Hydropower

Hydropower harnesses the energy of moving or falling water. This is usually in the form of hydroelectricity from a dam, but it can be used directly as a mechanical force. The term refers to a number of systems in which the water drives a turbine or waterwheel placed in streams or waterfalls.

Some purely mechanical hydropower systems include the Pelton wheel, the Tyson turbine, and the Banki turbine. Once the power is transformed into rotational force, it can be transferred to driven equipment using a system of jackshafts, belts, pulleys, and gears. Prior to the widespread availability of commercial electricity, hydropower was widely used for milling, textile manufacture, and the operation of sawmills.