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 m s⁻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, n = 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