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    Nuclear Power Plant

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    Evander M. Tolentino
    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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    Nuclear Power Plant

    Uploaded by

    Evander M. Tolentino
    941 views3 pages
    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.

    Original Description:

    Nuclear Power Plant - P.I.P.E

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    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.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    941 views3 pages

    Nuclear Power Plant

    Uploaded by

    Evander M. Tolentino
    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.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    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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