You are an engineer at a power plant that creates large volumes of hot waste water,which disrupts the ecosystem of the river it drains into.Another part of the plant requires warm oil,and the plant uses large amounts of energy to heat it.Inspired by countercurrent exchange in whales,you save energy and benefit the environment by

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By running the oil pipes around the waste water pipes, heat transfer can occur from the hot waste water to the warm oil, thus reducing the amount of energy needed to heat the oil. This also prevents the hot waste water from directly entering the river and disrupting the ecosystem. Running the oil pipes under the river could potentially harm aquatic life and disturb the riverbed, and running both the waste water and oil through a single pipe could lead to contamination and temperature issues. Adding a sensor, integrating center, and effectors may be beneficial to control the temperature in both pipes, but it is not the most efficient solution to the problem.

You Are an Engineer at a Power Plant That Creates