If one builds a turbine in a fast flowing stream of river without building dam. What energy conversion will happen for power generation?
kinetic energy to electrical energy
In a hydroelectric power station, water stored at a height is allowed to flow down through a penstock pipe, which converts the potential energy of the stored water into kinetic energy of the flowing water. The energy of the flowing water is used to rotate the turbine, which is the conversion of kinetic energy into mechanical energy. The rotating turbine generates electricity, which is the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy.
The energy change taking place here is:
Potential energy -> Kinetic energy -> Mechanical energy -> Electrical energy
Since, dams are not used, there will not be any potential energy and hence the energy changes will be as:
Kinetic energy -> Mechanical energy -> Electrical energy
∴ In this case, kinetics energy is finally converted to electrical energy.