Tutorial 1: Power, Energy, Efficiency
An electronic power supply draws 5 A when it is connected to a 5 V supply. The output of the supply
is rated at 20 W. Determine the efficiency of the supply expressed as a percentage and the losses.
A force of 690 N is applied over a distance of 150 m, in the direction of the applied force. The
distance is covered in 5 minutes. Determine the power. Answer: 345 W
A motor runs at 600 rpm when driving a load and develops a torque of 400Nm. If the motor input is
30 kW, calculate the efficiency of the motor. Answer: 84%
A dc motor connected to a 230 V supply, develops 20 kW at a speed of 1000 rpm, has an efficiency of
85 %. Calculate the torque; the supply current and the cost of energy absorbed if the load is
maintained constant for 12 h. Assume the cost of electrical energy is 42 cents per kWh.
Answer: 190 Nm, 102 A, R 118,59
A diesel engine is used to run an electric generator to produce electric power that is used for an
electric kettle. The overall efficiency of the system is 45 %. The power supplied to the diesel engine is
double the power consumed by the kettle. Determine the efficiency of the kettle as well as the one
for the diesel engine, if 18 % of the power received by the generator is lost and the power supplied
to the kettle is 480 W.` Answer: 89 % 60,97 %
A pump driven by a 220 V electric motor lifts 1.5 m3 of water per minute to a height of 40 m. The
pump has an efficiency of 90 % and the motor has an efficiency of 85%. Assume the mass of 1 m3 of
water to be 1000 kg and gravitational force is 9.81 N. Calculate the supply current.
Answer 58.27 A
A 240 V electric kettle is required to boil 0.6 litres of water in 5 minutes. The initial temperature of
the water is 10 oC. The efficiency of the kettle is 78%. Calculate the resistance of the heating
element. Answer: 59, 57 Ω
A block of aluminium is heated from 20 oC to 50 oC in 3 minutes. Determine the mass of the block if
the furnace is supplied 220 V and draws 8 A with an efficiency of 95%. Aluminium has the following
thermal properties: specific heat capacity is 950 J/kg.K Answer 10.56 kg