Question for Dave Stewart

Just like you, I would think the power companies would be running full out. However, when DEW and I fished the Green River the other day, we got to the water return from the TVA power generation plant relatively early. The water being returned to the river was nearly 5 degrees cooler than other parts of the river. However, while we were there, the amount of discharge actually slowed. We moved on up river, and when we came back to the discharge, it was still much slower, despite it being later in the day and much, much hotter.

Now the question... don't anyone laugh.... do power plants have some type of energy storage capability? Something similar to batteries?

I'm just curious.

Thanks,

Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

I'm pretty sure they don't have any kind of storage facilty for power. I'm completely positive that in any impoundment the bite is 10 times better when they're pulling water. I believe on weekends when many of us fish they don't pull much water because most of the businesses are shut down and they don't need the power.

Thanks Jim, but I still don't understand why then, the water discharge at the power plant decreased as the day went on and the temps went up. Got me baffled.

Thanks again,

Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

If you ever find out how they determine the water release let me know. I watch the release schedules to get an idea of how good the bite might be, especially in the TN river impoundments, but never have figgered out why they do what they do. Maybe someone on the board who knows more can share it with us.

Far as Rodney goes he's alive and sorta kicking. Did a nice job at this year's Big Bass Classic, we couldn't have pulled it off without him. I already told him you'd asked of his whereabouts and condition. He mentioned being a tad stung about his posts getting deleted on here, and I haven't seen him post for a while. Tell ole Darryl I've got a $5 bet I want to make with him on the Nolin tournament...he'll know what you mean.

Hey guys, a note about the water discharge from steam generation plants. The water going through the plant has nothing to do with the generation of electricity. It is used for cooling only. Hydroelectric dams use water as a power source and the more water flowing through those plants the more electricity is being generated.

One reason why the volume of water out of the plant on the Green River may have been that the plant was putting less load out on the grid. Even though it was a very hot day that particular plant may not have been working at peak load. The whole country feeds off a grid and sometimes a particular plant may not have to generate as much as you would think.

As far as the power plant having a storage capacity (batteries), they do not. what they generate they put out on the transmission grid.

I know this is not very clear but hope it helps some.....

Don

Jim,


LMAO... I'm sure Darrell does. He told me about those "adult" beverages making so many bets on his behalf. LMAO

I really ragged him about those bets, and even tried to get in on the action, but he wouldn't make the same bets with out the uhmmmmmmmm same outside... or is that inside, stimulation. LOL

I hope he doesn't mind me sharing that....LOL. He still terases himself about that one!!!

Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

PS, Tell Rodney to come on back. I'm not sure about any posts deleted, but I've sure had my share deleted over the years. Just a part of it. Anyway, let him know I'm glad he is OK.

The generation on Ky or the other TVA lakes does increase according to demand you can check their website ([url]http://lakeinfo.tva.gov/htbin/lakeinfo?site=KYH&DataType=All&submit=View+info[/url])
To veiw the release data
For example this was the release for Aug 5th
[url]http://lakeinfo.tva.gov/htbin/lakeinfo?site=KYH&DataType=All&submit=View+info[/url]
during the heat of the afternoon they started drawing around 30,000. and continued til around 7pm then it tapered off, to me fishing on the ledges gets better when they draw 35k or more and that usually isnt until the factorys are running during the week.

This is true, but don't mix apples and oranges. The plant on the Green River is a steam generating plant and the dams are hydro generators.......I knew this would not be clear........

Hey Don,

I was aware of the difference, but it seemed I was really the only one concerned with the Green River situation. I still don't understand why they would be releasing less water as it got hotter, and it was a weekday to boot. But hey, I've never really claimed to be "ALL" that smart anyway.

How's your tournaments going? I'd still love to get to fish them sometime. I'm also really considering trying to start a small tournament down here. I may want to pick your brain a little. In fact, maybe we could get you and some of your guys down too. Who knows, if I can get it going, and you keep yours going, maybe we could end up... and this might take a year or two... but end up with a couple of the better teams from here challenging a couple of the better teams from your group. Would be pretty cool... huh?

I don't really seem to get a lot of interest on this board about river tournaments here on the Green, but who knows, maybe it will grow. I will or may, put out some fliers at some of the local bait shops, Uncle Lee's, WalMart, etc.....

I hope someday we can fish together and exchange some ideas.


Tight lines and God Bless

Danny

Danny, we'd sure love to have some of you guys come up and join us. It's every Wed night from 5:30 to 8:30. Out of Dogtown ramp on the West side of Evansville.

If you do decide to start a tournament I'll be glad to get with you and explain how we do it. It's real simple. It's kind of a labor of love because the guy that organizes it doesn't get anything unless he wins the tournament.

Let me know what you decide to do......

Don

Hoosier Don:

I understand the grid and some plants not needing to run hard all the time however I don't understand why we don't use hydro electric plants 100% output if possible. This has to be the most economical and the cleanest. Unless it has to do with lake levels.

Hi...sorry it took me so long to answer...my ISP went down last Friday all day and when it came back up early Saturday morning my cable modem was shot for some reason...just got it replaced a few minutes ago.

Basically I have seen a big decrease in the amount of generation here on the big lakes over the past few years. This has all coincided with a lot of the local larger manufacturers having closed up shop and moved their operations outside the country...thus less power needed. I can't prove that is the case but it is the only thing that makes sense...and also as a matter of supply and demand...if there is more supply available than demand then the price goes down..don't think they are gonna let that happen. Just my two cents. I know you could just about count on a draw on Ky Lake around 50,000 plus on hot days like we have been having a couple of years back...now you are lucky to see 35,000 to 40,000 during the afternoon.