CWatters said:I would calculate the required flow rate first (125% of pumping requirement - from part a?), then the power required to move the gas. Then double that to account for the 50% loss in the fan. Then divide by two to get power of each fan.
Sir, you’re right. I consulted my lecturer he told me some answers are intentionally set “wrongly” allowing student to find mistakes, understand and solve. Since the answer for 5b) has been concluded 5c) to solve the additional power required :CWatters said:I looked at solving Q5b using three methods...
Method 1
This uses the same method as you used for Q5a...
h = 1.2*105/(1.225 * 9.81) = 9,986m
Flow rate Q is 125% of 2500 = 3125m3/h = 0.868 m3/S
P = ρ Q g h
= 1.225(kg/m3) * 0.868 (m3/S) * 9.81(m/S2) * 9,986(m)
= 104,163W
= 104kW
The fan and motor efficiency is 50% so the total power required is...
104 * 100/50 = 208kW
However there are two fans and motors and the question asks for the power of each fan so
208/2 = 104kW
So I think the answer is 104kW. (eg Not 10kW).
Method 2
From method 1...
P = ρ Q g h
but
ρgh = pressure
so..
P = Pressure * Volumetric flow rate (Q)
So this method does not use the density ρ and you do not need to calculate the equivalent head h...
They give you the pressure in the question (1.2bar = 120,000Pa).
Flow rate Q is same as method 1 = 0.868 m3/S
Power = 1.2*105 * 0.868 m3/S
= 104,160W
= 104kW
Then the same *2 and /2 gives answer 104kW for each motor. Same answer as method 1.
Method 3
Just as a check... Compare the data in parts a and b...
In part b the flow rate is 1.25x greater than part a
In part b the pressure is about 1/3 of that in part a (3.5bar/1.2bar is about 1/3)
So I would expect the total power in part b to be about 1/3 of that calculated in part a.
In part a the power was about 370kW so a figure of 104kW for part b seems reasonable (right order of magnitude).
So I think there is an error in the answer given in the question.