Question

An escalator in a shopping center is designed to move 50 people, 75 kg each, at a constant speed of 0.6 m/s at 450 slope. Determine: (a) The minimum power input needed to drive this escalator, and (b) What would your answer be if the escalator velocity were to be doubled?

Answer 1

Power required to drive the escalator shall be equal to the rate at which the energies of the persons is increased.

`Energy=n* mass* g* h\\\\\therefore Power=n* mass* g* (dh)/(dt)\\\\Power=50* 75* 9.81* 0.6sin(45)\\\\Power=15.607kW`

As we infer from the above equation If the velocity of the escalator is doubled then the Power required will also be doubled and become 31.215kW