Question Bank in Power Plants A. 15 HP C.

14 HP
B. 12 HP D. 10 HP
1. REE Board Exam March 1998
A deep well pumps water into an open reservoir 8. EE Board Exam April 1993
at the rate of 100 gpm. The water table is 200 ft A hydroelectric station has a turbine efficiency of
below the output pipe. The system has an overall 80% and a generator efficiency of 85%.
efficiency of 70%. What shall be minimum hp of Determine the volume of water required when
the pump? delivering a load of 40 MW for 6 hours if its
A. 5.3 hp C. 12.4 hp effective head is 120 m. Water weighs 1200
B. 8.7 hp D. 7.2 hp kg/m3.
A. 899,424 m3 C. 845,041 m3
3
2. REE Board Exam March 1998 B. 945,352 m D. 905,412 m3
A pump requires 100 HP to move water with a
specific gravity of 1.0 at a certain flow rate to a 9. EE Board Exam June 1990, April 1991
given elevation. What horsepower does the pump A 100 MW hydroelectric station is supplying full
require if the flow rate and elevation conditions load for 10 hrs in a day. Calculate the volume of
are the same but the fluid pumped has a specific water, which has been used. Assume effective
gravity of 0.8? head of the water as 200 m and the overall
A. 80 HP C. 60 HP efficiency of the station as 80%. Assume 1 m3 of
B. 100 HP D. 120 HP water = 1000 kg.
A. 2,232,435 m3 C. 2,345,456 m3
3. EE Board Exam April 1993 B. 2,293,560 m3 D. 2,371,402 m3
An electric motor is used to pump water from a
well of 40 ft. deep. The amount of water pumped 10. REE Board Exam April 1994
per hour to the ground level is 237,000 gallons. A waterfall is 60 meters high. It discharges at a
What is the HP of the motor assuming there is no constant rate of 1.0 cubic meter per second. A
power loss? mini-hydroelectric plant is to be constructed
A. 43 HP C. 41 HP below the waterfalls. The turbine efficiency is
B. 42 HP D. 40 HP 80% and the generator efficiency is 95%.
Calculate the kW output of the generator.
4. EE Board Exam October 1983, October 1990 A. 447.34 kW C. 457.27 kW
A natural waterfalls 50 meters high, consistently B. 464.22 kW D. 471.30 kW
discharges 1.3 m3 per second. A mini-
hydroelectric plant is to be constructed at the 11. EE Board Exam April 1989
bottom of the waterfalls. Calculate the electric Maria Cristina falls located at south has a height
generator kW rating, assuming 90% mechanical of 100 meters. It discharges at a constant rate of
to electrical conversion efficiency and water 2.5 m3/sec. National Power Corporation has
turbine design efficiency of 70%. constructed a hydroelectric plant below the water
A. 401.72 C. 420.42 falls. If the turbine efficiency is 70% and
B. 410.55 D. 425.10 generator efficiency is 90% calculate the annual
energy in kW-hr, if the discharge rate is constant
5. REE Board Exam March 1998 throughout the year. Assume specific
A power plant gets water from a dam from a gravity constant.
height of 122.45 meters at the rate of 1000 cubic A. 13,534,857 C. 13,655,654
meters per minute. If the output of the plant is B. 13,467,546 D. 13,504,231
15,000 kW, what is the plant efficiency?
A. 80% C. 70% 12. EE Board Exam October 1983, October 1990
B. 75% D. 65% A natural waterfall, 50 meters high, consistently
discharges 1.3 m3 per second. A mini
6. EE Board Exam April 1995 hydroelectric plant is to be constructed at the
Calculate the current taken by a motor at 440 V bottom of the waterfalls. Calculate the annual
having an efficiency of 90%. Moreover, the motor energy in kW-hr that can be generated by the
is used to drive a pump, which lifts 240,000 kg of power plant. Assume turbine and generator
water per hour to a height of 30 meters. The efficiencies equal to 70% and 90%, respectively.
pump is given to be 80% efficient. A. 3,519,067 C. 3,612,212
A. 58 A C. 83 A B. 3,462,356 D. 3,345,815
B. 75 A D. 62 A
13. REE Board Exam October 1997
7. REE Board Exam April 1994 A power plant gets water from a dam from a
A three-phase motor driven pump at 1,800 rpm is height of 100 meters at the rate of 1000 cubic
discharging 500 gpm of water at a head of 25 meters per minute. If the over-all efficiency of the
meters. The pump efficiency is 75%. Determine plant is 75%, what is the kW output of the plant?
the hp of the motor. A. 7.550 kW C. 12.262 kW
 B. 15,250 kW D. 5,250 kW kW for 5,000 hours of the year, 420 kW for 1,000
hours and 20 kW for the remainder. What is the
14. REE Board Exam October 1997 unit cost production of electric energy?
A power plant consumes 100,000 lbs of coal per A. Php1.96 C. Php2.15
hour. The heating value of the coal is 12,000 B. Php1.84 D. Php2.05
BTUs per lb. The over-all plant efficiency is 30%.
What is the kW output of the plant? 21. EE Board Exam October 1989
A. 105,500 kW C. 142,500 KW A coal fired power plant with 3,000 kW rated
B. 205,000 kW D. 175,000 kW capacity costs Php15,000 per kW installed.
