1. At steady state, a power cycle develops a power output of 10 kW while receiving energy by heat transfer at the rate of 10 kJ per cycle of operation from a source at temperature T. The cycle rejects energy by heat transfer to cooling water at a lower temperature of 300 K. If there are 100 cycles per minute, what is the minimum theoretical value for T, in K?
2. A power cycle operates between hot and cold reservoirs at 600 K and 300 K, respectively. At steady state the cycle develops a power output of 0.45 MW while receiving energy by heat transfer from the hot reservoir at the rate of 1 MW.
(a) Determine the thermal efficiency and the rate at which energy is rejected by heat transfer to the cold reservoir, in MW.
(b) Compare the results of part (a) with those of a reversible power cycle operating between these reservoirs and receiving the same rate of heat transfer from the hot reservoir.