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Date	November 2016	Marks available	3	Reference code	16N.3.SL.TZ0.10
Level	Standard level	Paper	Paper 3	Time zone	0 - no time zone
Command term	Discuss	Question number	10	Adapted from	N/A

Question

An ideal nuclear power plant can be modelled as a heat engine that operates between a hot temperature of 612°C and a cold temperature of 349°C.

Calculate the Carnot efficiency of the nuclear power plant.

[2]

a.

Explain, with a reason, why a real nuclear power plant operating between the stated temperatures cannot reach the efficiency calculated in (a).

[2]

b.

The nuclear power plant works at 71.0% of the Carnot efficiency. The power produced is 1.33 GW. Calculate how much waste thermal energy is released per hour.

[3]

c.

Discuss the production of waste heat by the power plant with reference to the first law and the second law of thermodynamics.

[3]

d.

Markscheme

correct conversion to K «622 K cold, 885 K hot»

${\eta _{{\rm{Carnot}}}} = 1 - \frac{{{T_{{\rm{cold}}}}}}{{{T_{{\rm{hot}}}}}} = 1 - \frac{{622}}{{885}} = 0.297$ or 29.7%

Award [1 max] if temperatures are not converted to K, giving result 0.430.

a.

the Carnot efficiency is the maximum possible

the Carnot cycle is theoretical/reversible/impossible/infinitely slow

energy losses to surroundings «friction, electrical losses, heat losses, sound energy»

OWTTE

b.

0.71 × 0.297 = 0.211

Allow solution utilizing wasted power «78.9%».

1.33/0.211 × 0.789 = 4.97 «GW»

4.97 GW × 3600 = 1.79 × 10¹³ «J»

Award [2 max] if 71% used as the overall efficiency giving an answer of 1.96 × 10¹² J.

Award [3] for bald correct answer.

Watch for ECF from (a).

c.

Law 1: net thermal energy flow is Q_IN–Q_OUT

Q_OUT refers to “waste heat”

Law 1: Q_IN–Q_OUT = ∆Q=∆W as ∆U is zero

Law 2: does not forbid Q_OUT=0

Law 2: no power plant can cover 100% of Q_IN into work

Law 2: total entropy must increase so some Q must enter surroundings

OWTTE

d.

Examiners report

[N/A]

a.

[N/A]

b.

[N/A]

c.

[N/A]

d.

Syllabus sections

Option B: Engineering physics » Option B: Engineering physics (Core topics) » B.2 – Thermodynamics

