NUCLEAR POWERPLANT FORMULAS TO BE USED

TURBINE WORK:

WT = mS (h1 – h2)
Where:
mS = mass flow of steam
h1 = enthalpy entering the turbine
h2 = enthalpy leaving the turbine
v = velocity

Kinetic Energy = 0.5 mS v2

HEAT REJECTED IN CONDENSER:

QR = mS (h2 – h3)
COOLING WATER REQUIREMENT IN THE CONDENSER:
QR = QWATER = mW cp (tF-ti)

Where:
QR = heat rejected in the condenser
QWATER = heat added to the cooling water
mW = mass flow of cooling water
cp = 4.187 KJ/ kg-k
tF = final temperature
ti = initial temperature
h3 = enthalpy leaving the condenser

VARIABLE LOAD

Reserve over peak = Plant Capacity – Peak Load

Load Factor = Average Load / Peak Load
Average Load = KWH energy / Number of hours
Capacity factor = Actual Energy Produced / Maximum Energy Produced
Annual Capacity Factor = Annual KWH / KW Plant Capacity*8760
Use Factor = Annual KWH/ KW Plant Capacity * time
Demand Factor = Actual Maximum demands / connected load
Diversity Factor = Sum of individual demands / Maximum Simultaneous Demand
Plant Factor = Average Load / Rating of Equipment Supply
Utilization Factor = Maximum Demand of System / Rated Capacity of System

Plant Efficiency = Power Output / Heat Generated by the reactor

Sample Problems:

1. A steam of 80 lbs per minute with an enthalpy of 1700 BTU/lb and velocity of 98 ft/s. it
leaves the turbine at 1400 BTU/lb at 880 ft/s. The heat loss is 90000 BTU/hr. Find the
horsepower output.
2. A steam turbine developed 2372.2 hp when its inlet condition is 1300 BTU/lb enthalpy
and 400 ft/s velocity and steam flow of 200 lb/min. The exit enthalpy is 800 BTU/lb. Find
the exit velocity.
3. An ideal Rankine cycle is used in a nuclear power plant. The power plant has a net
power output of 30MW. Water enters the heat exchanger and leaves with 5000 KJ per
kilogram. With a net efficiency of 70% and the change in enthalpy in the condenser is
400 KJ per kilogram, find the mass of cooling water required if the change in
temperature is 30 degrees celsius.
4. A nuclear power plant has a turbine generator rated at 1000 MW gross. The plant
required about 9% of this power for its internal operations. The reactor generates 5.76 x
1010 kcal and the steam generator efficiency is 86 %. What is the net station efficiency?
5. The daily energy produce in a nuclear power plant is 560000 KW-HRS. What is the daily
average load?
6. A nuclear power plant has a reserve load over peak of 5MW, load factor of 0.9 and a
capacity factor of 0.8. What is the plant capacity?
TERMS:

Chain reaction– The continuous splitting of uranium atoms. This process is controlled in the
reactor.
Cladding– The metal (a zirconium alloy) surrounding the uranium fuel, acting as a barrier
between the fuel and the water in the reactor coolant system.
Contamination– Radioactive material where it is not desired.
Control rods– Metal rods placed between the fuel rods to absorb neutrons and control the
fission process. When inserted into the reactor core, the reactor quickly shuts down.
Control Room– The center from which the nuclear plant is operated, monitored and controlled.
Operators licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission are on duty at all times.

Core– The central part of a nuclear reactor containing the fuel assemblies.

Decontamination– The removal of radioactive material.

Emergency Core Cooling System– An important back-up safety system for a nuclear power
plant. It provides cooling water for the reactor if the primary cooling system is not operating.

Fission– The splitting of an atom into two or more new atoms. When a uranium atom splits in
the reactor, two new atoms, neutrons and heat are produced.

Fuel rod– A cylindrical rod, 12 feet long, containing uranium fuel pellets.

Millirem (mrem) – Unit used to measure radiation dosage (1/1000 of a REM). REM stands for
Roentgen Equivalent Man, a measure of radiation that indicates potential impact on the human
body.

Primary Coolant– Water which passes through the reactor vessel, picking up heat from the
nuclear fuel.

Radioactivity– The property possessed by some elements which enables them to give off
energy in the form of particles or waves.

Reactor– The large steel vessel in a nuclear power plant containing fuel assemblies, primary
coolant and other equipment. The fissioning, or splitting, of atoms is controlled within the
reactor.

Recovery– Process of reducing environmental radiation to normally acceptable levels following

a nuclear emergency.

Shielding– Comprises the various materials within a nuclear power plant preventing radiation
from escaping into the environment. Shielding can be steel, lead, concrete or water.