Consider a river flowing toward a lake at an average velocity of 3 m/s at a rate of 500m3/sat a location 90 m above the lake surface. determine the total mechanical energy of the river water per unit mass and the power generation potential of the entire river at that location.

mechanical energy per unit mass is 887.4 J/kg

power generated is 443.7 MW

Explanation:

given data

average velocity = 3 m/s

rate = 500 m³/s

height h = 90 m

to find out

total mechanical energy and power generation potential

solution

we know that mechanical energy is sum of potential energy and kinetic energy

so

E = ×m×v² + m×g×h    .............1

and energy per mass unit is

E/m =  ×v² + g×h

put here value

E/m =  ×3² + 9.81×90

E/m = 887.4 J/kg

so mechanical energy per unit mass is 887.4 J/kg

and

power generated is express as

power generated = energy per unit mass ×rate×density

power generated = 887.4× 500× 1000

power generated = 443700000

so power generated is 443.7 MW

the bal will not change its velocity.

thermal energy is the answer