Understanding the Basics of Hydropower

Imagine the power generated by a continuous water flow. Hydropower makes it possible. It relies on the natural water cycle, which makes it a sustainable energy source.

The regions, including large water sources throughout the year, are predetermined before building a hydroelectric plant. Predetermination is important to ensure that the head difference is satisfied even in the dry seasons.

But how exactly does this mechanism work?

Hydroelectric plants mainly consist of 4 parts: turbine, generator, transformer, and national grid.

The runner inside the turbine rotates due to the water’s potential or kinetic energy.

The generator is coupled to the turbine through a shaft. The rotating shaft produces mechanical energy that is converted into electricity by the generator.

The generator is coupled to the turbine through a shaft. The rotating shaft produces mechanical energy that the generator converts into electricity.

A transformer converts the alternating current into a high-voltage current to transmit electricity to long distances. High voltage transmission is more efficient as it reduces energy losses. Actually, the logic of energy losses comes from the heat. The higher the current, the greater the heat. Now let’s clarify this further.

The power transmitted is the multiplication of both current and voltage (P = I V). Whereas the power loss is the square of the current multiplied by resistance (P = I^2 R). Even if you step up the amount of voltage, the power transmitted can be the same only if the current is decreased (P = I V). By decreasing the current, the power loss is minimized thanks to the formula (P = I^2 R). High current means that heat loss occurs somewhere in the transmission process. Therefore, the transmission plays a crucial role in preventing the power loss.

And finally, the national grid distributes the electricity modified by the transmission for domestic and industrial use.

These hidden components are what make turbines special and usable.

In the end, using turbines in a dam is preferable because of its longer lifespan. And the elevation difference of course is ensured by an endless, constantly recharging system of the natural water flow.

Eren Erden

A simple hydropower plant