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Hydroelectricity From
Waterfalls
By Lauren Vork
History
Humans have long been harnessing the power of naturally
flowing water in order to make life more convenient.
Before
the invention of electricity, river waterfalls were used to move turbines,
which powered mills that could grind wheat into flour far faster than any human
hand.
Not
only were these machines so effective that they are still used today, but they
became the mechanical basis for generators which could create electricity from
the motion of falling water, or hydroelectricity.
Turbines
The
creation of hydroelectric power begins with a water turbine.
This
device consists of angled blades wrapped around a wheel.
Its
operation is analogous to that of a pinwheel with the turbine spinning as it
comes into contact with moving water.
When
the turbine is placed in the path of falling water, the turbine moves a shaft
which, in turn, powers an electrical generator.
Magnetic
Generators
The type of electrical generator that is generally used to
power water turbines is a standard electromagnetic generator.
This
machine works to convert mechanical energy (the energy of moving objects) into
electrical energy.
This
is done through an apparatus which moves magnets around a conductor, generating
an electromagnetic field that is then collected as electricity.
Damming
While hydroelectricity can be generated from naturally existing waterfalls, most hydroelectric plants generate water from human-made waterfalls.
These waterfalls are made by building dams, which restrict the natural flow of a river into channels where the water will power turbines.
This process maximizes the efficiency of energy collection because the control of the water flow creates higher pressure in a smaller area.
Lauren Vork has been a writer for 20 years, writing both fiction and nonfiction. Her work has appeared in "The Lovelorn" online magazine and thecvstore.net. Vork holds a bachelor's degree in music performance from St. Olaf College.
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