A coal-fired plant generates 600 MW of electric power. The plant uses 4.8 × 106

Question

A coal-fired plant generates 600 MW of electric power. The plant uses 4.8 × 106 kg of coal each day. The heat produced by the combustion of coal is 3.3 × 107 J/kg. The steam that drives the turbines is at a temperature of 300°C, and the exhaust water is at 37°C.

Part A)

(a) What is the overall efficiency of the plant for generating electric power?

**I know the answer is 33% (mastering physics)

Part B

(b) What is the maximum efficiency that this plant could possibly have using the same temperature extremes that it presently uses?

Part C

(c) How much thermal energy is exhausted each day by this plant?

Explanation / Answer

b) Efficiency = ( T1- T2) / T1 = (300-37)/( 300+273) = 0.46= 46%

c) 3.3 × 107 J/kg.
For 4.8 × 106 kg the energy produced = 4.8e6*3.3e7=1.584e+14 J

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.