water wheel
Current-powered mill mechanism
A water wheel is a large wheel with paddles or buckets around its rim, positioned in a stream or river so that flowing water turns it.
The rotation powers machinery—historically for grinding grain, sawing lumber, or running textile mills.
Water wheels were the primary source of mechanical power before steam engines.
The old mill's water wheel still turns, though it powers nothing now.
Blade-driven energy converter
- axleShaft for wheel rotation
- shaftNarrow vertical passage
- paddleFlat-bladed water tool
- gearsToothed rotating machine parts
bearings · rotation · torque · mechanism · buckets · sluice · flume · overshot
Steady continuous flow
- creekNarrow natural watercourse
- riverLarge flowing watercourse
- currentDirected flow of charge
- flowUnbroken forward movement
waterway · channel · weir · millpond · bank · diversion · intake · freshwater
Capable of restoration
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- generationAge-defined peer group
- hydroelectricGenerated by flowing water
- energyPower to do work
dam · kinetic · power plant · current · flow · grid · megawatt · penstock
Building for grinding grain
- sawmillLog-to-board factory
- fullingThickening cloth by beating
- industrial revolutionRapid economic mechanization period
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
antiquity · ancient · colonial · millwright · watermill · forge · blacksmith · textile mill
turbine
Blade-driven energy converter
gears · bearings · rotation · torque · mechanism · buckets · sluice · flume · overshot · undershot
stream
Steady continuous flow
flow · waterway · channel · weir · millpond · bank · diversion · intake · freshwater · riparian
renewable
Capable of restoration
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- generationAge-defined peer group
- hydroelectricGenerated by flowing water
energy · dam · kinetic · power plant · current · flow · grid · megawatt · penstock · impoundment
gristmill
Building for grinding grain
- sawmillLog-to-board factory
- fullingThickening cloth by beating
- industrial revolutionRapid economic mechanization period
medieval · antiquity · ancient · colonial · millwright · watermill · forge · blacksmith · textile mill · paper mill
grindstone
Rotating stone for sharpening
corn · barley · millstone · grist · meal · grinding · cereal · hopper · chute · sifting
- Innovationselectricity, steam engine, printing press, telephone, telegraph
- green energywind power, solar power, renewables, solar farm, solar panel
- industrializationfactory, industrial revolution, Industrial Revolution, factories, manufacturing
- water systemsirrigation ditches, irrigation, pipes, tanks, wells
- bath toysrubber duck, rubber ducky, toy boat, squirt toy, squeeze toy
- old machinessteam engine, printing press, telegraph, typewriter, sewing machine
water wheelsteam engine
Thermal vapor motor
internal combustion engine · electric motor · gas turbine · diesel engine · treadmill
water wheelelectric generator
Motion-powered electricity source
nuclear power plant · steam turbine · hydroelectric dam · smart grid · fusion reactor