2006-11-23 02:00:34 · 3 answers · asked by angel 2 in Environment
In 1880, Lester Pelton invented a type of free-jet water turbine called the Pelton wheel that was extremely efficient and enabled the production of electricity from water.
2006-11-23 02:16:19 · answer #1 · answered by D C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lester Pelton invented a type of free-jet water turbine called the Pelton Wheel or Pelton turbine. Lester Pelton was born in 1829 in Vermillion, Ohio. In 1850, he immigrated to California during the time of the gold rush. Pelton made his living as a carpenter and a millwright. At that time there was a great demand for new power sources to run the machinery and mills necessary for the expanding gold mines. Many mines depended on steam engines, however those required exhaustible supplies of wood or coal. What was abundant was water power from the fast running mountain creeks and waterfalls. Waterwheels that had been used to power flour mills, worked best on larger rivers and did not work well in the faster moving and less voluminous mountain creeks and waterfalls. What did work was the newer water turbines that used wheels with cups rather than flat panels. A landmark design in water turbines was the highly efficient Pelton Wheel.
2006-11-23 13:08:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A very, very advanced descendant of a monkey invented it, of course ! (I dont know exactly but it must be the result of sevral, not just one inventor.)
2006-11-23 10:16:39 · answer #3 · answered by tavker_elec_it 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