Re: recuperator == heat exchanger
All of these thermal power cycles are theoretically 100% efficient, i
No they're not. All heat engines are have an upper efficiency limit of (derived from second law of thermodynamics)
log(Tout/Tin)
where Tin is the input temperature and Tout is the output temperature, both in absolute units.
this is why power stations need cooling towers: to reduce Tout and thus give a big ration (Tin tends to be limited by available materials: superheated liquids tend to be highly corrosive).
Biting the hand that feeds IT
