Carnot engine: A coal-fired plant generates 600 MW of electric power. The plant uses 4.8 × 10⁶ kg of coal each day. The heat produced by the combustion of coal is 3.3 × 10⁷ J/kg. The steam that drives the turbines is at a temperature of 300°C, and the exhaust water is at 37°C.
(a) What is the overall efficiency of the plant for generating electric power?
(b) What is the maximum efficiency that this plant could possibly have using the same temperature extremes that it presently uses?
(c) How much thermal energy is exhausted each day by this plant?

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The Answer of Carnot engine: A coal-fired plant generates 600 MW of electric power. The plant uses 4.8 × 10⁶ kg of coal each day. The heat produced by the combustion of coal is 3.3 × 10⁷ J/kg. The steam that drives the turbines is at a temperature of 300°C, and the exhaust water is at 37°C. (a) What is the overall efficiency of the plant for generating electric power? (b) What is the maximum efficiency that this plant could possibly have using the same temperature extremes that it presently uses? (c) How much thermal energy is exhausted each day by this plant?

Carnot Engine: a Coal-Fired Plant Generates 600 MW of Electric