NEM 445 Exam 1

December 11, 2007

You have 2 hours to finish the exam.

Clearly write down all the assumptions you make.
The figures and constants you would need are given.
1) (10) List the design differences between PWR and EPR plants.
2) (20) A BWR system with a one-stage moisture separation is presented below.
The thermodynamic conditions are given in the below table (assume 100%
efficiency for the turbines and pumps):
Points
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

P(psi)
1000
200
200
200
1
1
200
200
1000

Condition
Sat. Vapor
Sat.Vapor
Sat. Liquid
Sat. Liquid

a. Draw the T-s diagram for the system

b. Calculate the cycle efficiency
c. Calculate the Carnot efficiency for this cycle.
Thermodynamic Properties:
1000.0 psia: Tsat = 544.61 oF, f = 0.0216 ft3/lbm, g = 0.4456 ft3/lbm, hf = 542.4 Btu/lbm,
hg = 1191.8 Btu/lbm, sf = 0.7430 Btu/lbm oF, sg = 1.3897 Btu/lbm oF
200.0 psia: Tsat = 381.79 oF, f = 0.01873 ft3/lbm, g = 2.288 ft3/lbm, hf = 355.36 Btu/lbm,
hg = 1198.4 Btu/lbm, sf = 0.5435 Btu/lbm oF, sg = 1.5453 Btu/lbm oF

1.0 psia: Tsat = 101.74 oF, f = 0.01614 ft3/lbm, g = 333.6 ft3/lbm, hf = 69.7 Btu/lbm, hg =
1106.0 Btu/lbm, sf = 0.1326 Btu/lbm oF, sg = 1.9782 Btu/lbm oF
Constants and Reminders: Joules equivalent = 778.16 ft-lbf//Btu, gc = 32.17 lbm ft/lbf
s2, sfg = sg - sf, 1 ft = 12.0 in.

(20) Consider a BWR That has an active fuel height of 12.5 feet and contains 47000
fuel rods of 3 % enriched UO2 fuel pellets with a fuel pellet diameter of 0.413inches and a fuel rod diameter of 0.489-inches. The fuel density is 10.5 gm/cc.
The average water temperature is 554 oF and the reactor power is 3600 MWt.
Assuming that the flux distribution is that of a bare homogeneous reactor,
determine the maximum neutron flux in the core (qmax/qav=2.32/2). The 2200
m/sec fission cross-section for U235 /H lattice is 400 barns.
3) Constants and Reminders: the conversion factor used for volumetric heat
generation rate from Mev/sec-cm3 to BTU/hr-ft3 is 1.5477 x 10-8. 1 kW is 3412
Btu/hr. For U235, 1/(1 + ) is 0.851.
4) (10) A graphite moderated, helium gas cooled, reactor generates 2700 Mwt in the
core. The helium coolant mass flow rate into the core is 2.2x107 lbm/hr through
the core. The helium enters the core at 750 0F. The specific heat of helium is Cp
= 1.248 Btu/lbm- 0 F Determine the effective average fission section for the core.
(you need to make an assumption for the graphite temperature)
Constants and Reminders: The 1/V correction factor is

(0.8862).

5) (20) A PWR pellet diameter is 0.370 in. and the thicknesses of the gap and clad
are 0.002 and 0.026 in. respectively. The fuel length is 12 ft. The average linear
heat generation for the system is 5.4 kW/ft. Calculate the fuel centerline
temperature for the case when the critical heat flux is observed. The coolant
temperature at the CHF condition is 635 oF and the heat transfer coefficient for the
coolant is 6500.0 Btu/hr/ft2-oF. Clad conductivity is 11.0 Btu/hr/ft-oF and gap
Tm
2 o

convective heat transfer coefficient is 1000.0 Btu/hr/ft - F. Use the

dT

Ts

approach. Assume the flux depression factor is 0.91 and the theoretical density
of the fuel is 95%.
Constants and Reminders: 1 kW is 3412 Btu/hr. 1 ft is 30.48 cm.
6) (20) Briefly answer below questions:
a. Sketch the fast and thermal neutron fluxes in the fuel and moderator for a
thermal reactor.
b. List the effects of moisture separators and feedwater heaters on the
Rankine cycle efficiency.
c. Briefly describe the reactor shutdown decay heat (sources, the behavior,
the importance)

d. Briefly describe how the heat is generated in reactor structures due to

radiation impinging on them (briefly mention the physical parameters
effecting the heat generation).