If a heat engine’s efficiency can be increased by increasing the highest tempera

Question

If a heat engine’s efficiency can be increased by increasing the highest temperature why do we not increase the temperature further for our power plants? What could be done still to raise the temperature of the high temperature reservoir? What could be done to lower the temperature of the low temperature reservoir for a power cycle without requiring extra work input?

I have seen an answer to this question previously on this site, but it did not make much sense to me, so please do not just copy and paste the answer from the other question, thanks!

Explanation / Answer

Yes we can increase the heat engine's efficiency by increasing the highest temperature but in a practical scenario it may not be feasible. In power plants the peak temperature of the boiler is limited by the melting point of the material of the boiler, you cannot increase the temperature indefinitely because that may cause damage to the boiler walls or the pipes carrying the over heated steam. So for safety reasons , in a practical scenario one can only go upto a certain safe range for boiler temperature.

One can always in better technology to develop more heat resistant materials for boiler and pipes so that the temperature can be raised further.

To lower the temperature of the low temperature reservoir one can use naturally available cold water from the surroundings. Constructing thermal power plants in regions where there is plenty of cold water available and low ambient pressures is also favourable.

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