Thermodynamics: Rankine Cycle and Efficiency

<p>13,102 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To contain the nuclear fission process (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tandem-Compound Turbine (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Provide stability against RCS transients (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>1,800 rpm (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It generates electricity by spinning the turbine. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>η = Net Work Out / Heat Added (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Temperature of the hot reservoir in absolute terms (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>321 K (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carnot Cycle (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It turns back into liquid water. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Transition Energy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is heated to high temperatures using sunlight. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To heat a steam generator to produce steam for power generation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Thermal reactors (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>11% (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Pressurized Water Reactor (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Specialized technology and design knowledge (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Generates thermal energy even after the reactor is shut down (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Heavy Water Reactor (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Fossil fuels (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To contain heat and seal the fuel pellets (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>69 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Boiling Water Reactor (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Neutron energy and moderator used (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gigawatts of electricity capacity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Economy of scale (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Considerable up-front investment (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carbon-capture technology (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cost-competitive (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Need for large financial resources (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Lack of carbon-capture technology (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Consistent energy output (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It has negligible upfront costs (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To compare unit costs of different technologies over their economic lives (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Employee salaries (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It indicates a higher perceived investment risk (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Future Value at time t divided by (1+r)^t (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Discount rate (r) (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cost of producing electricity in year 't' (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To reflect the correct compounding intervals (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Money available now is worth more than the same amount in the future (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The vulnerability to changes in output price and demand (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nuclear power plants (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Capital investment (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Electricity price fluctuations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Common construction delays and expenses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Fuel costs (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Different allocation of total cost components (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Considerable cost uncertainties (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Regulatory risk (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Consumer demand fluctuations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The ratio of net work output to heat added in the Rankine cycle.

The maximum theoretical efficiency for any heat engine operating between two temperatures.

Temperature measured from absolute zero, using Kelvin scale.

A power plant that converts chemical energy from fossil fuels to electrical energy through a Rankine cycle using steam.

Solar power method that collects sunlight on a large scale to generate heat to drive a turbine.

A mechanical device used in power plants to transform the energy of expanding steam into rotational energy, thus generating electricity.

The measure of how effectively a power plant converts fuel energy into electrical energy.

A thermodynamic cycle consisting of steps like vapor expansion in a turbine and heat addition.

The reactor coolant system (RCS) loop in a nuclear power plant typically consists of a reactor vessel, pressurizer, steam generators, recirculating coolant pumps, hot legs, and cold legs.

The pressurizer in the RCS maintains a constant pressure for the coolant by using heating elements and a pressure relief valve. It helps control the volume and pressure of the coolant.

The steam generator transfers heat from the high-pressure primary coolant to a secondary water loop, generating steam that drives the turbines.

RCPs circulate the high-pressure, high-temperature coolant through the reactor vessel, steam generators, and pressurizer.

The RCP shaft seal assembly uses multiple mechanical seals to isolate the reactor coolant from the atmosphere, reducing leakage and maintaining pressure integrity.

The turbine in a nuclear power plant is a tandem-compound turbine, combining high-pressure and low-pressure sections. It converts steam energy into rotational energy, driving the generator to produce electricity.

The generator is a direct-driven, conductor-cooled device that converts mechanical energy from the turbine into electricity.

Steam generator tubes are made of Inconel 690, a corrosion-resistant material, with a large number of tubes to maximize heat transfer efficiency.

The Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) is a metric used to compare the cost of producing electricity from different technologies over their entire lifespan. It considers all costs, including investments, operations, maintenance, fuel, carbon emissions, and eventual decommissioning, taking into account the time value of money.

The discount rate is the interest rate used to calculate the present value of future cash flows. It reflects the time value of money and the risk associated with receiving those future cash flows.

The concept that money today is worth more than the same amount of money in the future because of its potential to earn interest (or grow) over time.

The possibility that an investment will not yield the expected return or may even lead to loss.

The LCOE is a valuable tool to compare the costs of electricity generated by different technologies over their economic lives. It takes into account all relevant costs, including initial investment, operational expenses, fuel costs, environmental costs, and decommissioning expenses.

Several factors influence the LCOE, including initial investment costs, operational and maintenance expenses, fuel costs (for fossil fuel-based technologies), carbon emission costs, and decommissioning expenses. The time value of money is also a key factor, incorporated through the discount rate.

In LCOE calculations, many input values are uncertain and vary over time and by region. This uncertainty stems from factors such as fluctuating fuel prices, evolving technologies, changes in regulatory policies, and the inherent unpredictability of the future.

When investment risk increases, the discount rate used to calculate the LCOE also increases. This results in a higher LCOE, reflecting the perceived higher risk associated with the investment.

Uranium with a higher percentage of U-235, making it suitable for nuclear fission reactions.

In 2012, fossil fuels dominated electricity production (67%), followed by renewables (22%), nuclear (11%), and hydro (17%).

Nuclear power plants play a significant role in worldwide electricity production, despite the Fukushima accident in 2011.

As of 2012, 41 reactors were in long-term outage, 69 under construction, 96 planned, and 83.5GWe of new capacity planned.

Nuclear power plants emit less greenhouse gases than fossil fuels, considering the entire fuel cycle.

Growing global energy demand is a major driver of CO2 emissions.

Nuclear power requires specialized technology for fuel, managing decay heat, handling radioactive waste, and safety concerns due to dual-use potential.

Nuclear power plants require robust measures for Safety, Security, and Safeguards to mitigate risks.

The reactor vessel houses fuel assemblies arranged in a regular array. These assemblies contain fuel rods, which consist of stacked fuel pellets sealed inside a cladding.

Nuclear power reactors are categorized by neutron energy (thermal or fast), moderator, coolant, fuel type, and enrichment level.

In a BWR, the reactor coolant directly drives the turbine, creating steam that spins the turbine and generates electricity.

PWRs use two circulatory systems: primary (reactor coolant) and secondary (steam generator). The primary loop heats the secondary loop, generating steam for the turbine.

CANDU reactors utilize heavy water as both the moderator and coolant, with two separate loops for reactor cooling and steam generation.

GCRs use a gas, like CO2, as the primary coolant, and can be either thermal or fast reactors.

Nuclear power plants worldwide have a combined capacity of 380GWe (gigawatts), with various stages of development (operational, under construction, planned).

A power generation technology that can produce electricity at a price comparable to other options.

The principle that larger power plants are generally more cost-efficient.

Large expenditure required at the beginning of a project, especially for large power plants.

Technology used to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

An economic analysis of the costs and benefits of nuclear power generation.

Benefits of nuclear power compared to other energy sources, including cost competitiveness and low carbon emissions.

Analyzing the price of generating electricity from renewable sources compared to other technologies.

There's no one best energy generation technology for every situation, different options have different advantages and disadvantages.

The vulnerability of a project or asset to changes in output price or demand.

Higher risk generally implies higher costs for capital investment.

Large nuclear power plants often have lower long-term costs due to economies of scale. However, they carry high initial investment risks.

Lifetime costs of a power plant are broken down into Capital Investment, O&M, Fuel, CO2, and Decommissioning costs.

Increasing the discount rate (r) emphasizes capital investment costs, making them weigh heavier in the LCOE calculation.

Gas-powered plants have lower LCOE due to cheaper fuel, but significantly higher fuel cost variability.

Risks associated with power generation include construction costs, lead time, operational costs, and availability.

Risks related to the electricity market include fuel costs, consumer demand, competition, and the price of electricity.

Regulatory risks involve market design, CO2 constraints, transmission licensing, and energy efficiency regulations.

Policy risks involve environmental standards, technology support, and the overall policy landscape.