- #1
TheBigDig
- 65
- 2
- Homework Statement
- Assess the thermodynamic maximum efficiency for a steam solar thermal power plant operating at 750K steam temperature. Assume ideal concentration and negligible optical and insulation losses. Assume that the low temperature reservoir is at 300K and the sun is at 5600K. Calculate the thermodynamic maximum efficiency of the total system for a steam engine of 1/2 and 1/3 of the Carnot efficiency
- Relevant Equations
- [tex]\eta = \frac{T_1-T_2}{T_1}[/tex]
My inital assumption was to just take T1 = 5600 and T2= 300K, find the maximum efficiency and then divide it by two and three but I don't believe this question to be that simple. I'm confused as to where the 750K fits in as I thought no matter what occurred in between the heat reservoir and heat sink, the efficiency would only depend on T1 and T2.