Question

At a hydroelectric power plant, the water pressure head is at a height of 300 m and the water flow available is 100 m³ s^–1. If the turbine generator efficiency is 60%, estimate the electric power available from the plant (g = 9.8 ms^–2).

Answer 1

Height of water pressure head, h = 300 m

Volume of water flow per second, V = 100 m³/s

Efficiency of turbine generator, η = 60% = 0.6

Acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.8 m/s²

Density of water, ρ = 10³ kg/m³

Electric power available from the plant

= η × hρgV

= 0.6 × 300 × 10³ × 9.8 × 100

= 176.4 × 10⁶ W

= 176.4 MW