Forms of Hydropower

It is a form of power or energy generated from the force of the movement of water. It is also called hydraulic or water power. It is commonly used to produce electricity. It is a renewable form of energy resource. The water’s strong current can run a turbine that would then generate electricity. The water that past the machine can be used for water irrigations or can run small power plants again. It is also much less expensive compared to other sources of electricity. The following are some of the forms of hydropower system that has been developed.

Hydroelectricity

It is a form of electricity coming from the force of moving water. It is addressed as environmental friendly since it can be renewed and does not emit harmful wastes. Unlike the traditional ways of using the water to generate power, dams were constructed to store water. In this case, the flow of the water can be controlled to run a turbine and how much electricity will be produced from it. Water that flowed out of the dam in case of electricity shortage can be pumped back to the dam to compensate the demand.

Waterwheels
The electricity is produced via the shaft of the wheel by the continuous rotation of the paddles around this ancient device. It is the force of the water current that runs the paddles of the waterwheels. There are 3 known kinds of waterwheels. First would be the vertical wheel, then the horizontal wheel and the geared mill.

Vortex power

It is a form of hydro power where energy is generated from the vortices made by the obstacles placed in bodies of water. It has been developed by an Australian engineer whose goal is restore clean water but he came across an idea of using a turbine to construct a mini-power plant.

Damless Hydro

It generates kinetic energy from water flows to produce power without a dam. It uses currents of water from rivers, spillways, chutes, irrigation systems, oceans and tides.

Tidal power
It uses underwater turbines on places with high tidal currents. Energy is produced by the help of tidal generators that catches the kinetic movements of the water. It is the rise and the fall of sea level that harness the water energy. It is a good potential source of energy for places with large bodies of water and has strong tidal activities.

Tidal stream power

It uses tidal stream generators to capture power. This form of hydraulic power depends on the density of water. It depends mainly on the tidal current. If there is higher water density, a greater amount of power can also be derived.

Wave power

It is an energy generated from waves on the ocean surfaces. The energy being produced can be determined from the height, speed, length of wave and water density.

Osmotic power

This form depends mainly on the difference on salt concentration between the seawater and water from the river. Two osmotic processes have to take place, these are reverse electro dialysis and pressure retarded osmosis. Osmosis happens when ions of salt waters combines with fresh water.

Marine Current power

It uses the kinetic energy being captured from marine current and transforms it into power. Any for forms of currents from marine water like tidal power and other energy forms from ocean currents can be a source. It is easier to predict compared to wind and solar power.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

It derives the energy from the difference of the temperature from deep and shallow water to run the heat engine. In the need to control energy crisis, usually during times when there are water shortages, the rapid changes in the water temperature have led to the producing another form of renewable hydropower. The deal is that the higher the difference in the temperature, the greater the power efficiency.

• How Does Hydropower Work
• Hydropower Facts
• Hydropower Advantages
• Hydro Power System
• Tidal Power
• Micro Hydropower
• Hydropower Plants