Annual operating cost Php12 million; annual
15. REE Board Exam October 1998 maintenance cost Php8 million; annual
A certain coal fire power plant has a heat rate of depreciation Php15 million; interest on
2.88 x 106 calories per kW-hr. Coal cost investment per year 8% and cost of coal Php800
Php2,500 per ton. How much is the fuel cost per ton. If one pound of coal is needed to
component of producing one kW-hr if the heating generate 1 kW-hr, find the total annual cost to
value of the fuel is 13,000 BTU per lb? operate the plant. Plant capacity factor is 50%.
A. Php2.50 C. Php1.00 A. Php46.45 million
B. Php1.75 D. Php1.25 B. Php43.38 million
C. Php40.28 million
16. REE Board Exam October 1997 D. Php42.32 million
A coal power plant has an over-all plant efficiency
of 28%. Coal with a heating value of 12,000 BTUs 22. REE Board Exam October 1998
per lb cost Php1.50 per lb. What is the fuel cost of To produce one kW-hr, a power plant burns 0.9 lb
producing one kW-hr? of coal with a heating value of 13,000 BTU per lb.
A. Php1.90 per kW-hr What is the heat rate of the plant?
B. Php1.75 per kW-hr A. 6,250 BTU/kW-hr
C. Php1.52 per kW-hr B. 11,700 BTU/kW-hr
D. Php1.62 per kW-hr C. 9,500 BTU/kW-hr
D. 8,700 BTU/kW-hr
17. REE Board Exam April 1994
A plant has a total generating capacity of 800 kW. 23. REE Board Exam March 1998
The coal consumption is 1,900 lbs per hour. The current loads of four circuits are as follows:
Heating value of the coal is 9,500 BTU per lb. Circuit no. 1 = 35 A
What approximate per cent in heat in the coal is Circuit no. 2 = 46 A
converted into useful energy? Circuit no. 3 = 72 A
A. 12.3% C. 8.7% Circuit no. 4 = 57 A
B. 15.0% D. 17.5% If the diversity factor is 1.5, what is the minimum
ampacity of the feeder conductor?
18. REE Board Exam October 1997 A. 126 amps C. 84 amps
A 100 MW coal fired power plant has an average B. 189 amps D. 152 amps
heat rate of 9500 BTUs per kW-hr. The plant load
factor is 75%. The heating value of the coal is 24. REE Board Exam October 1998
12,000 BTUs per pound. Calculate the amount of The power customer has four circuits of 220 V,
coal usage for one day. three-phase. The circuits have maximum
A. 1.425 x 106 pounds demands as follows:
B. 2.235 x 106 pounds Circuit no. 1 = 35 A
C. 2.235 x 105 pounds Circuit no. 2 = 46 A
D. 1.826 x 106 pounds Circuit no. 3 = 72 A
Circuit no. 4 = 57 A
19. REE Board Exam October 1998 The diversity factor is 1.5, the load factor is 50%,
A diesel generator burns fuel with a heating value and the power factor is 80%. What is the
of 18,000 BTU per lb. The diesel engine has an maximum kVA demand of the customer?
efficiency of 30% and the alternator has an A. 46 kVA C. 80 kVA
efficiency of 95%. Determine the fuel cost B. 26.5 kVA D. 53 kVA
component of producing one kW-hr if the diesel
costs Php2.80 per lb. 25. EE Board Exam April 1980
A. Php0.15 C. Php3.28 A substation transformer is serving the following
B. Php2.15 D. Php1.86 loads:
Demand
Classification Total Load
20. EE Board Exam April 1993 Factor
A 500 kW electric lighting cost Php1,000 per kW Lighting 300 kW 60%
installed. Fixed charges are 14%, operating cost Power 1200 kW 80%
is Php1.50 per kW-hr. The plant averages 150 Heating 500 kW 90%
 If the diversity factor among the load types is 1.5, efficiency of 30% and the generator has an
determine the maximum demand on the efficiency of 95%. Compute the fuel cost of
transformer. producing one kW-hr if the fuel costs Php6.00 per
A. 2000 kW C. 1225 kW liter. Given the density of the fuel as 900 grams
B. 1060 kW D. 1180 kW per liter.
A. Php5.00 C. Php3.00
26. REE Board Exam October 1998 B. Php2.00 D. Php1.00
The power customer has four circuits of 220 V,
three-phase. The circuits have maximum 32. REE Board Exam October 1998
demands as follows: A 100 MW power plant has a heat rate of 2.88 x
Circuit no. 1 = 35 A 106 calories per kW-hr. It is a base load plant and
Circuit no. 2 = 46 A runs at full load 24 hrs a day. How many tons of
Circuit no. 3 = 72 A coal is needed per day if its heating value is
Circuit no. 4 = 57 A 13,000 BTU per lb?
The diversity factor is 1.5, the load factor is 50%, A. 250 C. 830
and the power factor is 80%. What is the B. 625 D. 960
approximate kW demand of the customer?
A. 15 kW C. 21 kW 33. REE Board Exam September 2000
B. 43 kW D. 53 kW The following are the given loads of a particular
circuit:
27. EE Board Exam April 1990 5 - 15 HP motors
A certain power plant has a reserve capacity 3 - 5 HP motors
above the peak load of 10 MW. The annual 8 kW - lighting loads
factors are load factor = 59%, capacity factor = 3.5 kW - miscellaneous loads
41% and use factor = 46%. Determine the Calculate the maximum demand if the demand
installed capacity. factor is 65%.
A. 33.45 MW C. 32.77 MW A. 78.64 C. 51.12
B. 31.85 MW D. 30.47 MW B. 45.81 D. 120.98

