An electric power plant manages to transfer 76% of the heat produced in the burning of fossil fuels to steam. Of the heat carried by the steam, 45 % is converted to mechanical work of the spinning turbine. Which best describes the overall efficiency of the heat-to-work conversion of the plant?

greater than 76% efficient

76% efficient

45% efficient

less than 45% efficient

Question

Physics

Lena Dodson

28 August, 12:44

An electric power plant manages to transfer 76% of the heat produced in the burning of fossil fuels to steam. Of the heat carried by the steam, 45 % is converted to mechanical work of the spinning turbine. Which best describes the overall efficiency of the heat-to-work conversion of the plant?

greater than 76% efficient

76% efficient

45% efficient

less than 45% efficient

+3

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Abagail · Answer 1

Working backwards, the work output is

(45%) of (76%) of (the heat from the fossil fuel).

That's (0.45) x (0.76) x (the heat from the fuel)

= 0.342 of the heat from the fuel.

The overall efficiency of the heat-to-work conversion

of the plant is 34.2%.

t looks like that's less than 45%.