How Does Hydroelectric Dam Work?

You can see hydroelectric dams everywhere around the world and the amount of energy produced by these dams will depend on their size and capacity. One of the main functions of dams is to produce electricity but one question that comes to mind will be how this electricity is produced or generated before being channeled to the area nearby.

Hydroelectric energy is a renewable type of energy that is generated by making use of the current of the water and changing it into electricity that can be used by everyone. Dams play a crucial role in these processes and function as a means to store or hold this energy by controlling the current of the water.

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This current can then be used more effectively since the speed and direction will determine the amount of electricity produced by the spinning turbines. Most forms of energy will involve movements that will generate power and the system being utilized in dams was built to benefit and control this particular power.

In hydroelectric dams, the system was built based on the turbine which is on the basis of big fans on a shaft. The flow of the water will push the turbines (similar to how the wind pushes the windmill) connected to the shaft. The shaft is a part of the component to produce the electricity and its movement acts as a motor to generate the power.

What Is The Function Of Dams?

Dams play a crucial role in the whole process since they will create a difference in height. When a dam is built on top of a big river, it will commonly be at a peak height. At the back of the dam will be where the water accumulates.

Underneath the walls of the dam, there will be a passage where the water will flow in towards the end of the dam. The water that is trapped behind the wall of the river current will produce some pressure on the walls of the dam. Due to the increased pressure and gravity in this reservoir, the water will flow through the valve or penstock.

This penstock will flow the water towards the turbine fans and when the water passes through the turbines, the flow and current will cause the turbine to spin and ultimately produce power in the generator.

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One interesting fact about hydroelectric dams is that the power can be continuously renewed. This is much more eco-friendly since the water supply is limitless unlike fossil fuels like coal and oil.

As the water passes the fan and spins the turbines, it will flow out of the system and into the river on the other side of the dam. This means that the whole process is based on the current or momentum of the water. As long as the river keeps flowing in this area, the dam will have an unlimited power supply.

The Flow of Electrical Energy

Generally, dams or hydroelectric plant comprises several generators that are connected to the power line or tower. This line will then carry the electricity to communities, cities, and residential areas nearby.

The construction of hydroelectric dams allows the power plant to control the amount of electricity to be produced. This means more energy can be produced at the peak time (morning) and less during the night.

This process can be controlled by using the pump storage system which uses the same water again. As the water flows through the penstock, it will be pumped again into the reservoir above the power plant.

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This is usually done outside the peak time when the energy demand is low. By pumping the water back into the reservoir, the plant can uses back this water and will have enough water to generate more electricity when the demands are high in the upcoming time.

Hydroelectric Dams Across The Globe

Hydroelectric energy is a source of renewable energy that is commonly used. China is the biggest user of this hydroelectric plant. Other countries that also use this hydropower include The United States of America, Brazil, Canada, India, and Russia.

Almost 71% of all the renewable energy source generated on Earth comes from hydropower.

The Three Gorges Dam in China that holds the Yangtze River is the biggest hydroelectric dam in the world in terms of electrical output. This dam is 2335 meters long and 185 meters in height and has enough generators to produce 22,500 megawatts of power.

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