Hydroelectricity is the extraction and conversion of energy from water into
its most useful form: electricity. Turbines are used to convert movement into
electricity where water flows from a high level to a low level.
Electricity from flowing water is one way in which electricity can be
produced. The second way water can be used is by damming rivers to store water
until it is needed. The damming of rivers is the most common way of producing
electricity. About 20% of the world's electricity comes from this method.
Even though there are no pollutants produced by hydroelectric
power, there are environmental and social issues that impact people through
the construction and the storage of water by the use of dams.
The basics are the turbines, which generate very reliable power with a very
simple design. Some kind of a “runner” or propeller is attached to a shaft, which
operates an alternator to generate power when the water turns the runner. There
are three types of turbines used in hydroelectric generation: impulse
turbines, reaction turbines, and submersible propeller turbines.
Regardless of where the water comes from, if you have running water that runs year-round, than you can have a year-round power supply
www.apps1.eere.energy.gov
other sources
www.window.state.tx.us
www.need.org
www.need.org(2)
