Question

The Great Orme Tramway is the Great Britain's only remaining cable-operated tramway. It is a 1.6 km long with average gradient of 20o . The velocity of the vehicle (mass of 5 tonnes) operating in the tramway is 10 km h -1 while transporting 50 passengers with the average weight of 80 kg.

a)Calculate the energy needed for the vehicle with 50 passengers to climb the hill.

(b) Calculate the power needed to operate one vehicle?

(c) How many of these vehicles could be operated by hydroelectric energy produced by a 50 m high waterfall flow with 110 m³ s -1? Ignore losses and assume that the density of water is 1 kg L -1?

(d) In a real hydropower system, not all of the water energy can be used due to mechanical and electrical loses. What is the energy efficiency of the hydropower system if only 550 vehicles can be operated by the waterfall described in Q1(c)?

(e) How long does it take for the vehicle with 50 passengers to stop on the flat surface, if aerodynamic drag is ignored? Assume that the vehicle’s power is 100 kW?

Answer 1