Q. 6

Expert-verified
Found in: Page 594

### Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics

Book edition 4th
Author(s) Randall D. Knight
Pages 1240 pages
ISBN 9780133942651

# A -efficient electric power plant produces of electric power and discharges waste heat into ocean water. Suppose the waste heat could be used to heat homes during the winter instead of being discharged into the ocean. A typical American house requires an average of for heating. How many homes could be heated with the waste heat of this one power plant?

The waste heat of this one power plant will heat up homes.

See the step by step solution

## Step 1: Definition of efficiency of electric power plant

Efficiency of a power plant is the ratio of output power to input power . To calculate waste , output power will be subtracted from input power .

efficiency =

wasted power = input power - output power .

## Step 2: Calculation of wasted power

The of electric power generated represents of the energy taken from the fuel.

input power =

Waste = input power - output power = 2812.5 MW - 900 MW

= 1912.5 MW.

This is distributed equally to each home , with each home taking a share of 20 kW .

Then their maximal number n would be such that

Therefore, substituting numerically the expression for the cooling power and the power used by each home, we have

## Step 3: Expression of cooling power

With power used by each home ,we can have homes