28. EE Board Exam April 1990 34. EE Board Exam October 1994
A certain power plant has a reserve capacity Power plant curves or graphs showing the direct
above the peak load of 10 MW. The annual relationships of the peak load and the generated
factors are load factor = 59%, capacity factor = energy of the said plant is
41% and use factor = 46%. Determine hours per A. load curve/graph
year not in service. B. load duration curve
A. 952 hours C. 924 hours C. modified load curve
B. 965 hours D. 937 hours D. none of the above

29. EE Board Exam April 1993 35. REE Board Exam March 1998
A central generating station has an annual factor In fission, energy is produced when
report as follows: A. chemical compound split into its constituents
Plant Capacity Factor = 50% B. nuclear particles combine
Load Factor = 60% C. nuclear particles split
Use Factor = 45% D. molecules combine
Reserved = 10,500 kW
Determine the rated capacity of the station. 36. REE Board Exam March 1998
A. 63,000 kW C. 65,000 kW In the list below, which one is not a type of
B. 60,000 kW D. 70,000 kW present day nuclear power plant?
A. boiling water reactor
30. REE Board Exam October 1998 B. fusion-fission reactor
The metering of a power substation was read and C. low pressure reactor
gave the following data: D. fast breeder reactor
kW-hr = 200,000
kVAR-hr = 180,000 37. REE Board Exam October 1997
Maximum Demand = 380 kW The energy of present nuclear plants comes from
Billing days = 30 A. the fusion of radio active materials
What is the load factor? B. the friction of high speed electrons against
A. 68% C. 80% protons
B. 73% D. 62% C. the destruction of very tiny particles released
when atoms split
31. REE Board Exam September 2000 D. the heat produced by the collision of high
A diesel generator set burns fuel with a heating speeed protons
value of 18,000 BTU per lb. The engine has an
38. REE Board Exam October 1997 BTU per lb cost Php1.50 per lb. What is the fuel
The ratio of the average load on the plant for the cost of producing one kW-hr?
period of time considered to the aggregate rating A. Php1.90 per kW-hr
of all the generating equipment B. Php1.75 per kW-hr
A. capacity factor C. Php1.52 per kW-hr
B. load factor D. Php1.62 per kW-hr
C. utilization factor
D. diversity factor 46. REE Board Exam October 2000
A diesel power plant has an overall efficiency of
Unsolved problems 30%. If the calorific value of diesel is 18,000
39. REE Board Exam April 1997 BTU/lb and cost Php6.00 per liter, how much is
An effective removes of dust, carbon particles the fuel cost of production per kW-hr of energy?
and other from the flue gas of the power plant is Take the density of diesel as 900 grams per liter.
called A. Php1.91 per kW-hr
A. electrostatic precipitator B. Php1.85 per kW-hr
B. soot blower and collector C. Php2.12 per kW-hr
C. mechanical collector D. Php2.45 per kW-hr
D. dust scrubber
47. REE Board Exam October 1998
40. EE Board Exam April 1990 The feedwater is usually heated before it is
A thermal power plant using dry organic material injected to the boiler for the following reason
such as wood and other wastes for its fuel except one. Which one is this?
A. geothermal power plant A. improves the overall performance of the
B. diesel power plant plant
C. dendro power plant B. recovers part of the flue gas heat which is
D. hydro power plant otherwise lost to the atmosphere
C. derating types of preheaters permit the
41. REE Board Exam April 1994 removal of dissolved gases from the
Type of water wheels used in hydraulic plants feedwater
A. propeller C. reaction D. increases the efficiency of the boiler
B. impulse D. all of these
48. REE Board Exam October 1998
42. REE Board Exam April 2001 A proposed hydroelectric station has an available
A hydroelectric plant generates 100 MW at an head of 30 m, a catchment area of 50 x 10 6 sq m,
available head of 200 m and an overall efficiency the rainfall for which is 120 cm per annum. If 70%
of 75%. What quantity of water in cubic meter per of the total rainfall can be collected, calculate the
second is required? power that can be generated. Assume the
A. 1,200 C. 26 following efficiencies: Penstock 95%, Turbine
B. 122 D. 68 80% and Generator 85%.
A. 253 kW C. 214 kW
43. REE Board Exam October 1998 B. 678 kW D. 925 kW
A ten year investigation of rivers potential gave
an average water flow of 25 cm per second at the 49. While calculating the cost of electric power
bottom and 90 cm per second at the surface. The generation, which of the following is NOT
average cross section at the same location is 80 considered a fixed cost?
sq m. What is the average flow rate in cubic A. interest on capital investment
meter per hour? B. taxes and insurance
A. 165,600 C. 46,500 C. most of the salaries and wages
B. 57,600 D. 5,760 D. repair and maintenance

