Question $2(20$ marks$)$: You have been asked to evaluate the economic implications of various methods for cooling condenser effluents from a $200-$MW steam$-$electric plant. In this regard, cooling ponds and once$-$through cooling systems have been eliminated from consideration because of their adverse ecological effects. It has been decided to use cooling towers to dissipate waste heat to the atmosphere. There are two basic types of cooling towers: wet and dry. Furthermore, heat may be removed from condenser water by $(1)$ forcing $($mechanically$)$ air through the tower or $(2)$ allowing heat transfer to occur by making use of natural draft. Consequently, there are four basic cooling tower designs that could be considered. Assuming that the cost of capital to the utility company is $\backslash (12\backslash \%\backslash )$ per year, your job is to make an informed judgment using annual worth $($AW$)$ method to recommend the best alternative $($i$.$e$.,$ the least expensive during the service life$)$ in view of the data given in Table below $(15$ marks$).$

Alternative Types of Cooling Towers for a $200-$Megawatt Fossil$-$Fired

Power Plant Operating at Full Capacity$*$

$*100$ hp $\backslash (=74\mathrm{.}6\backslash$mathrm$\{$~kW$\}\backslash )$; cost of power to plant is $2\mathrm{.}2$ cents per kWh or kilowatt$-$hour $(1$ dollar $=100$ cents$)$; induceddraft fans and pumps operate around the clock for $365$ days$/$year $($continuously$).$ Assume that electric motors for pumps and fans are $\backslash (90\backslash \%\backslash )$ efficient.

Further, assume that each alternative is capable of satisfactorily removing waste heat from the condensers of a $200-$MW power plant. What noneconomic factors $($e$.$g$.,$ considering the impact of engineering solutions in global, environmental, and societal contexts$)$ can you identify that might also play a role in the decision$-$making process $(5$ marks$)?$