What do cast levers, wicket gates, wicket gate stems and main generator shafts have in common? They are all components used in hydro turbines at hydroelectric dams.
Hydropower is defined as the production of power using the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. At present, this is the most widely used form of renewable energy. An up-and-running hydroelectric complex produces no direct waste and emits much less greenhouse gases than traditionally-powered fossil fuel energy plants.
The basic principle behind hydroelectricity, a term referring to electricity generated by hydropower, is a rotary engine, known as a water turbine. “Hydropower plants harness water's energy and use simple mechanics to convert that energy into electricity. Hydropower plants are actually based on a rather simple concept - water flowing through a dam turns a turbine, which turns a generator.” [1]
A turbine’s purpose is to capture energy from a moving liquid (or a gas). A turbine’s primary components are:
- blades which enable the flowing liquid to be captured
- an axle that allows the blades to rotate
- a machine that is then driven by the axle [2]
In hydropower plants, the most popular type of water turbine is known as the Francis Turbine. In the early 19th century, Claude Bourdin, a French engineer, introduced the word “turbine,” coined from the Latin word “turbo” or “vortex,” referring to “whirling”. [3]
There are two-types of turbines:
a) Reaction turbines
b) Impulse turbines
Reaction turbines create energy by changing the pressure of the water as it moves through the turbine. As the water flows through the turbine, the blades rotate. Reaction turbines only work successfully if the turbine is fully submerged in the water or if the turbine is encased, thereby enabling the turbine to hold the water pressure. Ideally, the water must be in contact with the blades for as long as possible in order to produce the most energy.
Impulse turbines create energy by modifying the speed of the water flow. The water is directed through a narrow tube in order to hit the turbine blades at the highest speed possible. The force of the water on the turbine blades causes them to spin and the spinning results in energy.
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1. http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/hydropower-plant1.htm
2. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/turbines.html
3. http://pasoenergy.com/water_energy/water_turbines.html
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/hydropower-plant1.htm