Help with Mine Engineering Assignment Questions

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving two assignment questions related to mine engineering, specifically calculating the required power for pumping water against a total dynamic head. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and technical explanations relevant to fluid mechanics and pump efficiency.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents two questions regarding the power required to pump water, providing specific flow rates and efficiencies.
  • Another participant explains the relationship between power, force, and gravitational acceleration, suggesting that the required power can be calculated using the mass flow rate and the height to which the water is lifted.
  • A participant shares a link to an external resource that may assist with pump power calculations.
  • One participant attempts to clarify the concept of total dynamic head, noting that it encompasses various losses in the system.
  • Another participant provides a worked example using energy and power calculations, emphasizing the importance of efficiency in determining input power.
  • One participant critiques the unit handling in the calculations, pointing out the need for consistency in unit usage.
  • Another participant reiterates the calculations for output and input power, confirming the values derived from the earlier discussions.
  • A participant expresses a desire to follow the lecturer's preferred method for calculations, indicating a focus on academic requirements.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the methods for calculating power requirements, but there are variations in the approach to unit handling and the interpretation of total dynamic head. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the most effective method of calculation and the clarity of the initial formula provided.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about unit conversions and the interpretation of total dynamic head, which may affect the calculations. Some participants express confusion about the formula provided in the lecture notes.

Poco Express
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Hi
I am doing a mine engineering degree by correspondence and I have an assignment to do and the lecture notes do not provide any assistance on some of the cals.
I am hoping some of you can help me
I will start with these two questions and see if you can help before posting more:
Q1)
Determine the reqired power to pump 11.36 l/s against a total dynamic head of 112.78m if the pump operates at 70% efficiency
Q2)
What is the required power to pump 4000 litres per minute against a total dynamic head of 120m if the pump operates at 75% efficiency

The formula the notes gives me is
P = Q.γ.H / 10 power 6
But I can't work out what this means
 
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Power is distance*force/time, and force from gravity is mass*g with the gravitational acceleration ##g=9.81\frac{m}{s^2}##. You know mass/time and distance, and g is given, so you can determine the true power required to lift that water. If that value is 70% of the input power of the pump, can you determine what 100% are?
 
Thanks mfb.
I will look at this in the morning. My quick look I am still confused but I am very tired too.
If you could give a working example I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks again
 
Raising 1L of water (weighing 1kg) by 2m in 3 seconds consumes energy...

Energy = mass * g * h
= 1 * 9.8 * 2
= 19.6 joules

Then Power = energy/time

= 19.6/3
= 6.5 Watts

If the pump is 70% eff then

(Power Out/Power In) * 100 = 70

so

Power In = Power Out * 100/70
= 6.5 * 100/70
= 9.3W

Pumping it against "a total dynamic head" of height h is the same as raising water height h. The expression "total dynamic head" includes any losses in the pipework. In the real world the "total dynamic head" might be made up of several things such as the actual height + pipe losses + losses in valves etc.
 
Thanks. I went back to my lecturer. Now I am struggling with the rest.

The answer was
P = Q.y.H
106
P = 11.36 x 9800 x 112.78
106
P = 12555572
1000000
P = 12.56 kW
Efficiency of the pump is 70%
Pump actual = P
E
Pump actual = 12.56
0.70
Pump actual = 17.93kW
 
That is a weird way to work with units (more precise, it is a weird way to work without units), but if you use gravitational acceleration in mm/s^2 and the result in kW (and ignore base SI units elsewhere), you get a factor of 10^6 (1000 both from mm<->m and W<->kW).
Apart from that, it is the same way as CWatters solved his example.
 
I would do it like this..

Output Power required = 11.36 * 9.8 * 112.78 = 12.56 kW

Power in = 12.56 * 100/70 = 17.94 kW
 
Thanks again. I'm sure in reality there are calculators to do this stuff. And easier methods to cal it... But I think I will answer how the lecturer wants it... All about the marks at the moment. Lol.
Thanks heaps for your help though.
 

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