Question

A 600-MW steam power plant, which is cooled by a nearby river, has a thermal efficiency of 54 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

Answer:

$\dot Q _{L} = 511.111 MW$. Heat transfer can be higher if themal efficiency is lower.

Explanation:

The heat transfer rate to the river water is calculated by this expression:

$\dot Q_{L} = \dot Q_{H} - \dot W$

$\dot Q_{L} = (\frac{1}{\eta_{th}}-1 )\cdot \dot W\\\dot Q_{L} = (\frac{1}{0.54}-1)\cdot (600 MW)\\\dot Q _{L} = 511.111 MW$

The actual heat transfer can be higher if the steam power plant reports an thermal efficiency lower than expected.