Consider a $210$ MW steam power plant that operates on a non$-$ideal Rankine cycle

$($an isentropic efficiency of $85\%$ for both the turbine and the pump$).$ Steam enters the turbine at $10$ MPa and $500$ oC and is cooled in the condenser at a pressure of $10$ kPa.

a$)$ Assume the power plant discharges energy by heat transfer to the condenser

and the cooling water is at an average temperature of $21$ oC$,$ and determine the

maximum theoretical thermal efficiency.

b$)$ Explain why the actual cycle thermal efficiency is considerably less than the

maximum theoretical thermal efficiency.

c$)$ Re$-$design the steam power cycle that can achieve an actual cycle thermal

efficiency of at least $40\%.$

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

a To determine the maximum theoretical thermal efficiency of the nonideal Rankine cycle we can use t... View the full answer