A turbine takes in 1,200-K steam and exhausts the steam at a temperature of 300 K.What is the maximum theoretical efficiency of this system?

Question

A turbine takes in 1,200-K steam and exhausts the steam at a temperature of 300 K.What is the maximum theoretical efficiency of this system?
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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The maximum theoretical efficiency of a heat engine is given by the Carnot efficiency, which is given by:

Efficiency = (Th - Tc) / Th

where Th is the temperature of the hot reservoir (in Kelvin) and Tc is the temperature of the cold reservoir (in Kelvin). In this case, Th = 1200K and Tc = 300K, giving:

Efficiency = (1200 - 300) / 1200 = 75%

Therefore, the correct choice is C.

A Turbine Takes in 1,200-K Steam and Exhausts the Steam