Thermal Efficiency of a power plant

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 5K views
jalamb90
Messages
2
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


The electric output of a power plant is 750 MW. Cooling water flows through the power plant at the rate 1.0*10^8 L/hr. The cooling water enters the plant at 16 degrees C and exits at 27 degrees C. What is the poer plant's thermal efficiency?


Homework Equations


W = Qh - Qc
n=Wout/Qh


The Attempt at a Solution


w=Qh-Qc
790MW=Qh-Qc
tried to solve for Qc in order to find Qh but couldn't figur out how to get Qc from 1.0*10^8 L/hr to MW.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
jalamb90 said:
...
The electric output of a power plant is 750 MW. Cooling water flows through the power plant at the rate 1.0*10^8 L/hr. The cooling water enters the plant at 16 degrees C and exits at 27 degrees C. What is the poer plant's thermal efficiency?
...
w=Qh-Qc
790MW=Qh-Qc
tried to solve for Qc in order to find Qh but couldn't figur out how to get Qc from 1.0*10^8 L/hr to MW.
What is the rate of heat flow to the cold reservoir (how much heat does it take to raise 10^8 L of water from 16 to 27 degrees C. ?)

That will give you Qc which will then enable you to find Qh and the efficiency.

AM