Revision history [back]
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initial version
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Am I am correct in understanding that you are pumping against a 10m head to get the water into an elevated tank, and then reducing the excess pressure by turning potential energy back into electricity with a turbine?
If so then it is arguable that it would be more efficient in terms of both energy & construction cost to have your tank at a level such that the turbine was no longer required. All the electricity generated by the turbine (and more due to inefficiency) would be saved by lower energy requirements at the borehole.
If, however you are deliberately using this system as an energy storage device - so you pump water into the elevated tank during the day with a solar powered pump - then the system makes more sense. However I imagine a second low level tank may be required, otherwise you only generate electricity when people are using water.
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Adding assumption that this is a design - if already constructed it's somewhat too late...
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Am I am correct in understanding that
you are pumping
this is a design, rather than an already constructed water tank, and that the potential design
is to pump
against a 10m head to get the water into an elevated tank,
and
then reducing the excess pressure by turning potential energy back into electricity with a turbine?
If so then it is arguable that it would be more efficient in terms of both energy & construction cost to have your tank at a level such that the turbine was no longer required. All the electricity generated by the turbine (and more due to inefficiency) would be saved by lower energy requirements at the borehole.
If, however you are deliberately using this system as an energy storage device - so you pump water into the elevated tank during the day with a solar powered pump - then the system makes more sense. However I imagine a second low level tank may be required, otherwise you only generate electricity when people are using water.
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3 |
re-reading the question, I'm now thinking the elevated tank & borehole pump already exist
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Am I am correct in understanding that this is a design, rather than an already constructed water tank, and that the potential design is to pump against a 10m head to get the water into an elevated tank, then reducing the excess pressure by turning potential energy back into electricity with a turbine?
If so then it is arguable that it would be more efficient in terms of both energy & construction cost to have your tank at a level such that the turbine was no longer required. All the electricity generated by the turbine (and more due to inefficiency) would be saved by lower energy requirements at the borehole.
If, however the borehole pump and elevated tank already exist, or you are deliberately using this system as an energy storage device - so you pump water into the elevated tank during the day with a solar powered pump - then the system makes more sense. However I imagine a second low level tank may be required, otherwise you only generate electricity when people are using water.
