A nuclear power plant generates 2000 MW of heat energy from nuclear reactions in

Question

A nuclear power plant generates 2000 MW of heat energy from nuclear reactions in the reactor's core. This energy is used to boil water and produce high-pressure steam at 300 degrees C. The steam spins a turbine, which produces 700 MW of electric power, then the steam is condensed and the water is cooled to 30 degrees C before starting the cycle again.

What is the maximum possible thermal efficiency of the power plant?

What is the plant's actual efficiency?

Cooling water from a river flows through the condenser (the low-temperature heat exchanger) at the rate of 1.2 x 10^8 L/hr (approx 30 million gallons per hour). If the river water enters the condenser at 18 degrees C, what is its exit temperature?

Explanation / Answer

the maximum possible thermal efficiency of the power plant = 1-((30+273.15)/(300+273.15)) = 0.4711 = 47.11% plant's actual efficiency = 700/2000 = 0.35 = 35%

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