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📘 A dam stores water above the powerhouse

A storage dam holds water above the powerhouse, storing gravitational potential energy you can release on demand.

3
lessons
~15 min
to learn
Adults
level
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What you’ll learn

  1. From stored water to the penstockTrace water from the reservoir through intake and penstock toward the turbine.Stored elevation becomes directed flow under operator control.
  2. Turning flow into rotationExplain how the turbine, shaft, and generator convert water power into electricity.Mechanical rotation links hydraulic force to electromagnetic induction.
  3. Power to the grid and back to the riverFollow transformer output, grid delivery, and tailrace return.Electricity leaves the plant while used water rejoins the river.

Questions this course answers

What gives reservoir water gravitational potential energy?

Water held higher than the powerhouse can release energy as it moves downward.

What is the intake's main job?

The intake selects and regulates the water that enters the penstock or tunnel.

What does hydraulic head describe in a dam plant?

Head is the useful change in water elevation or pressure across the plant.

How does a turbine make the generator rotate?

Water's force on the runner creates torque in the connected shaft.

What does the generator convert?

A generator uses electromagnetic induction to turn shaft work into current and voltage.

Why is a transformer used before long-distance transmission?

For the same power, higher voltage allows lower current and less resistive heating.

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