Why the height of a dams is important for hydroelectric?

Function. The water in the reservoir of a hydroelectric facility is held at a higher elevation on one side of the dam than the other. The higher the water is, the more potential energy it has and thus the more electricity can be generated.

Why are dams tall?

A dam’s design must enable it to withstand greater pressure at the bottom than at the top. As a result, many dams are built in a triangular shape. A wide, thick bottom withstands the great load of the water deep below the surface, while the top of the dam can be thinner so as not to use unnecessary costly materials.

Why dams are built as parts of large hydropower plants?

Dams are built to control floods, improve navigation, provide a drinking-water supply, create or enhance recreational opportunties, and provide water for irrigation and other agricultural uses. A small percentage of dams (less than 3 percent in the United States) are used to generate power.

Does hydroelectric power need a large dam?

The most common type of hydroelectric power plant is an impoundment facility. An impoundment facility, typically a large hydropower system, uses a dam to store river water in a reservoir. Water released from the reservoir flows through a turbine, spinning it, which in turn activates a generator to produce electricity.

How do dams make hydroelectric power?

The dam stores lots of water behind it in the reservoir. Gravity causes it to fall through the penstock inside the dam. At the end of the penstock there is a turbine propellor, which is turned by the moving water. The shaft from the turbine goes up into the generator, which produces the power.

Why do we use dams?

Manmade dams create artificial lakes called reservoirs. Reservoirs can be used to store water for farming, industry, and household use. They also can be used for fishing, boating, and other leisure activities. People have used dams for many centuries to help prevent flooding.

Why must dams be constructed with great height?

Dams are the way we store water and raise it to a great height to create pressure. The more water that is stored, the higher the height of the reservoir becomes, and the greater the pressure that is available to run an electric generator.

Why don’t we use hydroelectric power?

Hydropower can also cause environmental and social problems. Reservoirs drastically change the landscape and rivers they are built on. Dams and reservoirs can reduce river flows, raise water temperature, degrade water quality and cause sediment to build up. This has negative impacts on fish, birds and other wildlife.

What are dams used for?

A dam is a structure built across a stream or river to hold water back. Dams can be used to store water, control flooding, and generate electricity.

How does the hydroelectric dam here impact the environment?

A dam and reservoir can also change natural water temperatures, water chemistry, river flow characteristics, and silt loads. All of these changes can affect the ecology and the physical characteristics of the river. These changes may have negative effects on native plants and on animals in and around the river.