Estimate Mean Loading on Turbine

[boyblair]

Homework Statement

Wavegen's Saider 4MW wave energy project will produce an average 8,000 MWh each year. Estimate the mean loading on the turbines?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

If 100% efficient = 4x365x24
= 35,040 MWh/year

Load factor = 8000/35040x100
= 22.8%

Mean energy = 22.8% x 4MW
= 0.91 MW

Not sure if this is correct, be very grateful for any feedback.

Cheers

 

[KataKoniK]

I would approach this problem by first clarifying some assumptions and considerations. For example, is the Saider 4MW wave energy project operating at 100% efficiency? Are there any other factors that may affect the average energy production, such as weather patterns or maintenance downtime? These details can impact the accuracy of the estimate.

Assuming that the project is operating at 100% efficiency, your calculation for the load factor and mean energy seems correct. However, it may be helpful to also consider the peak and off-peak energy production, as well as the distribution of energy production over the course of a year. This can give a more comprehensive understanding of the loading on the turbines and potential fluctuations in energy production.

Additionally, as a scientist, I would also consider the environmental impact of the project and potential effects on marine life. It would be important to monitor and analyze this data to ensure the sustainability and success of the project.

Overall, your approach and calculation seem reasonable, but it would be beneficial to consider other factors and gather more data to improve the accuracy of the estimate.

 

[Mene]

Your approach is on the right track, but there are a few things to consider. First, the statement mentions that the project will produce an average of 8,000 MWh per year, but it does not specify if this is net or gross energy production. Net energy production takes into account losses in the system, such as transmission losses, while gross energy production is the maximum potential energy output. Depending on which value is given, your calculation for load factor may be incorrect.

Additionally, the statement does not provide information about the number of turbines in the project or their individual capacities. This means that you cannot accurately estimate the mean loading on each turbine. You can only estimate the mean loading on the entire project, which would be the average energy production divided by the total installed capacity. In this case, with a 4 MW project, the mean loading on the entire project would be 2 MW (assuming 100% efficiency).

Furthermore, your calculation for load factor assumes that the project will operate at full capacity for the entire year, which may not be the case. The load factor is typically calculated by dividing the average energy production by the maximum potential energy production, not by the actual energy production. This is because the maximum potential energy production is a better representation of the project's capacity to produce energy.

In summary, your approach is a good start, but more information is needed to accurately estimate the mean loading on the turbines. It would be helpful to know the net or gross energy production, as well as the number and capacity of the turbines in the project. Additionally, the load factor should be calculated using the maximum potential energy production, not the actual energy production.