Question

This is a four part question that I've divided up A - D where the answer to A) was ".62 or 62% is the efficiency of the power station," and I need help with B - D; please explain each step and what equation you're using.

B) The plant, in reality, has an efficiency only half of what you just calculated (due to friction, losses, etc) Given that the power OUTPUT is 150 MW, how much coal (in tons) do they have to burn every day? (Note: the efficiency is not .5, it's 0.5 times the answer to the previous part) (Use the energy equivalent for coal given in the front flyfleaf of your text: This says: Bitumionous coal (1 ton) = 2.81 X 10^10 J = 7800 kWh = 2.66 X 10^7 Btu) Hint: This part is a little tough. The front flyleaf of your text tells you the energy content of coal. Don't forget to take the efficiency of the plant into account. Notice that the 150 MW is a power, in units of MWatt = Mega Joules/sec. But I'm asking about coal in a DAY, not in one second!)

C) A single train car might carry about 110 tons of coal. Given your answer to the previous question, how many train cars/day arrive at the Valmont power plant? (Does your answer seem reasonable?)

D) If they sell electricity at 6 cents per kWhr, how much money does the Valmont plant take in, annually? (Do not include the dollar sign)

Answer 1

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