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AE Board Review Part3 - MSWord2003 Long Paper 2011
AE Board Review Part3 - MSWord2003 Long Paper 2011
AE Board Review Part3 - MSWord2003 Long Paper 2011
SUBJECT 3
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
A. EASY
1. Power system that utilizes more than one energy sources such as solar, wind and biogas.
3. The rotating part of microhydro power plant placed across water flow.
6. The application of electricity in rural areas including the home, farm and farmstead.
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8. The standard size of drop wire (post to building wire) for farmhouses and households.
Answer: C
A. Volcanic energy B. Renewable energy C. All of the above D. None of the above
Answer: B
Answer: B
12. In the BiGSHOW acronym of renewable energy coverage, the “S” stands for
Answer: B
Answer: B
14. In the Philippines and most of southeast Asia, the daily solar energy or insolation is about
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B. MODERATE
1. An electric pump has total resistance of 9.5 ohms. If its power source is from a 220-volt
outlet, what should be the amperage of its safety fuse? Assume 27 % surge current.
Answer: C
Solution:
I = 1.27 V/R
= 1.27 (220/9.5)
= 1.27 (23.16 amp)
= 29.4 amp., use 30 amp.
Answer: A
Solution:
P = 9.8QHE
where P= power output in kw, Q = discharge in m3/s, H = gross head in meters,
E= efficiency, typically 60% for micro-hydro
3. Give the estimated mechanical power output of a windmill having a rotor diameter of 8
meters if wind velocity is 3 m/s.
Answer: A
Solution:
P = 0.1AV3, by rule of thumb
where P= power output in w, A = rotor cross-sectional area in m2, V= wind velocity in m/s
4. What is the electrical energy consumption of a 10-kw coconut oil expeller plugged in a
220-volt source if it requires 3 hours to expel oil from 1,000 kg of grated copra?
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5. What is the peak solar power generation per charging channel of a solar battery charging
station equipped with 12 units of 75 watt-peak 12-volt solar module? The system is
divided into 3 charging channels, each channel has 4 modules connected in parallel.
Assume 80% overall efficiency.
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C. DIFFICULT
1. An industrial heater has 8 pieces heating plates of 6 ohms each. Plates are arranged in
series. If the heater power source is from a 220-volt outlet, how much current will flow?
Answer: B
Solution:
R = R1 + R1 + … + R12
= 8 (6 ohms)
= 48 Ohms
I = V/R
= 220/48
= 4.58 Amp.
2. How much should be budgeted annually for the electrical consumption of a 20-kw
coconut oil expeller drawing 92 amperes current and having an electrical consumption of
0.04 kwh/kg copra? It expels 250 kg of copra per hour and operates 16 h/day at 264
days/year. Electricity costs PHP5/kwh. Use 10% cost safety factor.
Answer: B
Solution:
Budget = Elec. Consumption x Input Rate x Time x Elec. Cost x (1+Safety Factor)
= (0.040 kwh/kg)(250 kg/h) (16 h/day x 264 days/yr) (PHP5/kwh)(1+0.10)
= PHP232,320/yr
3. What is the peak amperage of a solar battery charging station equipped with 16 units of
75 watt-peak 4.16-ampere solar module? The system is divided into 4 charging channels,
each channel has 4 modules connected in parallel.
4. What is the system voltage of a solar pumping system equipped with 2 units of 75 watt-
peak solar modules? Each solar module has 4.16 amperes maximum, open circuit voltage
of 21 volts maximum and nominal voltage of 12 volts. Modules are connected in series.
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5. Estimate the hydraulic power output of a multi-bladed windmill when windspeed is 3
m/s. It has 0.3 rotor power coefficient, 90% transmission efficiency, 90% pump
volumetric efficiency and 6 meters rotor diameter. Air density is 1.2 kg/m3.
P = 0.5 x Air density x power coef x trans. eff x vol. eff x rotor sweep area x wind velocity3
= 0.5(1.2)(0.3)(0.9)(0.9)(3.14x32)(33)
= 38.8 watts
6. If a 10-meter high multi-bladed windmill for vegetable farm has a minimum running
windspeed of 1.5 m/s, what is the minimum windspeed for the rotor to start turning?
7. A horizontal-axis windmill for poultry farm water pumping has a rotor diameter of 8
meters and registers a running torque of 920 Newton-meters. What is the torque needed
to start its rotor turning?
8. How many 75 watt-peak solar modules are needed for a solar powered incubator having a
power rating of 144 watts, system voltage of 48 volts and amperage of 6 amperes? All
solar modules used have 12 volts nominal voltage and 4.6 amperes peak amperage.
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9. What should be the tilt angle from the horizontal of the glass solar collector of a hybrid
biomass-solar dryer located somewhere in Surigao, Philippines, having a longitude of
125 degrees and latitude of 9 degrees? Since Philippines is in northern hemisphere, the
solar collector faces south or opposite hemisphere for maximum energy collection.
Angle = Latitute of the site; but minimum of 10 degrees for self cleaning
= 9 degrees; but constrained to 10 degrees minimum for self cleaning
= 10 degrees minimum
10. Geothermal, biodiesel and windfarm renewable energy projects are evaluated for
financial feasibility but only a maximum of 2 projects can be implemented. Each of them
requires PHP900,000,000 investment. The financial internal rate of return (IRR) are
28.2%, 9.8% and 9.6% for geothermal, biodiesel and wind project, respectively. Annual
money discount and inflation rate is 10.2%. Which project shall not be implemented?
