Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 19 - Heat Engines and Refrigerators - Exercises and Problems - Page 551: 34

Answer

$2.8\;\rm kW$

Work Step by Step

We know that electric power is given by $$P=\dfrac{W_{in}}{\Delta t}\tag 1$$ And we know that the coefficient of performance for a Carnot refrigerator is given by $$K_{\rm carnot}=\dfrac{T_C}{T_H-T_C}=\dfrac{Q_C}{W_{in}}$$ Hence, $$W_{in}=\dfrac{Q_C}{K_{\rm carnot}}$$ $$W_{in}=\dfrac{Q_C(T_H-T_C)}{T_C}\tag 2$$ where $Q_C$ is the heat transferred from the cold reservoir to the system which is given by $$\dfrac{Q_C}{\Delta t}=\dfrac{kA\Delta T}{x}$$ where $Q_C/\Delta t$ is the rate of heat transfer, $k$ is the thermal conductivity of stainless steel, $A$ is the area of the steel plate, $ x$ is the thickness of the steel plate, $T_2$ is the temperature inside the box ($-20^{\circ} \rm{C}$), and $T_1$ is the temperature of the room ($25^{\circ} \rm{C}$). Thus, $$ Q_C =\dfrac{kA(T_R-T_C)}{x}\Delta t$$ where $T_R$ is the room temperature. Plugging into (2); $$W_{in}=\dfrac{kA(T_R-T_C)}{x} \dfrac{ (T_H-T_C)}{T_C} \Delta t$$ Plugging into (1); $$W_{in}=\dfrac{kA(T_R-T_C)}{x} \dfrac{ (T_H-T_C)}{T_C} \Delta t$$ $$P=\dfrac{kA(T_R-T_C)}{x} \dfrac{ (T_H-T_C)}{T_C} \color{red}{\bf\not}\Delta t\dfrac{ 1}{ \color{red}{\bf\not}\Delta t}$$ Plugging the known; $$P=\dfrac{(14)(0.4\times 0.4)(25-[-20])}{0.01}\cdot \dfrac{ (50-[-20])}{(-20+273)} $$ $$P=\color{red}{\bf 2.8\times 10^3}\;\rm W$$
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