A nuclear power plant generates 2000 MW of heat energy from nuclear reactions in the reactor's core. This energy is used to boil water and produce high-pressure steam at 300 degrees C. The steam spins a turbine, which produces 700 MW of electric power, then the steam is condensed and the water is cooled to 30 degrees C before starting the cycle again.
What is the maximum possible thermal efficiency of the power plant?
What is the plant's actual efficiency?
Cooling water from a river flows through the condenser (the low-temperature heat exchanger) at the rate of 1.2 x 10^8 L/hr (approx 30 million gallons per hour). If the river water enters the condenser at 18 degrees C, what is its exit temperature?