Thediagramdisplayshowahydroelectricpowerplantproduceselectricityinaspecificarea.
Overall,theproductionofhydroelectricityiscyclicalandconsistsoffourmajorparts:storingwaterhigh,lettingwaterflowdownhilltogenerateelectricity,storingwaterlow,andpumpingwaterbackuphillforreuse.
Firstofall,thedamstoresriverwaterbehinditintheupperreservoirthathasanintakeatthebottom.Duringtheday,theintakeisopen,allowingwatertoflowthrough.Asthewatermovesdownhillintothelowerreservoir,itpassesthroughtheturbinesandturnstheirbladestogeneratemechanicalenergy.Thespinningturbinesthendrivethegeneratortoconvertthemechanicalpowerintoelectricity,whichissubsequentlydeliveredtothenationalgridthroughpowerlines.
Duringthenightwhendemandforelectricityislow,theturbinesactaspumpsthatpumpwaterkeptinthelowerreservoirbacktotheupperreservoirforreuse.
Reference