Calculate maximum possible thermal efficiency and actual efficiency of a nuclear power plant.
A nuclear power plant generates 2000 MW of heat energy from nuclear reactions in the reactor's core. This energy is used to boil water and produce high-pressure steam at 300 C. The steam spins a turbine, which produces 700 MW of electric power, then the steam is condensed and the water is cooled to 3 0C before starting the cycle again.
1. What is the maximum likely thermal efficiency of the power plant?
2. What is the plant's actual efficiency.