Help with Mine Engineering Assignment Questions

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on calculating the required power for pumping water in mine engineering assignments. The participants utilized the formula P = Q.γ.H / 10^6 to determine power requirements, where Q is the flow rate, γ is the specific weight of water, and H is the total dynamic head. For example, to pump 11.36 l/s against a head of 112.78m at 70% efficiency, the output power calculated was 12.56 kW, leading to an input power requirement of 17.94 kW. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding efficiency and the total dynamic head in pump calculations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of fluid mechanics principles, specifically pump efficiency
  • Familiarity with the formula P = Q.γ.H / 10^6 for power calculations
  • Knowledge of specific weight of water (γ) and gravitational acceleration (g)
  • Basic skills in unit conversion between metric and imperial systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of pipe losses and valve losses on total dynamic head in pumping systems
  • Learn about different pump types and their efficiencies in various applications
  • Explore software tools for hydraulic calculations in mine engineering
  • Study advanced fluid dynamics concepts relevant to mining operations
USEFUL FOR

Mine engineering students, hydraulic engineers, and professionals involved in designing and optimizing pumping systems in mining operations.

Poco Express
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
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
 
Physics news on Phys.org
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.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
9K
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K