Question

a 500 mw power plant burns bituminous coal having a heating value 28,400 kj/kg. the overall plant efficiency is 36 percent. the plant operates at an annual capacity factor of 65 percent, meaning that the electrical energy generated in a year is 65 percent of the maximum possible. calculate the annual quantity (mass) of coal burned at this power plant. also calculate the annual quantities of ash and sulfur in the coal entering the plant.

Answer 1

The annual quantity of coal burned at this power plant is approximately 11461.267 kg. The quantities of ash and sulfur in the coal cannot be determined without additional information.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the annual quantity (mass) of coal burned at the power plant, we need to use the given information and formulas. First, we calculate the energy generated by the power plant in a year:

Energy generated per year = Power output * Annual capacity factor

Energy generated per year = 500 MW * 0.65

Energy generated per year = 325 MW

Next, we calculate the energy produced by burning 1 kg of coal:

Energy produced per kg of coal = Heating value of coal

Energy produced per kg of coal = 28,400 kJ/kg

Finally, we calculate the mass of coal burned in a year:

Mass of coal burned per year = Energy generated per year / Energy produced per kg of coal

Mass of coal burned per year = 325,000,000 kJ / 28,400 kJ/kg

Mass of coal burned per year = 11461.267 kg

The annual quantity of coal burned at this power plant is approximately 11461.267 kg.

To calculate the annual quantities of ash and sulfur in the coal entering the plant, we need additional data such as the percentage of ash and sulfur in the coal. Without this information, we cannot determine the specific quantities of ash and sulfur.