Aparticular power plant operates with a heat-source reservoir at 350 oc and a heat-sink reservoir at 30oc. it has a thermal efficiency equal to 55% of the carnot-engine thermal efficiency for the same temperatures

(a). what is the thermal efficiency of the plant?
(b). to what temperature must the heat-source reservoir be raised to increase the thermal efficiency of the plant to 35%?

An external consultant recommends that a plant installs a bank of capacitors for power factor correction. this will reduce the peak electrical demand charges by an average of 93 kw every month. the plant current pays $13 per kw in peak demand charges. the capacitor bank will include 223 kw of fixed capacitors, and 183 of variable capacitors. the fixed capacitors cost $59 per kw, and the variable capacitors will cost $65 per kw. the consultant charges 21% of the equipment costs to install the capacitors. because this project will reduce the demand for the electric utility, they are prepared to provide a one-time rebate of $42 per kw of reduced demand. what is the simple payback period for this project (in years)?