Question

Consider a nuclear power plant that produces 1200 MW of power and has a conversion efficiency of 34 percent (that is, for each unit of fuel energy used, the plant produces 0.34 units of electrical energy. Assuming continuous operation, determine the amount of nuclear fuel consumed by the plant per year.

Answer 1

Fuel used = 111,303,473,760 MJ/year

Explanation:

Power production = Fuel energy * Efficiency

1200 MW = Fuel energy * 0.34

Fuel energy = 1200 MW / 0.34 =3529.41 MW

This means it consumes 3529.41 MJ/s.

Per year, it operates 365 days, 24 hours a day, 3600 seconds an hour.

To calculate the fuel used annualy we have to multiplicate by all these factors

Fuel used = 3529.41 MJ/s * 3600 s/hour * 24 hours/day * 365 days/year

Fuel used = 111,303,473,760 MJ/year