The highest dam worldwide is currently Jinping-I, a305 m high concrete arch-shaped dam in China on the river Yalong.

The rock at the bottom of the river valley. The structure and the properties of this rock are determining factors for the choice of the type of dam to be built.

A barrier built across a stream of water so as to dam it, increasing the hydraulic head, and storing the water needed for running the turbines. The biggest dams, holding the most water, are built for accumulation for hydroelectric power plants. Dams can be categorized as gravitational if the sheer weight of the dam retains the water. Other types are concrete arch dams or pillar-supported dams.

A structural feature in the dam wall that allows safe spilling of surplus water that may otherwise flow over the edge of the dam.

A reservoir enclosed by the dam and the slopes of the river valley. It can hold an enormous volume of water. The level of water in the reservoir and the rate of flow at the dam are controllable.

The biggest Francis turbines were made for the Three Gorges hydroelectric power plant in China. The runners have a diameter of 10 m and an output capacity of up to 760 MW.

The shaft is connected to the shaft of the generator. The mechanical energy of the rotating shaft is converted in an electric generator into a rotation of the rotor and finally converted into electric power.

Guide vanes regulate the rate of flow. The guide vanes are controlled by a centralized system that allows simultaneous setting change for all vanes.

Francis turbines are currently the most common water turbine and can achieve over 95% efficiency. They can be used for hydraulic heads between 20 and 700 meters. It is very often installed in pumped-storage hydroelectric power plants (as shown in our 3D scheme).

A channel leading pressurized water from the reservoir to the turbines of the hydroelectric powerplant.

A tube situated at the bottom of a turbine, which helps increase its output by creating negative pressure at the water outlet of the runner.

The shaft is connected to the shaft of the generator. The mechanical energy of the rotating shaft is converted in an electric generator into a rotation of the rotor and finally converted into electric power.

The output of the Kaplan turbine ranges from 5 to 200 MW.

A device for transforming the mechanical energy of the turning rotor into electric energy through electromagnetic induction. Due to the lower rotation frequency of water turbines, generators in hydroelectric power plants are much larger than generators of the same output in thermal power plants.

Due to the lower rotation frequency of water turbines, rotors in hydroelectric power plants are much larger than generators of the same output in thermal power plants.

The shaft is connected to the shaft of the generator. The mechanical energy of the rotating shaft is converted in an electric generator into a rotation of the rotor and finally converted into electric power.

A tube situated at the bottom of a turbine, which helps increase its output by creating negative pressure at the water outlet of the runner. It leads the water to the lower reservoir.

The runner is usually fitted with three to twelve adjustable blades and is reminiscent of a ship propeller. To accommodate to actual rates of flow, the pitch of the runner blades is changed using a mechanism fitted inside the hollow axis of the runner.

A reaction water turbine with variable pitch for both the guide vanes (or wicket gates), and the runner blades. It is suitable for hydraulic heads between 5 and 80 meters and rates of flow up to several hundreds of m³/s. The rotation frequency can be precisely adjusted, which is why these turbines are used in places with variable rates of flow.

he father of the term 'turbine' is the French engineer Claude Bourdin. It was the name for his rotating water engine (in Latin: turbo = rotate) which he constructed in 1826.

Water is led to a turbine via the penstock and through the guide vanes, where it gains speed and alters direction.

In times of electricity overproduction, this plant consumes electricity and pumps water from the lower reservoir up to the upper one. When the load peaks, when there is not enough energy in the grid, the accumulated water is released to drive turbines and power generators and returns the accumulated energy back to the grid. To produce 1 kW of electricity, a pumped storage plant consumes roughly 1,3 kW during the off-peak time. A significant advantage of pumped-storage power plants is their capacity to quickly change their mode of operation from pumping to power generation within just a few minutes and, in this way, to respond to the actual load situation in the grid dynamically.

A structure that directs water from the reservoir into the penstock. It incorporates screens and gates, which can stop the water flow to the turbines.

A channel leading pressurized water from the reservoir to the turbines of the hydroelectric powerplant.

An electric device for increasing the voltage of the electricity produced to the voltage of the power grid so as to minimize loss during transmission.

A structure that directs water from the reservoir into the penstock. It incorporates screens and gates, which can stop the water flow to the turbines.

A barrier built across a stream of water so as to dam it, increasing the hydraulic head, and storing the water needed for running the turbines. The biggest dams, holding the most water, are built for accumulation for hydroelectric power plants. Dams can be categorized as gravitational if the sheer weight of the dam retains the water. Other types are concrete arch dams or pillar-supported dams.

A tube situated at the bottom of a turbine, which helps increase its output by creating negative pressure at the water outlet of the runner.

A reservoir enclosed by the dam and the slopes of the river valley. It can hold an enormous volume of water. The level of water in the reservoir and the rate of flow at the dam are controllable.

A channel leading pressurized water from the reservoir to the turbines of the hydroelectric powerplant.