Increasing the temperature of feed water by 10 degrees Fahrenheit results in what percentage increase in plant efficiency?

Increasing the temperature of feed water contributes positively to the overall efficiency of a steam plant primarily because it reduces the amount of fuel needed to reach the required steam temperature and pressure. When feed water is preheated, the amount of energy required to convert it to steam is diminished, leading to a reduction in fuel consumption and associated costs.

The typical efficiency gain from a modest increase in feed water temperature, such as 10 degrees Fahrenheit, is often estimated at around 1%. This level of improvement can be particularly significant in large-scale operations where even minor enhancements in efficiency can lead to substantial economic benefits due to the scale of fuel consumption involved.

In practical terms, although other factors could influence plant efficiency, the established understanding in thermodynamics and engineering principles suggests that a rise in feed water temperature typically results in about a 1% efficiency increase under normal operational conditions.