Question

The maximum efficiency of a steam turbine cycle with a steam temperature of 498oC and a cooling water temperature of 27oC is (give your answer in %

Answer 1

Steam turbine is one type of heat engine.

For such a type of thermodynamic system , efficiency is given by

   = 1 - ( T_c / T_H )

where T_c is the temperature of the cold reservoir

and T_H is the temperature of the hot reservoir

Here temperature of the steam is T_H = 498°C = 771.15 K

temperature of the cooling water is T_c = 27°C = 300.15

Efficiency of the steam turbine is given by

= 1 - ( 300.15 / 771.15 )

= 1 - 0.389

= 0.611

Percentage of efficiency is % = 0.611 * 100 = 61.1 %

So the percentage efficiency of the steam turbine is 61.1 %