44. REE Board Exam September 2002 50. Maximum demand of an installation is given by its
A power plant is driven by turbine at a rate of 10 A. instantaneous maximum demand
cubic meters per second and with a head of 235 B. greatest average power demand
m. If the plant efficiency is 0.65, calculate the C. average maximum demand over a definite
power plant output. interval of time during a certain period
A. 10,000 kW C. 35,000 kW D. average power demand during an interval of
B. 15,000 kW D. 25,000 kW 1-minute

45. REE Board Exam October 1997 51. A diversity factor of 2.5 gives a saving of ____
A coal power plant has a boiler, turbine and percent in the generating equipment.
alternator efficiencies of 35%, 86% and 93% A. 60 C. 40
respectively. Coal with heating value of 12,000 B. 50 D. 25
52. Mark the WRONG statement. High load factor of factor is found to be 0.895 lagging. What kW of
a generating equipment resistance heating unit was installed?
A. leads to lesser charges per kWh A. 4.3 kW C. 5.3 kW
B. implies lower diversity in demand B. 3.4 kW D. 6.4 kW
C. gives more profit to the owner
D. can be obtained accepting off-peak loads 61. What do you mean by demand of the customer?
A. Voltage need
53. In a generating station, fixed, charges at 100% B. Voltage, frequency, phase need
load factor are 6 paisa/kWh. With 25% load C. Voltage, frequency need
factor, the charges would become ____ D. kVA load
paisa/kWh.
A. 1.5 C. 24 62. Fusion energy is produced when
B. 10 D. 3 A. chemical compounds combined
B. fuel burns
54. When considering the economics of power C. nuclear particle divides
transmission, Kelvins law is used for finding the D. nuclear particle combined
____
A. cost of energy loss in bare conductors
B. most economical cross-section of the 63.
conductors A. C.
C. interest on capital cost of the conductor B. D.
D. the maximum voltage drop in feeders

55. A 3-phase balance system working at 0.9 lagging 64.

power factor has a line loss of 3600 kW. If p.f. is A. C.
reduced to 0.6, the line loss would become ____ B. D.
kW.
A. 8100 C. 5400
B. 1600 D. 2400

56. Mark the WRONG statement. While considering

power factor improvement, the most economical
angle of lag depends on the ____
A. cost/kVA rating of phase advancer
B. rate of interest on capital outlay
C. rate of depreciation
D. value of original lagging p.f. angle

57. EE Board Exam October 1990

A 55,000 kW thermal plant of National Power
Corporation delivers an annual output of
238,000,000 kW-hr with a peak load of 44 MW.
What is the capacity factor?
A. 49.4% C. 48.2%
B. 42.4% D. 44.6%

58. A deep well pumps water into an open reservoir

at rate of 150 gpm. The water table is 200 ft
below the output pipe. The whole system has an
overall efficiency of 80%. What shall be the
minimum hp of the pump?
A. 9.45 hp C. 5.12 hp
B. 7.15 hp D. 8.53 hp

59. Which of the following is least efficient?

A. Diesel Gen-Set
B. Combined Gen-Set
C. Gasoline Gen-Set
D. Coal Power Plant

60. An industrial load of 25 kVA has an overall power

factor of 0.8 lagging. A group of resistance
heating unit was installed and the plant power