Randall D. Knight — Heat Engines and Refrigerators: Problem 52

A nuclear power plant generates 3000 MW of heat energy from nuclear reactions in the reactor's core. This energy is used to boil water and produce high-pressure steam at 300°C. The steam spins a turbine, which produces 1000 MW of electric power, then the steam is condensed and the water is cooled to 25°C before starting the cycle again. a. What is the maximum possible thermal efficiency of the power plant? b. What is the plant’s actual efficiency? c. Cooling water from a river flows through the condenser (the low-temperature heat exchanger) at the rate of $1.2 \times 10^8\text{ L/h}$ ($\approx 30\text{ million gallons per hour}$). If the river water enters the condenser at 18°C, what is its exit temperature?