Answer: 92.7%.
Step-by-step explanation:
The maximum possible thermal efficiency of a gas power cycle when using thermal energy reservoirs at 1100F and 80F is determined by the ideal Carnot cycle efficiency, which is calculated using the formula:
Efficiency = 1 – (Tc/Th),
Where Tc is the temperature of the cold reservoir, and Th is the temperature of the hot reservoir. In this case, the cold reservoir is 80F and the hot reservoir is 1100F. Plugging these values into the formula:
Efficiency = 1 – (80F/1100F) = 0.927
This means that the maximum possible thermal efficiency of a gas power cycle when using thermal energy reservoirs at 1100F and 80F is 92.7%. This result is based on the ideal Carnot cycle which assumes that all heat transfers occur with no losses and all of the work done is reversible. In reality, there are always some losses, which would reduce this efficiency value, but the Carnot cycle remains the theoretical maximum efficiency for any thermal power cycle.