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Hydroelectric power is a form of sustainable energy that is produced by harnessing the power of flowing water. The power is generated by channeling the flow through a turbine which rotates a generator and creates the power. The most common location for instillation of a hydroelectric power plant is at a dam. The water develops potential energy while it is stored in the reservoir behind the dam and is then gravity feed through extremely large steel pipes into the turbine. The pipes used are referred to as penstocks. In large-scale power plants, the penstocks can easily reach up to 30 feet or more in diameter. As the jet of water exits the penstock and encounters the turbine, its kinetic energy is converted into mechanical energy and used to rotate the turbine. The turbine rotation is then used by the generator to generate electrical energy.
After the water flows through the penstock it encounters a turbine. There are two main types of turbines used in hydroelectric power......

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Approximate Word Count: 659
Approximate Pages: 3 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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