Answer to Question #280394 in Mechanical Engineering for Festus

Question

A nuclear reactor generates 3000MW of heat. The heat is transferred in a heat exchanger of energy transfer efficiency 75% into steam which is expanded in a turbine in order to produce a power output. The steam is condensed in a condenser, releasing 1800MW of heat, and pumped back through the heat exchanger by a feed pump which requires 3% of the power output from the turbine. Determine

A) The net power output from the plant

B) The power output from the turbine

C)The overall thermal efficiency of the plant

Answer 1

A) The net power output from the plant:

$$P_o=1800·(1-0.03)=1746\text{ MW}.$$

B) The power output from the turbine:

$$P_{ot}=3000·0.75=2250\text{ MW}.$$

C)The overall thermal efficiency of the plant:

$$\eta=1746/3000=0.58.$$