A fossil power plant has a thermodynamic efficiency of 38 an

A fossil power plant has a thermodynamic efficiency of 38% and its furnace produces heat at the rate of 1.8×105 BTU/min. (a) What is the output power of the plant in kW? (b) At what rate does the plant discharge heat to the environment?

Solution

1 (btu / minute) = 0.0175842642 kilowatts.

Since thermodynamic effeciency is 38%, power output will be 38% of the total heat input.

Therefore,

a) Power output= .38 X 1.8X 10⁵ X 0.0175842642 kW

=1202.472 kW.

b) Rate of heat discharge is the amount of heat that is wasted per minute which is 62% of the heat input per minute.

= .62 x 1.8x 10^{5 x} 0.0175842642 kW

= 1961.928 kW.