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Question

What is hydro energy? Explain the principle of generating electricity from hydro energy. How much hydro electric power is generated in India?


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Solution

Hydro-Energy

Hydro energy is simply energy that is taken from the water and converted into electricity. Hydro energy can be obtained by using many methods of capture. The most common method of using energy from water is a hydroelectric dam, where water coming down through an area causes turbines to rotate and the energy is captured to run a generator. Power can also be generated from the energy of tidal forces or wave power, which uses the energy created by waves.


Definition of Hydroelectric Energy

Hydroelectric energy is energy derived from the movement of water. Water has a mass. It falls and flows downward due to gravity. When it moves, it has kinetic energy which can be harnessed. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.

Working principle:-

In a hydroelectric power plant, the potential energy of water at a higher level is converted to the kinetic energy of the water by letting it flow at a faster rate. The fast falling water rotates the turbine of the generator. Thus, the kinetic energy of the water is converted into the mechanical energy of the turbine. The axle of the turbine is connected to the armature of the electric generator. Thus the rotating turbine now rotates the armature in the magnetic field of the generator. As a result, the mechanical energy of the rotating system of the generator is converted into electrical energy of the generator. Thus, we have electrical energy as output from the hydroelectric power plant.


The principle of generation of hydroelectricity:


Hydroelectricity is the conversion of the energy of water flowing through rivers or stored in a dam into electricity. The energy of the naturally flowing water in high rivers is stored behind the dams as potential energy. When this water fall on the big water wheels called turbines at a hydroelectric power plant, the potential energy of water is converted into kinetic energy of water wheels which start rotating. These, in turn, rotate the armature of the generator and produce electricity.

India's hydroelectric power potential is estimated at 148,700 MW at 60% load factor. In the fiscal year 2016-17, the total hydroelectric power generated in India was 122.31 TWh (excluding small hydro) with an average capacity factor of 33%. About 65% of the electricity consumed in India is generated by thermal power plants, 22% by hydroelectric power plants, 3% by nuclear power plants and rest by 10% from other alternate sources like solar, wind, biomass etc. 53.7% of India's commercial energy demand is met through the country's vast coal reserves.


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