A. Biodiesel project B. Windfarm project C. All of the above D. None of the above
Answer:C (since IRR of biofuel & ocean projects < monetary discount & inflation rate)
REFERENCES:
1. Farm Electrification by Robert H. Brown, E.E., A.E., latest edition
2. Philippine Agricultural Engineering Journal, Vol. XXX (2)
3. Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards (PAES)
4. Renewable Energy Journal, various issues & authors
5. Manual for Micro-Hydropower Development, DOE and JICA, 2004
6. Electrical Power Calculations, AUDELS, latest edition
7. Handouts and fact sheets from various sources
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2. AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
A. EASY
Answer: C
2. What is the normal freeboard percentage for water tanks and open channels?
Answer: C
3. Which shape of concrete canal needs more reinforcing bars at the lower part of its wall?
4. For class A mix, give the bags of 40-kg cement needed per cubic meter of concrete.
Answer: A
5. What is the proper mix class for solid concrete open channel bed and walls?
Answer: B
6. What concrete canal cross-sectional shape has its sides serving as soil retaining wall?
Answer: C
7. In class AA, A, B and C concrete mixes, how many cubic meters of gravel is required to
produce 1 cubic meter of concrete?
Answer: A
B. MODERATE - none
C. DIFICULT - none
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3. WASTE MANAGEMENT
A. EASY
1. The equivalent amount paid by the World Bank for carbon emission reduction projects.
A. Carbon credit value B. Emission value C. Carbon trading value D. None of the above
Answer: A
Answer: B
3. Best type of biogas plant for large animal farms having effluents with low volatile solids.
Answer: C
4. Plastic sheet for constructing balloon and bed lining in covered lagoon biogas plants.
Answer: C
5. By how many times is methane destructive to the environment than carbon dioxide?
Answer: C
6. Energy system consisting of the digester, gasholder, mixing tank and sludge tank.
Answer: B
7. Flammable gas derived from anaerobic fermentation of any organic matter especially
animal manure or manure-biomass mixture.
Answer: C
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8. The estimated proportion of methane in biogas for digesters using 1:1 water-manure ratio.
Answer: B
9. The estimated proportion of carbon dioxide in biogas for digesters using 1:1 water-
manure ratio.
Answer: C
Answer: B
12. Estimated biogas produced per kg cow manure for 25-day hydraulic retention time.
Answer: A
Answer: B
15. The metal-corrosive component of biogas in small amount which smells like a rotten egg.
Answer: A
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B. MODERATE
1. Determine the biogas consumption per day of a household using a 4-inch gas burner at 4
hours duration per day. The gas consumption of the burner is constant at 0.283 m3/hour.
Answer: A
Solution:
C = NBT
where C= Consumption, N = No. of units, B = biogas consumption of device, T = Time
2. Determine the biogas production per day of an animal farm having 10,000 heads of
porkers of mixed ages. Use a retention period of 35 days. The mean daily manure
production of porkers is 2.2 kg/head while the specific gas production for 35-day
hydraulic retention time in the digester is 0.065 m3/kg.
Answer: A
Solution:
P = NMG
where P = biogas production potential, N = No.of heads, M = manure production,
G = Specific gas production of the manure for a specific retention period
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C. DIFFICULT
1. How many heads of breeding buffalo are needed as source of manure to generate 1,000
m3 of biogas a day if the retention period is 25 days. The mean daily manure production
of breeding buffalo is 13.5 kg/head while its specific gas production for 25-day manure
retention period is half of that of chicken dung.
A. 504 B. 405 C. 540 D. None of the above
Answer: B
Solution:
N = P/(MG)
where N = No. of heads, C = biogas production, M = manure production,
G = Specific gas production of the manure for a specific retention period
G = 0.5 x G for chicken dung at 25-day retention period
= 0.5 x 0.06 m3/kg
= 0.03 m3/kg
C = (1,000 m3)/[(13.5 kg/head)(0.03 m3/kg)]
= 405 heads
2. Determine the required digester volume of a biogas plant that will accommodate manure
from a broiler farm having a capacity of 20,000 heads of mixed ages. Use 30-day
retention period and 1:1 manure-water ratio. The mean daily manure production of broiler
is 0.025 kg/head while its specific gas production for 30-day manure retention period is
0.062 m3/kg. Chicken dung density is 950 kg/m3.
A. 2.52 m3 B. 22.5 m3 C. 25.2 m3 D. None of the above
Answer: C
Solution:
V = IR, but, I =2Im, Im = 0.8P/GD, P = NMG
where V = digerster volume, I = daily slurry input, R = retention period,
Im =Manure input, D = manure density, P = biogas production
P = NMG
= (20,000 heads)(0.025 kg/head)(0.062 m3/kg)
= 31 m3
Im = 0.8P/GD, since manure is 20% air content
= [(0.8)(31 m3)]/[(0.062 m3/kg)( 950 kg/m3)]
= 0.42 m3
I =2Im, since optimum manure-water ratio is 1:1 by volume
= 2(0.42 m3)
= 0.84 m3/day
V = IR
= (0.84 m3/day)(30 days)
= 25.2 m3
REFERENCES:
1. Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards, 2nd ed.
2. Biogas Plant Design by Arthur It. Tambong, 1992
3. Renewable Energy Journal, various issues & authors
4. Fundamentals of Environmental Science by G. C. Catchillar, 2008
5. Handouts and fact sheets from various sources
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