PAKISTAN INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES

INTRODUCTION TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PROBLEM SET NO:1

Q-1: In a nuclear explosion with an energy yield of 20kT of TNT equivalent, (a) estimate the mass of uranium
actually fissioned. (b) Assuming that the number of neutrons in each succeeding generation is doubled
during a fission chain reaction in the nuclear device, and the time interval between two successive
generations is about 10-8 seconds, in how much time will a sufficient number of fissions take place to yield
the energy for the explosion?

Given: Required:

1. Yield of Weapon: 20 kT of TNT. 1. Mass of U-235 actually fissioned

2. Neutron population after each generation: doubled 2. Time to yield energy of explosion

3. Time interval b/w two successive generation: 10-8 seconds

SOLUTION:
a) MASS OF U-235 ACTUALLY FISSIONED

1 kT of TNT = 2.6 x 1025 MeV= 4.16 x 1012 Joules.

Using unitary method:
200 MeV of energy corresponds to fission of = 1 U-235 atom.
2.6 x 1025 MeV of energy corresponds to fission of = [ 1/200 x 2.6 x 1025 ]= 1.3 x 1023 U-235 atoms.
25 23
20 kT of TNT equivalent (20 x 2.6 x 10 MeV) corresponds to fission of = 20 x 1.3 x 10 U-235 atoms.
24
= 2.6 x 10 U-235 atoms.
Now using Avogadro’s Hypothesis:
6.02 x 1023 atoms of U-235 have a mass = 235 g
23
2.6 x 10 U-235 atoms have a mass = [235 / 6.02 x 1023] x 2.6 x 1024 = 1015 g = 1.015 kg.

b) TIME REQUIRED TO PRODUCE THE ENERGY OF EXPLOSION

We know that the neutron multiplication is given by the relation:

N(t) = N(0) exp[ (t x kex)/L]

Where N(t) is neutron population in time ‘t’ seconds, N(0) is original number of neutrons, kex is excess reactivity and
‘L’ is the generation life time. Using this relation for a single generation first to determine the k ex and then using the
same relation starting from a single neutron to total number of neutron finally produced till explosion.

Since it is given that neutrons are doubled in each generation therefore for first generation we may apply the formula:

(2) = (1) exp[ (L x kex)/L]  ln (2) = kex

As calculated in part(a) the total number of atoms formed till explosion will be 5.2 x 10 24 , applying the formula again
(5.2 x 1024) = (1) exp[ (t x kex)/L]  ln (5.2 x 1024) = t x ln2 / 10-8
 t = [ ln (5.2 x 1024) / ln2 ] x 10-8 = 82.1 x 10-8 seconds or 0.82 s

(i) of v
Q-4: A reactor produces heat at the rate of 3300 MW th (a) How many atoms of U-235 undergo fission per
second? (b) If the fuel in the core contains 2600 kg of U-235, what fraction of the fissile material has been
used up in 30 days of operation? (c) If the energy content of 1 metric ton of coal is approximately 25x10 8
BTU, how much fuel would be required in the same time by an equivalent coal-fired plant? (d) If the
coolant having a specific heat of 6.28 kj/kg-K enters the core at 626oF and leaves at 698 oF, what would be
the coolant circulation rate in kg/s?

Given: Required:

1. Reactor Power Rating: 3300 MWth. i) U-235 atoms consumed per second

2. U-235 mass contained by the core: 2600 kg ii) U-235 fraction consumed / 30 days

3. Days of operation:: 30 iii) Equivalent Coal required / 30 days

4. Energy Content of Coal: 25x106 BTU/Ton (1BTU= 6.586x10 15

MeV) iv) Coolant Circulation Rate in kg/s

5. Coolant Specific Heat: 6.28 kj/(kg.K)

6. Coolant inlet Temperature: 626oF ( 330oC)

7. Coolant outlet Temperature: 698oF (370oC)

SOLUTION:
a) ATOMS OF U-235 UNDERGOING FISSION PER SECOND

3300 MWth means: 3300 x 106 x J/s = 3300 x 106 x eV / 1.6 x 10-19 = 2.0625 x 1022 MeV / s
Thus in one second number of fission will be occurring in = [ 2.0625 x 1022 / 200 ] = 1.03125 x 1020 U-235 atoms.

b) FRACTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL CONSUMED IN 30 DAYS

If in one second number of fission will be occurring in = 1.03125 x 1020 U-235 atoms.
In 30 days [ 30 x 24 x 60 x 60 second] the number of fission will be occurring in = 2592000 x 1.03125 x 1020
= 2.673 x 1026 U-235 atoms.

Now using Avogadro’s Hypothesis:

6.02 x 1023 atoms of U-235 have a mass = 235 g
23
2.673 x 1026 U-235 atoms have a mass = [235 / 6.02 x 10 ] x 2.673 x 1026 = 104345 g = 104.345 kg.

Thus fraction of fissile material that has been utilized : 104.345/2600 =0.04 or 4%.

c) EQUIVALENT COAL REQUIRED FOR 30 DAYS

Total energy produced in thirty days = No. of U23 atoms fissioned x 200 = 2.673 x 1026 x 200 = 5.346 x 1028 MeV
Tons of coal required for 30 days = [ 5.346 x 1028 ] / [6.586 x 1015 x 25 x 106 ]= 324668 Tons = 0.325 million Tons.

d) COOLANT CIRCULATION RATE

Using the relation i.e. Q=mCT if Q is heat transfer rate then ‘m’ will be mass flow rate.
m= Q/CT therefore m = [3300 x 106 ] / [6.28 x 103 x ( 370 – 330)] = 1.3137 x 104 kg/s

(ii) of v