PrintLet’s look at an example of how temperature differences are used to generate power. Power plants convert chemical energy into electrical power. Here is a video overviewing the operation of a geothermal energy system, a classic thermal power generation plant.
Below are two temperature scales. The scale labeled "HOT," shows the range of temperatures for the combustion of gases in a power plant. The scale, "COLD," shows the range of temperatures at which gases are exhausted from the power plant.
Power Plant Temperatures: red indicates power plant combustion temperatures and blue indicates exhausted gas temperatures.
Instructions: Look carefully at the efficiency numbers in the body of the table. How do the Hot and Cold temperatures' effect on the efficiency.
| Hot 350°C |
Hot 400°C |
Hot 500°C |
Hot 600°C |
Hot 700°C |
Hot 800°C |
Hot 900°C |
Hot 1,000°C |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold 300°C |
8 | 15 | 26 | 34 | 41 | 47 | 51 | 55 |
| Cold 250°C |
16 | 22 | 32 | 40 | 46 | 51 | 55 | 59 |
| Cold 200°C |
24 | 30 | 39 | 46 | 51 | 56 | 60 | 63 |
| Cold 150°C |
32 | 37 | 45 | 52 | 57 | 61 | 64 | 67 |
| Cold 100°C |
40 | 45 | 52 | 57 | 62 | 65 | 68 | 71 |
Answer the following questions based on the information in the Power Plant Efficiency table above.