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2 Hydroelectric Power Stations AAI AIINIPLILSLILPSPLL SP SISPPLELPSSPLPLD SLI PPA ILS PPP 21, Introduction A hydroelectric power station is based on the utilisation of the energy of water, either falling from a height as in a water fall, or the kinetic energy of flowing water. The water energy has actually been used for various purposes, like grinding of corn or thrashing of rice from very early times. Particularly, in hilly regions, water wheels operated by falling water in a stream, channelised properly for the purpose, have been common ; and are still so. The songs of the man operating the water wheel have resounded through ages, giving it a romantic environment. The utilisation of water energy for power generation is rather recent; the first hydroelective generator being installed in 1882. Since then, the advances in the field have been rather rapid, and hydroelectric generation has come to be regarded as the first priority in power generation wherever it is technically and economicalty feasible. Instead of directly placing a water wheel under a waterfall, it is more convenient to channelize the water to drive it at a convenient location. Even the rapids in a stream or a water course, could be utilised by constructing a dam across the river, impounding the water upstream, and channelising it to drive a water turbine placed at a suitable location. 2:2, Catchment Area “ It is expedient to understand certain terms used in reference to hydroelectric power stations. The area draining into a river as shown in Fig. 2°2. It is the area ever which the rainfall flows down to a particular cal Itis considered up to a particular site on the river, and is ually expressed in square kilometres. 5 Scanned by CamScanner 
