Water electricity pump, given efficiency percentage?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the overall efficiency of a system involving a water pump and a generator. An electrically-powered pump operates at 62% efficiency to raise a 10 kg mass of water by 10 meters, while the generator recovers energy at 84% efficiency. The combined efficiency of the system can be determined by multiplying the efficiencies of both devices, resulting in an overall efficiency of approximately 52.08%. This calculation is crucial for understanding energy recovery in renewable energy systems.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of energy conversion principles
  • Knowledge of efficiency calculations in mechanical systems
  • Familiarity with gravitational potential energy equations
  • Concept of energy recovery in renewable energy systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the equations for gravitational potential energy and their applications
  • Learn about efficiency calculations in multi-stage energy systems
  • Explore renewable energy storage methods, particularly pumped hydro storage
  • Investigate the impact of efficiency on energy recovery in electrical systems
USEFUL FOR

Engineers, energy systems analysts, and students studying renewable energy technologies will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in energy efficiency and recovery methods in mechanical systems.

Allison Barry
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Changing the potential energy of water is frequently used as a means of storing excess renewable energy when it is not needed and using it when it is needed. An electrically-powered pump with efficiency 62 % raises a 10 kg mass of water a height of 10 m. The water is subsequently allowed to return to its original elevation while passing through an electricity-generating device with efficiency 84 %. Calculate the percentage of the electricity originally used to pump the water that is recovered by the entire process.

I haven't a clue where to begin, this is energy systems engineering. Would you derive an equation for the electric pump and then the electricity generator? In need of serious guidance
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Start by asking yourself how much energy does it take to raise 10 kg of water by a height of 10 m. Apply the efficiency figure for the electric pump to this amount of energy to see what the pump must furnish.
 
You can do what steamking said but the question can be answered without calculating the power needed to raise the water...

If you have any two machines connected together and one is 62% efficient and the other is 84% efficient what is the efficiency of the two combined? Perhaps draw a block diagram and remind yourself what "efficiency" actually means in terms of the inputs and outputs.
 

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 74 ·
3
Replies
74
Views
10K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K