Hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower (pronunciation: /ˈhaɪdrəʊˌpaʊər/), also known as water power, is a form of renewable energy that harnesses the energy of water in motion, such as water flowing over a waterfall, to generate electricity. The term is derived from the Greek words 'hydro' meaning water and 'power' meaning strength.
History
The use of hydropower dates back to ancient times, with the Greeks using water wheels for grinding wheat into flour. The Industrial Revolution saw a significant increase in the use of hydropower as a source of energy for factories and mills.
Generation
Hydropower is generated by using the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. This is typically achieved through the use of a hydroelectric dam, where water is stored in a reservoir and then released to turn a turbine, which generates electricity.
Types of Hydropower Systems
There are three main types of hydropower systems:
- Impoundment: This is the most common type of hydropower system and involves creating a reservoir by damming a river.
- Diversion: Also known as run-of-river, this type of system channels a portion of the river through a canal or penstock.
- Pumped Storage: This system stores energy by using two water reservoirs at different levels. During periods of low electricity demand, excess electricity is used to pump water from the lower reservoir to the upper one.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Hydropower has several advantages, including its renewable nature, its ability to provide a continuous source of power, and its low greenhouse gas emissions. However, it also has disadvantages, such as the potential for environmental damage and the displacement of local communities due to dam construction.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hydropower
- Wikipedia's article - Hydropower
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski