Question

A typical nuclear fission power plant produces about 1.00 GW of electrical power. Assume the plant has an overall efficiency of 45.0% and each fission produces 250 MeV of thermal energy. Calculate the mass of 235U consumed each day.

Answer 1

Answer:

mass consumed by 235U each day = 2 kg

Explanation:

electrical power produced = 1 GW = 1 × 10⁹ × (6.24151 × 10¹⁸ ) eV

                                            = 6.24151× 10²¹ MeV/s

thermal energy =  0.420 * 250 = 105 MeV

$\dfrac{1 GW}{150 MeV}= \dfrac{6.24151\times 10^{21}}{105}$

                                      = 5.94 × 10¹⁹ fission/second

                                       =5.94 × 10¹⁹× 24 × 60 ×60)

                                      =  5.13 × 10²⁴ fission/day

mu = 235.04393 ×  1.660× 10 ⁻²⁷ = 390.1729× 10⁻²⁷ Kg

M = mu ×5.13 × 10²⁴

   = 390.1729× 10⁻²⁷ ×5.13 × 10²⁴

M   =  2 kg(approx.)

mass consumed by 235U each day = 2 kg