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Nuclear Power Plant

To operate a 500 MW-electrical nuclear power plant continuously for 6 years at a 75% capacity factor and 35% thermal efficiency requires 5,179.05 pounds of U-235. When a U-235 nucleus fissions, about 1.13x10-3 of its mass is converted to energy.

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Evander M. Tolentino
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3K views3 pages

Nuclear Power Plant

To operate a 500 MW-electrical nuclear power plant continuously for 6 years at a 75% capacity factor and 35% thermal efficiency requires 5,179.05 pounds of U-235. When a U-235 nucleus fissions, about 1.13x10-3 of its mass is converted to energy.

Uploaded by

Evander M. Tolentino
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sample Problem

A nuclear power plant is to have a capacity of 500 MW-electrical. How many pounds of 𝑈 235 are needed
to operate the plant continuously for 6 years if the plant capacity factor is 75% and thermal efficiency is
35%.

Number of atoms per gram of 𝑈 235:


(1𝑔)(𝐴𝑣𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑜′ 𝑠 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟)
= 𝐴𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

(1𝑔)(6.03 𝑥 1023 )
= 235

=2.57 x 1021

Note: One watt will fission 3.1 x 1010 atoms or 2.68 x 1015 atoms/day
2.57 x 1021
Energy release = 2.68 x 1015

=0.958955 x 106 watts

=1 MW

Therefore; 1 MW-day thermal energy is generated by fissioning 1 g of 𝑈 235 . Hence, 1MWD electrical will
need 2.86 grams of 𝑈 235.

Lbs 𝑈 235 for 6 years:

= 500 (0.75)[6(365)](2.86)

=2,348,775 grams

=5,179.05 lbs
When a 𝑈 235 nucleus fissions, about 250 Mev of energy are released. What fraction of the weight of the
nucleus is thereby converted into energy?

In a 𝑈 235 nucleus:

P = 92 protons

N = 235-92

=143 neutrons

Mass of proton = 1.00759 x 92

=97.70 amu

Mass of neutron = 1.00898 x 143

=144.28 amu

Mass of 𝑈 235 nucleus = 236.98 amu

=236.98 (1.66 x 10−24)

=3.93 x 10−22

From:

E = 𝑚𝑐 2

250 x 1.6 x 10−6 = m ( 9 x 1020)

m= 4.44 x 10−25 g

then;
4.44 x 10−25
Fraction = 3.93 x 10−22

=0.00113

Thus;

Fraction = 1.13 x 10−3


E = 𝑚𝑐 2

Where

E = energy

M = mass

C = speed of light in vacuum

= 3 x 108 m/s

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