Show 52 related questions

17N.3.SL.TZ0.8b: Using the axes, sketch the three-step cycle.
18M.3.SL.TZ1.7c.i:
Explain, without any calculation, why the pressure after this change would belower if the process was isothermal.
16N.3.SL.TZ0.10c:
The nuclear power plant works at 71.0% of the Carnot efficiency. The power produced is 1.33 GW. Calculate how much waste thermal energy is released per hour.
17M.3.SL.TZ2.7a.i:
Justify why the thermal energy supplied during the expansion AB is 416 J.
17N.3.SL.TZ0.8c:
The initial temperature of the gas is 290 K. Calculate the temperature of the gas at the start of the adiabatic expansion.
17M.3.SL.TZ2.7a.iii:
Show that the thermal energy removed from the gas for the change BC is approximately 330 J.
18M.3.SL.TZ2.7d.i:
Sketch, on the pV diagram, the complete cycle of changes for the gas, labelling the changes clearly. The expansion shown in (a) and (b) is drawn for you.
16N.3.SL.TZ0.10a:
Calculate the Carnot efficiency of the nuclear power plant.
17N.3.SL.TZ0.10c:
The final image of the Moon is observed through the eyepiece. The focal length of the eyepiece is 5.0 cm. Calculate the magnification of the telescope.
18M.3.SL.TZ1.7a:
Show that the pressure at B is about 5 × 10⁵ Pa.
17M.3.SL.TZ1.6a:
State what is meant by an adiabatic process.
17M.3.SL.TZ1.6b:
Identify the two isothermal processes.
19M.3.SL.TZ2.10bi:
Calculate the change in internal energy of the gas for the process A→B.
18N.3.SL.TZ0.7c.ii:
State, without calculation, during which change (A → B, B → C or C → A) the entropy of the gas decreases.
18N.3.SL.TZ0.7c.i:
The work done by the gas from A → B is 288 J. Calculate the efficiency of the cycle.
18N.3.SL.TZ0.7a.ii:
Show that at C the temperature is 254 K.
18M.3.SL.TZ2.7a:
Show that the final volume of the gas is about 53 m³.
18N.3.SL.TZ0.7a.i:
Show that at C the pressure is 1.00 × 10⁶Pa.
18M.3.SL.TZ2.7c:
Determine the thermal energy which enters the gas during this expansion.
16N.3.SL.TZ0.10b:
Explain, with a reason, why a real nuclear power plant operating between the stated temperatures cannot reach the efficiency calculated in (a).
17M.3.SL.TZ1.6e:
State a reason why a Carnot cycle is of little use for a practical heat engine.
19N.3.SL.TZ0.6b(iii): state and explain whether the second law of thermodynamics is violated.
18M.3.SL.TZ1.7b.ii:
For the process BC, calculate, in J, the change in the internal energy of the gas.
19N.3.SL.TZ0.6b(i):
determine the thermal energy removed from the system.
18M.3.SL.TZ1.7b.i:
For the process BC, calculate, in J, the work done by the gas.
18M.3.SL.TZ1.7c.ii:
Determine, without any calculation, whether the net work done by the engine during one full cycle would increase or decrease.
18M.3.SL.TZ2.7d.ii:
Outline the change in entropy of the gas during the cooling at constant volume.
18N.3.SL.TZ0.7b:
Show that the thermal energy transferred from the gas during the change B → C is 238 J.
19N.3.SL.TZ0.6a(ii):
Calculate the ratio $\frac{V_{A}}{V_{C}}$ .
17M.3.SL.TZ1.6c.ii:
The volume at B is 2.30 × 10^–3 $\,$ m³. Determine the pressure at B.
17N.3.SL.TZ0.8d:
Using your sketched graph in (b), identify the feature that shows that net work is done by the gas in this three-step cycle.
18M.3.SL.TZ2.7e:
There are various equivalent versions of the second law of thermodynamics. Outline the benefit gained by having alternative forms of a law.
18M.3.SL.TZ1.7d:
Outline why an efficiency calculation is important for an engineer designing a heat engine.
18M.3.SL.TZ2.7b:
Calculate, in J, the work done by the gas during this expansion.
18M.3.SL.TZ1.7b.iii:
For the process BC, calculate, in J, the thermal energy transferred to the gas.
17M.3.SL.TZ2.7a.ii:
Show that the temperature of the gas at C is 386 K.
20N.3.SL.TZ0.9b(i):
Calculate the pressure following this process.
20N.3.SL.TZ0.9a(i):
Calculate the work done during the compression.
20N.3.SL.TZ0.9a(ii):
Calculate the work done during the increase in pressure.
20N.3.SL.TZ0.9b(ii): Outline how an approximate adiabatic change can be achieved.
17M.3.SL.TZ1.6d.ii:
The volume at C is 2.90 × 10^–3 $\,$ m³. Calculate the temperature at C.
17N.3.SL.TZ0.8a:
Show that the volume of the gas at the end of the adiabatic expansion is approximately 5.3 x 10^–3 m³.
19N.3.SL.TZ0.6b(ii):
explain why the entropy of the gas decreases.
17M.3.SL.TZ1.6d.i:
Show that ${P_B}V_B^{\frac{5}{3}} = nR{T_C}V_C^{\frac{2}{3}}$
19N.3.SL.TZ0.6a(i):
Show that the pressure at B is about 130 kPa.
19M.3.SL.TZ2.10bii: Calculate the temperature at A if the temperature at B is −40°C.
19M.3.SL.TZ2.10c: Determine, using the first law of thermodynamics, the total thermal energy transferred to the...
19M.3.SL.TZ2.10d: Suggest why this cycle is not a suitable model for a working heat pump.
17M.3.SL.TZ2.7a.iv:
Determine the efficiency of the heat engine.
17M.3.SL.TZ1.6c.i:
Determine the temperature of the gas at A.
17M.3.SL.TZ2.7b:
State and explain at which point in the cycle ABCA the entropy of the gas is the largest.
19M.3.SL.TZ2.10a:
Show that the work done on the gas for the isothermal process C→A is approximately 440 J.

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Option B: Engineering physics » Option B: Engineering physics (Core topics)

Option B: Engineering physics