In: Mechanical Engineering
A power plant operates on a regenerative vapor power cycle with one open feedwater heater. Steam enters the first turbine stage at 12 MPa, 560°C and expands to 1 MPa, where some of the steam is extracted and diverted to the open feedwater heater operating at 1 MPa. The remaining steam expands through the second turbine stage to the condenser pressure of 28 kPa. Saturated liquid exits the open feedwater heater at 1 MPa. The net power output for the cycle is 330 MW. Assume that both turbine stages and both pumps have an isentropic efficiency of 75%.
Determine:
(a) the percent cycle thermal efficiency.
(b) the mass flow rate into the first turbine stage, in kg/s.
(c) the rate of entropy production in the open feedwater heater, in kW/K.