (2016) |
| Website Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility |
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The Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility is a special kind of power plant in Drumore Township, Pennsylvania, United States. It uses water to create electricity, but it also pumps water back up to store energy. This type of power plant is called a pumped-storage hydroelectric facility.
It was built by the Philadelphia Electric Company and opened in 1968. At that time, Muddy Run was the biggest pumped-storage facility in the entire world! Today, it is run by the Susquehanna Electric Company. This company is part of Exelon Generation, a large energy company.
Contents
How Does Muddy Run Make Electricity?
Muddy Run works like a giant battery using water. It has two main parts: an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir.
The Upper Reservoir: Muddy Run Reservoir
The upper reservoir is called the Muddy Run Reservoir. It covers about 1,000 acres of land. This reservoir was made by building a huge rock-filled dam across a stream called Muddy Run. The dam is 4,800 feet long and 250 feet high. When the reservoir is full, the water level is over 500 feet high.
The Lower Reservoir: Conowingo Reservoir
The lower reservoir is the Conowingo Reservoir. This is actually a part of the Susquehanna River. It was formed by the Conowingo Dam. The normal water level here is about 109 feet high.
Pumping and Generating Power
The power plant uses a clever system to create electricity.
- Storing Energy: When there is extra electricity on the power grid (usually at night), the facility uses this power. It pumps water from the lower Conowingo Reservoir up to the higher Muddy Run Reservoir. This water travels through four large shafts, each 25 feet wide and 343 feet deep.
- Making Electricity: When people need a lot of electricity (like during the day), the stored water is released. It flows back down from the upper reservoir through the same shafts. As the water rushes down, it spins eight special machines called turbines. These turbines then turn generators, which create electricity. Muddy Run can produce 1,071 megawatts of power.
Who Designed the Machinery?
The important electrical parts of the Muddy Run facility were designed by a famous engineer named Eugene C. Whitney. He worked for the Westinghouse Electric Company. Whitney also designed machinery for other big power plants, like the Grand Coulee Dam. He was even there when the Muddy Run machines were started for the very first time!
Muddy Run Park and Views
The Muddy Run Reservoir is not just for power. The area around the upper reservoir is also a park. This park is a great place to visit and enjoy nature. It is close to Susquehannock State Park. From Susquehannock State Park, there is a special trail that offers a fantastic view of the Muddy Run facility.
