School of Energy and Environment

City University of Hong Kong

SEE6101/8111
Energy Generation and Storage Systems
Homework #3

Due: Nov 20, 2022 (by 11:59pm)

Please write down your name and student ID on the homework. Use A4 sheets only.

Way to submit your homework assignment:

1. Scan your solution and submit it to CANVAS.

A penalty of 50% will be imposed on submission after the deadline.

3-1. (20 points) Windmill power estimations

Windmills slow down the air and cause it to fill a larger channel as it passes through the blades.
Consider a circular windmill with a 7-m diameter rotor in a 10 m/s wind on a day with an atmospheric
pressure of 100 kPa and a temperature of 20 Celsius. The wind speed behind the windmill is
measured at 9 m/s. Determine the diameter of the channel downstream from the rotor and the
power produced by this windmill, presuming that the air is incompressible.

3-2. (8 points) Hydroelectric power output

The turbines in a hydroelectric plant are fed by water falling from a 40 m height. Assuming 93%
efficiency for conversion of potential to electrical energy, what is the mass flow rate of water required
to power a 150 W light bulb?
3-3. (25 points) Latent heat storage calculations

A phase change material of 60 kg octadecane is heated from 20 to 30℃ by a solar energy system,
which supplies heat at a rate of 2 kW. Assume that the octadecane is fully melted. Estimate the
minimum size of the storage unit and the time necessary for the charging process. Assume that there is
no heat loss from the thermal energy storage system.

3-4. (22 points) Steam flow rate calculation in a power plant

A steam power plant output is 50 MW. It uses steam (stream 1) at 8200 kPa and 550℃. The
discharged steam (stream 2) is saturated at 75 kPa. If the expansion in the turbine is adiabatic
determine the steam flow rate. Assume that kinetic and potential energy are negligible, and the system
is at steady state.

3-5. (25 points) Estimation of the work through the turbine

The power output of an adiabatic steam turbine is 5 MW, and the exit conditions of the steam are as
indicated in the shown. (a) Calculate h, ke, andpe. (b) Determine the work done per unit mass
of the steam through the turbine. (c) Calculate the mass flow rate of the steam.
Table D1 Ideal-gas properties of air
Table F3 Saturated steam tables in SI units
Table F4 Superheated steam tables in SI units