Questions tagged [power-generation]
The power-generation tag has no usage guidance.
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Does an array of Peltier module need a diode between each module?
I have a bunch of Peltier module that I wish to connect in series/parallel and use them as a thermopile generator. However I was wondering if its necessary to attach a diode between each module to ...
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Do utilities ever disconnect solar panels in cases of low demand?
This question asked something that was predicated on "solar roof installations [being] disconnected from [the] grid" for low demand.
Do utilities ever disconnect solar installations for low ...
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How much coal is needed to generate electricity for 1 person?
In one month a person uses $852$ kWh of electricity. Using a fossil-fueled vapor power plant, find how much coal is needed for one person.
The assumptions are:
Boiler efficiency of the Rankine cycle ...
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Mass flow rate through a turbine in order to produce a 852 kWh
Over a $30$-day period, $852$ kWh of energy is produced by an electric generator, which has an efficiency of $80$%. The generator is spun by an ideal turbine. What is the mass flow rate, in $\frac{kg}{...
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Is the electrical grid a centralized, decentralized, or distributed network? Which type is most efficient?
Is the electrical grid a centralized, decentralized, or distributed network?
Each dot represents a generating station, consumer, or relay of electricity:
Which type is the most efficient (has the ...
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What's the smallest possible nuclear power generator?
Nuclear microreactors like Westinghouse's eVinci are small enough to fit on a flatbed semi-truck, and NuScale Power's small modular reactor (SMR) is relatively small, too; but are there smaller ...
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High temperature in seal oil vacuum pump (not in the bearing), steam power plant. Why the seal oil vacuum pump suddenly increased in temperature?
Seal oil vacuum pump in steam power plant, suddenly have temperature increased, it's in the pump's body, not in the bearing. Why is that happen?
I noticed that temperature of main seal oil tank in ...
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Why don't power plants ALSO use smoke and water vapor to generate electricity?
Most power plants work by heating water in order to create steam that is then used to turn turbines which then generates electricity. As a side effect of generating this heat, there is usually some ...
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Electric motors and Internal Combustion Engines compared
I know that Internal Combustion engines are rated in terms of peak power developed, while electric motors are generally specified in terms of continuous power output. Is there a good way to determine ...
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Would it be feasible to use the water vapor produced from hydrogen internal combustion engines to power a steam generator in a car?
In a standard internal combustion engine, exhaust temperatures typically approach 400-500 degrees Celsius for standard applications. If we consider that the primary exhaust gas of hydrogen engines is ...
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Viability of bladeless wind power generation
I have recently thought of two designs for bladeless wind power generation;
And
They both essentially ionizes the incoming wind which then passes through a coil, the flow of charged wind particles ...
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natural gas-fired power plants
I live in Tunisia, a country of 12 million inhabitants where natural gas (provided essentially by Algeria) is used in power plants. I'd like to know how it is that natural gas can contain so much ...
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Why does a car generator employs an alternator (i.e. AC) when power supply is provided by a battery (i.e. DC)?
An alternator generates AC current, whereas batteries (as far as I know) provide/are charged with DC current. So I'm wondering, how is this apparent mismatch explained?
Do car manufacturers employ a ...
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Is thermal expansion of water a consideration in steam power plants? If so, how is it managed?
I understand in residential plumbing, that a thermal expansion tank is needed before the hot water tank. From my understanding this is to allow for the water in the hot water tank to expand, instead ...
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How to determine the efficacy and potential energy of hydro power energy storage?
The project
I'm thinking about building a cheap DIY hydro energy storage (like a battery) system. I can build it but so far I can't really figure out the calculations to validate my idea and where to ...
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