Dom the Mediterranean I Dom the straight of Gibraltar and le

Dom the Mediterranean I Dom the straight of Gibraltar and let the Mediterranean fall by loom what kind of hydroelectric power output can 1 get out of this ? Document net water loss from area Calculate power produced using typical hydro generator efficiencies

Solution

In 1920’s German Architect Herman Sorgel proposed to build a dam across strait of Gibraltar for producing enormous amount of hydroelectricity. The proposed dam would have led to lowering of the Mediterranean sea by 300 meters. It was envisaged that building a dam across Gibraltar would dry up the coastal areas and new land would be available accommodating growing population of Europe. However, that time engineers neglected the environmental consequences of this project, which was finally abandoned. If proposed dam would have been a reality, it would be of storage hydropower type.

In storage hydropower, a large dam is constructed to store water in a reservoir. Water at a determined flow rate is released from the reservoir through a turbine, which activates a generator. Storage hydropower is efficient in providing base load as well as the ability to meet load fluctuations.

We also assume that the height of dam at gibralter is 300 meter

Then, power generated would be given by following equation:

P= nxdxgxhxQ

Where P= Power generated

n= generator efficiency (0.95)

d= water density (10 kg/m3)

g= gravity (10 m2/s)

h= height of dam (300 meter)

Q= water flow rate (from part 1, we assume that Q= 35000km3/year)

Thus power produced = .95x10x10x300x35000x1000x1000x1000/365/24/60/60 = 316305 MW