PAKISTAN INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES

INTRODUCTION TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PROBLEM SET NO:2

Q-1: In a LWR, the specific energy yield of the nuclear fuel is approximately 3x10 4 MWD/Ton of uranium prior
to its discharge from the reactor. What fraction of fuel atoms has been fissioned in the discharge fuel?

Given: Required:

Specific burn-up of LWR: 30,000 MWD/Ton fraction fissioned in the discharged fuel

SOLUTION:
Energy by 1 Ton of fuel = 30,000 x MJ/s x (24 x 60 x 60)s = 2.592 x 109 MJ = [ 2.592 x 109 / 1.6 x 10-19 ] MeV = 1.62 x 1028 MeV
Thus number of fission occurred in one Ton of fuel = [1.62 x 1028 / 200 ] = 8.1 x 1025

Initial number of fuel atoms in One Ton of fuel: [6.02 x 1023 / 235] x 1000,000 = 2.56 x 1027

Fraction of fuel atoms that have been fissioned in the discharge fuel = 8.1 x 1025 / 2.56 x 1027 = 0.03162 or 3.162 %

Q-2: A fresh fuel assembly in a PWR contains 400 kg of 3.6% enriched uranium, while its burn-up at discharge
is 40 MWD/kg. During its residence in the reactor core, about one-third of the energy is produced due to
fissions in the generated plutonium. Estimate the U-235 mass in the discharge fuel assembly?

Given: Required:

1. Mass of fresh fuel assembly: 400 kg U-235 mass in discharged fuel assembly

2. Burn-up at discharge: 40 MWD/kg

3. Generated Plutonium Share: 1/3 rd

4. U-235 Enrichment:3.6 %

SOLUTION:

Energy by 1 kg of fuel assembly = 40 x (24 x 60 x 60) = 3..456 x 10 6 MJ = [3..456 x 106 / 1.6 x 10-19] MeV = 2.16 x 1025 MeV
Number of fission occurred in one kg of fuel assembly = [2.16 x 1025 / 200 ] = 1.08 x 1023
Thus number of fission occurred in whole fuel assembly = [1.08 x 1023 x 400 ] = 4.32 x 1025

2/3rd Share of U-235 in these fissions = 4.32 x 1025 x 2/3 = 2.88 x 1025
Now using Avogadro’s Hypothesis:
6.02 x 1023 atoms of U-235 have a mass = 235 g
23
2.43 x 1026 U-235 atoms have a mass = [235 / 6.02 x 10 ] x 2.88 x 1025 = 11243 g = 11.243 kg.

Initial amount of U-235 in the fuel assembly = 400 x 3.6/100 = 14.4 kg

Thus the mass of U-235 left in the discharged fuel assembly : 14.400 – 11.243 = 3.157 kg.

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Q-6: The average power produced by a fuel assembly while it is in the core of a PWR is 15 MW, of which 30%
is produced due to fissions in the generated plutonium. It is discharged after residing in the core for
three years, when the fraction of U-235 in it has decreased to 0.9. If the total mass of uranium in which
fresh fuel assembly was 380 kg, what was its initial enrichment level?

Given: Required:

1. Average power produced: 15 MW Fresh fuel enrichment:?

2. Final enrichment:0.9 %

3. Residence time in core till discharge: 3 years

4. Generated Plutonium Share : 30%

5. Mass of fresh fuel element 380 kg

SOLUTION:

Total energy released in three years from the fuel assembly = 15 x MJ/s x (3 x 365 x 24 x 60 x 60)s x e / 1.6x10 -19

= 8.8695x1027 MeV

Number of fissile atoms consumed in three years from the fuel assembly = (8.8695x1027)/200 = 4.4348x1025

Number of U-235 atoms consumed in three years from the fuel assembly = 70/100 x 4.4348x1025= 3.104x1025

Mass of U-235 atoms consumed in three years from the fuel assembly =(235 / 6.02 x 1023) x 3.104x1025 =12118 g

Mass of U-235 atoms remained in the discharged fuel assembly =380000 x .9/100 = 3420 g

Net mass of U-235 present initially = 12118 + 3420 = 15538g

Initial enrichment = 15.538 / 380 x 100 =4.09%

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