Page 250 - Handbook of Energy Engineering Calculations

fuel-bed height, and the density of the pressurized water.

Calculation Procedure:

1. Select the type of reactor to use
Table 1 summarizes the operating characteristics of six types of power
reactors. Study shows that a pressurized-water reactor will provide the
desired thermal efficiency. Further, this type of reactor is successfully used

for large-scale power generation. Hence, a pressurized-water reactor will be
the first tentative choice for this plant.

TABLE 1 Nuclear-Power Reactor Characteristics

2. Compute the reactor fuel volume
3
Use the relation v = nv , where v = fuel volume, ft ; n = number of fuel
f
p
f
3
pellets in the reactor; v = volume of each pellet, ft . Substituting yields v =
f
p
3
3
3
6
20 × 10 π(0.375) /[6(1728)] = 320 ft (9.1 m ).
3. Compute the fuel volume in the collapsed form
With the fuel bed not fluidized, the porosity P with packed spheres is about
3
3
0.40. Then collapsed volume v = v /(1 − P) = 320/0.60 = 534 ft (15.1 m ).
f
c
4. Compute the collapsed fuel-bed height
Use the relation h = v /A , where h = collapsed height of fuel bed, ft; A =
r
c
r
2
2
reactor fuel-bed area, ft . So h = 534/(π10 /4) = 6.78 ft (2.1 m).
5. Determine the density of the pressurized water
3
3
Using the steam tables shows d = 42.45 lb/ft (680.0 kg/m ) at 600°F
w