Harnessing the power of water has been used for centuries for manyuseful purposes. Initially it was used for irrigation and operatingvarious machines, such as windmills and dock cranes. But these days ithas a more important use: as a renewable source of electricity.
So what is hydro power?
Well, basically it is the generation of electricity by using the natural force of water.
And how is hydro power generated ?
It is generated in 3 different ways: hydroelectric power, tidal power, and wave power.
Hydroelectric Power:
This is the most common form of hydro-power, making up the majorityof all renewable energy produced. Electricity is produced inhydroelectric dams where the force of falling water drives massiveturbines.
The advantage of this type of power is that not only does it produceelectricity, but the dam helps collect water for our use, so it’s apower and water source in one. Furthermore, the force of the water isso strong that megawatts of electricity can be produced to help powerentire cities.
There is also a large amount of control over how fast the turbinesspin. If more power is needed, the controller simply opens the wicketgates more, which allows more water through the turbines and spins themfaster.
The disadvantage is the devastating effect dams can have on plants,animals and even humans. When dams are built they flood large tractsof land that were once occupied by various species and communities ofpeople. Furthermore, the water-borne animals, such as fish can also beaffected. An example would be salmon that are blocked from swimmingupstream to spawn by the newly erected dam.
Tidal Power:
The second most popular type of hydro power, tidal energy isproduced by currents caused from the natural ebb and flow of the tide.
This has been achieved by France and Russia since 1966 in areas witha large tidal range, such as bays and estuaries. One of the systems oftidal power works by trapping water at high tide with a tidal barrage,then releasing that water in one quick burst at low tide. This gushingwater drives turbines to produce power.
Although the tides are very predictable and consistent, the problemwith this system is that the turbines only operate every 6 hours (onceevery tide).
A second, more recent, tidal system looks very much like anunderwater wind turbine. Large windmill like turbines are sunk inshallow water, where they are slowly spun by shifting tidal water.
The advantage of this system is that it is an adaptation of analready technologically advanced wind turbine - so all the refinementhas been done. Furthermore, the dense water is far more efficient thanwind at spinning these turbines. Thus even slow-moving water is just aseffective as a strong wind.
The drawback is that the current systems can only be built inshallow water, where tidal activity is greatest. This is very limitingsince many other economic activities - like oyster farming - occur inthe shallows. Furthermore, these structures can damage marine life onthe seafloor.
Wave Power:
This is the youngest of the three China Power Supply Boards Factory hydropower solutions. The systemharnesses the power from ocean surface wave motion, where air displacedby waves is driven through a generator than spins a turbine. The endresult is electricity. These generators can either be coupled tofloating devices outta sea, or fixed along the shore where seas arerough.
Although this technology is relatively new, it has been estimatedthat there is enough energy in ocean waves to produce up to 2000Megawatts of power.
But, as with all hydro-power solutions, it has potentialenvironmental issues. Conservationists are worried about the impactthese structures will have on the coastline’s fauna and flora. Also,there is a possibility of water pollution if - for example - thehydraulic fluids accidentally leaked into the sea. This can be expectedif the wave generators are constantly battered by rough seas.
Closing thought:
Man has come up with ingenious ways to harness the power of nature to produce electricity, hydro powerbeing one of them. Although it is an important renewable energy for thefuture, there is still much controversy over its long-termenvironmental impact.
LED Driver Power Adapters factory--https://www.nbdce.com/product/switching-power-adaper/
So what is hydro power?
Well, basically it is the generation of electricity by using the natural force of water.
And how is hydro power generated ?
It is generated in 3 different ways: hydroelectric power, tidal power, and wave power.
Hydroelectric Power:
This is the most common form of hydro-power, making up the majorityof all renewable energy produced. Electricity is produced inhydroelectric dams where the force of falling water drives massiveturbines.
The advantage of this type of power is that not only does it produceelectricity, but the dam helps collect water for our use, so it’s apower and water source in one. Furthermore, the force of the water isso strong that megawatts of electricity can be produced to help powerentire cities.
There is also a large amount of control over how fast the turbinesspin. If more power is needed, the controller simply opens the wicketgates more, which allows more water through the turbines and spins themfaster.
The disadvantage is the devastating effect dams can have on plants,animals and even humans. When dams are built they flood large tractsof land that were once occupied by various species and communities ofpeople. Furthermore, the water-borne animals, such as fish can also beaffected. An example would be salmon that are blocked from swimmingupstream to spawn by the newly erected dam.
Tidal Power:
The second most popular type of hydro power, tidal energy isproduced by currents caused from the natural ebb and flow of the tide.
This has been achieved by France and Russia since 1966 in areas witha large tidal range, such as bays and estuaries. One of the systems oftidal power works by trapping water at high tide with a tidal barrage,then releasing that water in one quick burst at low tide. This gushingwater drives turbines to produce power.
Although the tides are very predictable and consistent, the problemwith this system is that the turbines only operate every 6 hours (onceevery tide).
A second, more recent, tidal system looks very much like anunderwater wind turbine. Large windmill like turbines are sunk inshallow water, where they are slowly spun by shifting tidal water.
The advantage of this system is that it is an adaptation of analready technologically advanced wind turbine - so all the refinementhas been done. Furthermore, the dense water is far more efficient thanwind at spinning these turbines. Thus even slow-moving water is just aseffective as a strong wind.
The drawback is that the current systems can only be built inshallow water, where tidal activity is greatest. This is very limitingsince many other economic activities - like oyster farming - occur inthe shallows. Furthermore, these structures can damage marine life onthe seafloor.
Wave Power:
This is the youngest of the three China Power Supply Boards Factory hydropower solutions. The systemharnesses the power from ocean surface wave motion, where air displacedby waves is driven through a generator than spins a turbine. The endresult is electricity. These generators can either be coupled tofloating devices outta sea, or fixed along the shore where seas arerough.
Although this technology is relatively new, it has been estimatedthat there is enough energy in ocean waves to produce up to 2000Megawatts of power.
But, as with all hydro-power solutions, it has potentialenvironmental issues. Conservationists are worried about the impactthese structures will have on the coastline’s fauna and flora. Also,there is a possibility of water pollution if - for example - thehydraulic fluids accidentally leaked into the sea. This can be expectedif the wave generators are constantly battered by rough seas.
Closing thought:
Man has come up with ingenious ways to harness the power of nature to produce electricity, hydro powerbeing one of them. Although it is an important renewable energy for thefuture, there is still much controversy over its long-termenvironmental impact.
LED Driver Power Adapters factory--https://www.nbdce.com/product/switching-power-adaper/
