A nuclear power plant has the following name plate information: electric power generation capacity 1.1 GWe, with thermal to electrical conversion efficiency of 33.33%. The reactor core consists of 110 metric tons of 100% pure UO2. The uranium in UO2 is enriched in 235U to 5% and the rest is 238U. Typically, in a nuclear power plant a single fission releases 200 MeV of thermal energy. Note that 1 eV = 1.6 X 10-19 J.
Now answer the following questions:
How much thermal power (GW) is needed to produce the rated electric power? (Points 3) (i) 1.3 (ii) 2.3 (iii) 3.3 (iv) 4.3 (v) 5.3
What is the rate of fission (fissions/sec, approx.) reaction necessary to produce this power? (Points 3) (i) 10^5 (ii) (ii) 10^10 (iii) 10^15 (iv) 10^20 (v) 10^25
How much is the molecular weight of fuel (g/mole, approx..). (Points 3) (i) 32 (ii) 235 (iii) 238 (iv) 270 (v) 300
What is the number of 235U moles (approx.) in the fuel/core. (Points 3) Ans. (i) 10382 (ii) 15382 (iii) 20382 (iv) 25382 (v) 30382