1. What is Pumped Hydro Storage?

Pumped hydro storage is a type of hydroelectric energy storage that stores energy in the form of gravitational potential energy of water, pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation.

2. How Does the Power Calculation Work?

The calculator uses the pumped hydro power formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Power output (Watts)
• \( \rho \) — Water density (typically 1000 kg/m³)
• \( g \) — Gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s²)
• \( Q \) — Water flow rate (m³/s)
• \( H \) — Head height (meters)
• \( \eta \) — System efficiency (0-1)

Explanation: The formula calculates the theoretical power available from falling water, accounting for system losses through the efficiency factor.

3. Importance of Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation is essential for designing pumped hydro storage systems, estimating energy storage capacity, and evaluating project feasibility.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter water density (typically 1000 kg/m³), flow rate in cubic meters per second, head height in meters, and system efficiency (typically 0.7-0.9 for pumped hydro).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is typical efficiency for pumped hydro?
A: Modern systems achieve 70-85% round-trip efficiency (pumping then generating).

Q2: How does head height affect power?
A: Power is directly proportional to head height - doubling the head doubles the power output.

Q3: What are typical flow rates?
A: Large systems may have flow rates of 100-500 m³/s, while smaller systems might be 1-10 m³/s.

Q4: Why is density important?
A: While water density is relatively constant, the formula applies to any fluid, and density varies with temperature and salinity.

Q5: How is this different from conventional hydro?
A: The same physics apply, but pumped hydro specifically refers to systems that pump water back uphill for energy storage.