A pumped-storage hydroelectric power station is used to generate electricity during periods of high demand by releasing water from an upper reservoir to a lower reservoir, as shown in the diagram.
The vertical height difference h h\,h between the reservoirs is 150 m. Water flows from the upper reservoir at a constant volume flow rate of 2.4 × 104 m3 min-1.
The density of water is 1000 kg m-3 and the acceleration due to gravity g g\,g is 9.81 m s-2.
If the overall efficiency of the electricity generation process is 82%, what is the electrical power output of the station?
8.0 MW8.0\text{ MW}8.0 MW
480 MW480\text{ MW}480 MW
590 MW590\text{ MW}590 MW
720 MW720\text{ MW}720 MW