Whitney

Ellenberger

Homework #3

Due 10/01/2012

Problem 1
Introduction: Using Example 3.4 from the text, consider the heat generation rate.
Calculate the total power generation in the thermal shield if it is 4.0 m high. How
would this total power change if the thickness of the shield is increased from 12.7
cm to 15 cm?

Assumptions: Uniform axial power profile

Analysis Approach: Cylindrical Approximation

Calculations and Results:
1. Calculate the total power generation in the thermal shield if it is 4.0 m high.
Start with Equation 3.57,
!!!! = ! ! ! !!"
Then integrate over the thickness to get !!! .
!!! = !!!! =

!".!

! ! ! !!" = ! ! !

!".!

!!"

1 !!" !".!
!!
! = ! ! !

!
Use the values given for S, B, ! , and E0.

1
!!! = 110!"
4.2120.182 !! 2
!!.!!!!".!!"
!

0.333

= 4.5410!"

!
To find , multiply by the area. Where area is defined as,
= 2 = 2

120.6 + 133.3
400 = 3.1910! !
2

3.1910! ! = 1.4510!"
!

= 23.19

! = !!! = 4.5410!"
From the text,

!"!!! = !,!" !"#$ = 0.7610!"

!
To find , multiply by the volume. Where the volume is defined as,
= ! !! = ( 133.3 ! 120.6 ! )(400 ) = 4.0510! !
!!!
!"
= !,!" !"#$ = 0.2610!"

4.0510! ! = 1.05410!"
= 0.17
!

!" = 0.7610!"
4.0510! ! = 3.0810!"
= 0.49
!

!"!#$ = ! + !" + !" = 23.19294 + 0.168795 + 0.493401

!" = 0.2610!"

!"!#$ = 23.85

Whitney Ellenberger

Homework #3

Due 10/01/2012

2. How would this total power change if the thickness of the shield is increased
from 12.7 cm to 15 cm?
Follow same steps as above with x=15cm and ro=135.6cm.
!!!

!!!!

!"

=
!

! ! !

!!"

!"

= ! ! !

1
!!! = ! ! ! !!"

!"

!!"

1
4.2120.182 !! 2
!!.!!!!"!"
!

0.333

= 4.5710!"

!

!!! = 110!"

= 2 = 2

120.6 + 135.6
400 = 3.2210! !
2

3.2210! ! = 1.4710!"
!

= 23.59

! = !!! = 4.5710!"

!"!!! = !,!" !"#$ = 0.7610!"

!
!
!
!
!
= ! = ( 135.6 120.6 )(400 ) = 4.8310! !
!!!
!"
= !,!" !"#$ = 0.2610!"

4.8310! ! = 1.2610!"
= 0.20
!

!" = 0.7610!"
4.8310! ! = 3.6710!"
= 0.59
!

!"!#$ = ! + !" + !" = 23.59 + 0.20 + 0.59

!" = 0.2610!"

!"!#$ = 24.37

Discussion of the Results: This shows that the overall generated power is dependent
on the thickness of the shield.

Conclusions: The total power generated is found by calculating generation by
gammas, elastic scattering and inelastic scattering at the certain thickness.

Whitney Ellenberger

Homework #3

Due 10/01/2012

Problem 2
Introduction: Using Equation 3.70c, evaluate the energy generated in a 3000 MWth
PWR after the reactor shuts down. The reactor operated for 1 year at 75% of the
total power. Consider the following time periods after shutdown: 1 h, 1 day, 1
month. How would your answers be different if you had used Equation 3.71?

Assumptions: 30 days in a month, 365 days in a year

Analysis Approach: Equation 3.70c is being used to calculate power.

Calculations and Results:
1. Evaluate the energy generated after shutdown at each of the following times:
!!

=
Plug in equation 3.70c.
=

!
!!
!

! !

0.066! !!!.! ! + !

!!.!

Now taking out constants and separating into two integrals gives you
= 0.066!

!!

!!!.!

!!

! + !

!!.!

!
!

= 0.066! 1.25! !.!

1.25(! + ! )!.! |!!

= 0.066! 1.25! !.!
1.25 ! + ! !.! + 1.25!!.!

Where ! = 0.75! = 0.75300010! = 2.2510! and ! = 3.15410! s.

a. 1 hour ! = 3600

= 0.0662.2510! 1.253600!.!
1.25 3600 + 3.15410!

!.!

+ 1.25(3.15410! )!.!

= 0.0662.2510! 1.2586400!.!
1.25 86400 + 3.15410!

= 1.2510!" = 1.25

!.!

+ 1.25(3.15410! )!.!

!!

= 1.1310 = 0.113
b. 1 day ! = 86400
c. 1 month ! = 2592000

= 0.0662.2510! 1.252592000!.!
1.25 2592000 + 3.15410!

= 1.3010!" = 13.0

!.!

+ 1.25(3.15410! )!.!

2. How would this change if you used Eq. 3.71?

The energy would be higher because it includes decay heat of the actinides
and the fission products

Discussion of Results: While using the 3-71 equation will produce more accurate
results due to the fact that it includes the decay heat of the actinides, it will only be
on the order of a few percent. Therefore, equation 3-70c will produce fairly accurate
answer with less work.

Conclusions: Equation 3.70c was integrated over ts and then evaluate at different
shutdown times. Lastly, it was determined that Equation 3.71 would produce higher
results.