1) A nuclear power plant reactor operates at 3612 MWth. In the winter the plant is able to achieve an electrical output of 1277 MWe, operating with a condenser pressure of 1 psia. Lake water enters the condenser 20°F below this saturation pressure and returns to the lake at 10°F below this saturation pressure. Saturated steam is supplied to the turbine at 1000 psia and you can assume the turbine is isentropic.
What is the thermal efficiency of this plant in the winter (in %)?
What is the Heat Rate of this plant in the winter (in BTU/kW-hr)?
What is the average mass flow rate of steam passing through the turbine (in pounds/hr)?
2) In the summer, the reactor still operates at 3612 MWth and still delivers the same mass flow rate of 1000 psia saturated steam through the turbine as calculated in problem 1, above. However, the lake is now warmer and so it the coolant flow through the condenser. Assume the inlet temperature of the lake water into the condenser is 10°F warmer than in problem 1, above, as is the return water to the lake.
What is the new summer condenser pressure (in psia)?
What is the new summer electrical output of the plant (in MWe)?
What is the new summer thermal efficiency of this plant in the winter (in %)?
What is the new summer Heat Rate of this plant (in BTU/kW-hr)?