Question

Macro-Hydropower. A dam has a height of 220 meters. Total generating capacity for the power plant at the dam is about 1 GW (1 million kW). Assume an effective head of 215 meters and generating efficiency of 90%.

1. At maximum capacity, what flow is required through the dam’s turbines to generate its power?
2. If the dam operates at 60% of capacity on average, how much energy does it produce in a year? Express your answer in watts (e.g., W, kW, MW, GW, etc.).
3. How many people should this energy support, assuming average community consumption of 1000 kWh per year per person?
4. How much coal would be required in a coal-burning power plant to generate the equivalent amount of energy as the Dam generates in a year? Assume that the dam generates 5 billion kWh hours (5×10⁹ kWh or 5 terra-watt hours) of energy annually. How many coal cars would be required to carry this coal? How long would a train of these cars be?
   • The energy content of coal is 8,142 kWh/ton
   • The energy efficiency of a typical coal-burning power plant is about 38%
   • A railroad coal car carries about 100 tons of coal and is about 22.86 m in length

Answer 1

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