A run of the river (RoR) facility utilizes part of the flow of a river to produc

Question

A run of the river (RoR) facility utilizes part of the flow of a river to produce 1.5 MWe. The water velocity upstream is 3.5 (m/s) and at the trail race is 1.2 (m/s), while the intake point is 100 (m) higher than the trail race. Perform the following calculations. a) The volumetric flow rate of water passing through the turbines (m3/s). b) How many houses would the facility be able to supply, if an average house in the region consumes 1.5 kWe? c) How much energy is supplied by the facility over 24 h of operation (MJ)? d) If the second alternative in the region is coal, how much CO2 savings is achieved by using this facility (tonnes/yr)?

Explanation / Answer

(a) The velocity upstream = 3.5 m/s

also, v = (2gs)1/2

so, S = V^2/2g = 3.5*3.5/2*9.8 = 0.625 m

So, the area of the surface = 100*0.625 = 62.5 m^2

Volumetric flow = [3.5^2+ 1.2^2]0.5*62.5 = 231.25 m^3/s

(b) Number of houses = 1.5*10^6/1.5*10^3

= 1000

(c) Time = 24 hours = 24*3600 = 86.4*10^3 seconds

So, energy supplied = Power*time

= 1.5*10^3*86.4*10^3

= 129.6 MJ

(d) Energy = 129.6 MJ

Density of coal = 913 kg/m^3

Energy density of coal = 24 MJ/kg

So, Mass = 129.6/24 = 5.4 kg

Saving of coal = (5.4*0.0011023)tonnes/(24*0.000114) yr

= 2.1756 tonnes/yr

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