A nuclear power plant has a power output of 1000 MW and operates with an efficiency of 33%. If excess energy is carried away from the plant by a river with a flow rate of 1.0 106 kg/s, what is the rise in temperature of the flowing water?
-
So, you've got 2000 MW of energy going into the river. The river is flowing at 1,000,000 kg/s. Determine the energy output of the plant in MW per second (2000/3600). Determine the heat capacity of the water per second (4200 Joules/kg/°C). Calculate how much temperature the water will increase for each second and you have your answer.