Question

An engineer lives in Hawaii at a location where the annual rain fall is 300 inches. She decides to use the rain to generate electricity. She places a rain barrel in a tree at a height of 100 ft. If the volumetric flow rate of water in the system is 3.6x10-6 ft3 /s, what is the average rate that power that could be generated in one year (in lbf-ft/hr)? [Ws= 80.7 lbfft/hr]

Answer 1

Answer:

80.7lbft/hr

Explanation:

Flow rate of water in the system = 3.6x10^-6

The height h = 100

1s = 1/3600h

This implies that

Q = 3.6x10^-6/[1/3600]

Q = 0.0000036/0.000278

Q = 0.01295

Then the power is given as

P = rQh

The specific weight of water = 62.3 lb/ft³

P = 62.3 x 0.01295 x 100

P = 80.675lbft/h

When approximated

P = 80.7 lbft/h

This is the average power that could be generated in a year.

This answers the question and also corresponds with the answer in the question.