veejõujaamades

Veejõujaamad, also known as hydroelectric power plants, are facilities that generate electricity using the kinetic energy of moving water. The fundamental principle involves harnessing the potential energy of water stored at a higher elevation, which is then converted into kinetic energy as it flows downwards. This moving water is directed through turbines, which are mechanical devices that spin when water passes through them. The spinning turbine is connected to a generator, which converts the mechanical energy of the turbine's rotation into electrical energy.

The most common type of dam-based veejõujaam utilizes a reservoir created by a dam to store water. When electricity is needed, sluice gates are opened, allowing water to flow from the reservoir through penstocks (large pipes) to the turbines located at the base of the dam. Run-of-river veejõujaamad, on the other hand, divert a portion of a river's flow through a channel or tunnel to turbines without creating a large reservoir. Pumped-storage veejõujaamad act like giant batteries; they use surplus electricity to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. During periods of high electricity demand, the water is released from the upper reservoir back through turbines to generate power.

The capacity of a veejõujaam depends on factors such as the height of the water drop (head) and the volume of water that can be channeled through the turbines (flow). Veetransportsystem on an important source of renewable energy, contributing significantly to the global electricity supply while producing minimal greenhouse gas emissions during operation. However, the construction of large dams can have environmental impacts, including altering river ecosystems and displacing communities.