A coal-fired plant generates 600 MW of electric power. The plant uses 4.8 × 106 kg of coal each day. The heat of combustion of coal is 3.3 × 107 J/kg

The steam that drives the turbines is at a temperature of 300°C, and the exhaust water is at 37°C.
(a) What is the overall efficiency of the plant for generating electric power?
(b) What is the Carnot efficiency?


(a) 33%
(b) 46%

Physics & Space Science

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