Question

A 600-MW steam power plant, which is cooled by a nearby river, has a thermal efficiency of 56 percent. Determine the rate of heat transfer to the river water. Will the actual heat transfer rate be higher or lower than this value?

Answer 1

471.43MW

Step-by-step explanation:

the rate of heat transfer to the power plant is determined from the thermal efficiency equation

Qh =
`(Wout)/(nth)`

Qh = 600 MW / 0.56

Qh =1071.43MW

The rate of heat transfer to the river is determined from the first law related to heat engine

QL = Qh - Wout

= 1071.43 - 600

= 471.43MW

the heat will be lost to the surrounding air as it passes through pipes and other surrounding components