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

mass consumed by 235U each day = 2 kg

Step-by-step explanation:

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

= 6.24151× 10²¹ MeV/s

thermal energy = 0.420 * 250 = 105 MeV

`(1 GW)/(150 MeV)= (6.24151* 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