Heat Rate Waste Heat to
(millions nt Cooling Water
of J/KWH) (millions of J/KWH)
1930 20.89 17.24 14.16
1940 17.30 20.81 11.11
1950 14.80 24.33 8.98
1960 11.35 31.72 6.05
1962 11.14 32.33 5.87
1964 11.04 32.62 5.78
1966 10.99 32.77 5.74
Best fossil-fuel plants operate at about 40% (considered to be about limit). Nuclear plants presently do not exceed 33% (metal strength).
Heat wasted to cooling water is less than the "waste heat" portion of the efficiency equation because of in-plant and stack losses. these losses estimated as 15% of thermal input. Therefore, for fossil-fuel plants,
Heat to cooling water (J/KWH) = 0.85 * (Heat Rate) - 3.6 *10-6
For nuclear plants, in-plant losses are about 5%.
Heat to cooling water (J/KWH) = 0.95 * (Heat Rate) - 3.6 *10-6
Comparison of waste heat for the two types.
fossil-fuel plant, nt = 40%
nuclear plants, nt =33%
Thus, advent of nuclear plants may increase by over 60% the amount of heat rejected to to cooling water per KWH.
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