Converting sunlight to electricity with solar cells has an efficiency of 15%. It's possible to achieve a higher efficiency (though currently at higher cost) by using concentrated sunlight as the hot reservoir of a heat engine. Each dish in (Figure 1) concentrates sunlight on one side of a heat engine, producing a hot-reservoir temperature of 560 ∘C. The cold reservoir, ambient air, is approximately 30 ∘C. The actual working efficiency of this device is 30%. What is the theoretical maximum efficiency?

Converting sunlight to electricity with solar cells has an efficiency of 15%. It's possible to achieve a higher efficiency (though currently at higher cost) by using concentrated sunlight as the hot reservoir of a heat engine. Each dish in (Figure 1) concentrates sunlight on one side of a heat engine, producing a hot-reservoir temperature of 560 ∘C. The cold reservoir, ambient air, is approximately 30 ∘C. The actual working efficiency of this device is 30%. What is the theoretical maximum efficiency?

College Physics

1st Edition

ISBN:9781938168000

Author:Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs

Publisher:Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs

Chapter15: Thermodynamics

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 8PE: (a) How long will the energy in a 1470kJ (350kcal) cup of yogurt last in a woman doing work at the...

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Converting sunlight to electricity with solar cells has an efficiency of ≈15,. It’s possible to achieve a higher efficiency (though currently at higher cost) by using concentrated sunlight as the hot reservoir of a heat engine. Each dish as shown concentrates sunlight on one side of a heat engine, producing a hotreservoir temperature of 650°C. The cold reservoir, ambient air, is approximately 30°C. The actual working efficiency of this device is ≈30,. What is the theoretical maximum efficiency?
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