Wednesday, August 8, 2012

What is Hydropower Energy?

Before we start talking about hydropower energy, we should understand its meaning first. So, what is hydropower?

It contains two words, ‘hydro’ and ‘power’. ‘Hydro’ means water, and ‘power’ in physics means energy that is used for some purpose. Therefore, hydropower is a power that generated from the energy of flowing water. Thanks to the technology, we can capture this power and turn it into electricity that is very useful for our daily life.

Hydropower is the most common as well as the cheapest source of renewable energy in the United States of America these days. As reported by EIA about hydropower energy utilization in USA, since 2008, it has been used in approximately 70% of all electricity that is generated from renewable energy source.

What is hydropower history?


what is hydropower energy
Since 2,000 years ago, the Greeks have realized about hydropower potential to ease their work. They built a wooden water wheel on the river. The water flows turns the wheel and its mechanical power can be used for grinding flour or corn. It was John Smeaton, a British civil engineer that first introduces large water wheel that made from iron. This is the forerunner of the turbines that we know today. The idea to produce electricity by using the water power was first coined in 1880 in England, along with the development of the electric generator.


The process in transforming hydropower energy into electricity


what is hydropower process

The concept about hydropower is actually simple. From the schematic above we can see that the power of the flowing water is used to rotate a water turbine and creating energy that extracted to the generator. This is where the electricity comes from.

What is hydropower type that commonly used to produce electricity?


about hydropower - conventional hydroelectricConventional hydroelectric
Utilize the potential energy of a dammed water to turn the turbine that is connected to the generator. The hydropower is depends on the volume of the dammed water (reservoir) and the height difference between the source and the penstock.


about hydropower - run of the riverRun-of-the-river
While the conventional method uses the potential energy of dammed water, this method uses the kinetic energy of free-flowing water in the river or streams. The reservoir capacity doesn’t matter since the swiftness level of the water flows that affects the amount of the generated electricity.

about hydropower - pumped storagePumped storage
During periods of low electrical demand, the water is pumped to the higher reservoir. It released back to the lower reservoir through the turbine when the demand is high. As the hydropower is passing the turbine, it will drive the turbine to rotate and produce electricity. Pumped storage can produce large-scaled electricity that can be used by a town.

17 comments:

Unknown said...

The researchers used molecular clock analyses to track the evolution of the enzymes back through the fungal lineages. The idea is that just as the hands of a clock move at a defined rate around the dial, genes accumulate mutations at a roughly constant rate.
Don Blankenship

Unknown said...

Nice article, it's a great information regarding to hydro-power energy. Hydro-power is useful to generating electricity from flowing water. Electricity is must essential to our daily life. Here well described the process of transforming hydro-power energy into electricity. And here given some types of hydro-power such as Conventional hydroelectric, Run-of-the-river, Pumped storage. SWOT Analysis Report

Unknown said...

The long, hot Texan summer time usually requires its cost on individuals bags. With air conditioner singing away all day and evening, high expenses are a given fact. That is one of the factors why Texans campaigned for and won the right to deregulate power.
help with electric bill
.

Sheraton longingbottom said...

How do u know all this stuff if u don't know that this is true

Anonymous said...

TROLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Anonymous said...

thanks for the help
sagget

Unknown said...

Generation of electricity is one of the oldest renewable process, Even it doesn't pollute environment as no-toxic gases are released. Thanks for the article, its really helpful for study purpose.
http://www.vaishnaviconsultants.com

Unknown said...

I am making a project report on hydro power plants. Your post was amazing, great work.

Power Plant Maintenance

Unknown said...

Hydropower is a power that generated from the energy of flowing water. Thanks to the technology, we can capture this power and turn it into electricity that is very useful for our daily life.

Sterling Energy

jyoti chawla said...

Hydro Power is very useful in the growth of the world so one must be aware of this concept of creating electricity from the water. This site was really helpful in increasing my knowledge.

Hydro Consultant In India said...

Hydro Power is the famous technique of creating the electricity from the water, this website was very helpful in increasing my knowledge

lap dat camera said...

This is great information, thanks’ for share!

Unknown said...

Thanks for introduce to me hydro power energy.! Hydro power generate a electricity power following a water..!

vaishnaviconsultant.blogspot.in provide a hydro power facility.!

Anonymous said...

Before we start talking about hydropower energy, we should understand its meaning first. So, what is hydropower?

It contains two words, ‘hydro’ and ‘power’. ‘Hydro’ means water, and ‘power’ in physics means energy that is used for some purpose. Therefore, hydropower is a power that generated from the energy of flowing water. Thanks to the technology, we can capture this power and turn it into electricity that is very useful for our daily life.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the help! So getting an A+! I'll be sure to mention you in my Special Thank You secion...............

Unknown said...

Great piece of work in an simple and effective way can understand by everyone. I have heard about Soham Renewable energy they are also focusing on Hydro power energy.

Anak Musik said...

Thank you for sharing this article

Post a Comment