Calculate the average power density of rainwater in W/m2.

Question

A location at an altitude of 1,220 m recieves annual rainfall of 790 mm. Calculate the average power density of rainwater in W/m2. You may assume that every drop of rain is captured in a dam and runs down to sea level.

Answer 1

See answer to Sean L., same topic:

Hi Sean L.,

Nothing "recieves". Not a word in English! (hint: check spelling?)

So you have a mass of water (depth x area) and a height, that gives you potential energy. Divide by time (a year), and do the units conversions.

P.S. As a "potential" future engineer, you might want to compare the energy from a solar array in the same location. You need to make some estimates of location, thus (look it up) solar hours, conversion efficiency to electricity, etc. Perhaps even use the solar array to pump water back up for daily energy storage? Additional thought: estimate lifetime of array, given earthquake history of your site(s)!

-- Cheers, --Mr. d.

By the way, John L., the fact that you're submitting the same queries as someone else, means both of you are spamming your homework to Wyzant Ask-an-Expert. That decreases your chances of being answered helpfully, and increases your chances of your questions being all tagged as spam.