The electric output of a power plant is 716 mw. cooling water is the main way heat from the powerplant is rejected, and it flows at a rate of 1.35 x 10^8 l/hr. the water enters the plant at 25.4°c and exits at 30.7°c. (a) what is the power plant's total thermal power? (mwt (megawatt thermal)
(b) what is the efficiency of the power plant?

(a) 83475 MW

(b) 85.8 %

Explanation:

Output power = 716 MW = 716 x 10^6 W

Amount of water flows, V = 1.35 x 10^8 L = 1.35 x 10^8 x 10^-3 m^3

mass of water, m = Volume  x density = 1.35 x 10^8 x 10^-3 x 1000

                                                               = 1.35 x 10^8 kg

Time, t = 1 hr = 3600 second

T1 = 25.4° C, T2 = 30.7° C

Specific heat of water, c = 4200 J/kg°C

(a) Total energy, Q = m x c x ΔT

Q = 1.35 x 10^8 x 4200 x (30.7 - 25.4) = 3 x 10^12 J

Power = Energy / time

Power input =

Power input = 83475 MW

(b) The efficiency of the plant is defined as the ratio of output power to the input power.

Thus, the efficiency is 85.8 %.

-first use of geothermal energy occurred more than 10,000 years ago in north america by american paleo-indians

-the first industrial use of geothermal energy began near pisa, italy in late 18th century

-in 1904, italian scientist piero ginori conti invented the first geothermal electric power plant in which steam was used to generate the power

-with the above experiment, the first geothermal plant in usa started in 1922 with a capacity of 250 kilowatts

-however, in 1946 first ground-source geothermal heat pump installed at commonwealth building in portland, oregon

-during the 1960’s, pacific gas and electric began operation of first large scale geothermal power plant in san francisco, producing 11 megawatts

-in 1973, when oil crisis began many countries began looking for renewable energy sources and by 1980’s geothermal heat pumps (ghp) started gaining popularity in order to reduce heating and cooling costs

-as effect of climate change started showing results, governments of various countries joined hands to fight against it, for which kyoto protocol was signed in japan in 1997, laid out emission targets for rich countries and required that they transfer funds and technology to developing countries, 184 countries have ratified it

hope this