Tag: physics

To harness hyrdoelectric energy large hydroelectric plants are required to be built across the streams. These plants should be of very high qulaity and are expensive to build. Dams are not only costly but they also take a toll on the environment and natural habitat near it.

In hydro electric plants:

For running a hydel power station throughout the year, vast amount of water  is required. This demands a vast reservoir. Such a  reservoir can be made only at a few places which are geographically suitable and do not interfere with ecosystem and human habitation.

The minimum height required to convent the stored potential energy of water into electric energy is $34\ M$ between the turbine and free energy of water in reservoir.

Potential energy is stored energy or the energy of position. The potential energy stored in a body of water held at a given height is converted to kinetic energy (movement energy) which is used to turn a turbine and create electricity.
Hence, water stored in the reservoirs of hydro-electric dams has potential energy.

The construction of dams for generating hydro electric power and then installation of transformers and their connection to the national grid has the following four main advantages:

A) disturbance of the natural ecosystem in the surrounding forest area

B) disruption of the plants and animals life

C) displacement of people on a large scale

D) disruption of the aquatic ecosystem.

So,construction of dams is not always advantageous.

Initially water is collected in the dam. When it is released, the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. The released water is made to fall on the blades of turbines. The armature of the electric generator rotates to produce electricity.