ENGR 3203 Fundamentals of Thermodynamics

Fall 2009 Project

University of Central Oklahoma
12/09/2009

NUCLEAR REMOTE POWER GENERATION

Achyut Khadka Greg Kelch

ABSTRACT W NET
Put abstract text here. ηthermal =
QH

INTRODUCTION
Nuclear powered has been used in remote power This equation will provide the thermal efficiency of the
generation for years. This design will include basic steam plant as a whole. Given that W is the net work output and Q is
power plant components and at least one other component the energy that it costs.
considered not so basic. Component analysis along with The equation for mass flow rate
steam analysis and basic design will be discussed in the report. m = ∫ ρVdA = AV / v
Things such as what components to use and what pipe sizes
will have to be addressed to meet the requirements set for this
For isentropic process
design project. The objective at hand is to set all of the right
components up in an order that will give an acceptable power
output along with an acceptable efficiency. s1 = s 2

BACKGROUND Other equations included from other disciplines include

Kinetic Energy
The power plant design task will need to be analyzed
using knowledge of thermodynamics and the equations 1
contained in that knowledge. The first equation to be gin with KE = mV 2

2
is the 1st Law of Thermodynamics for a change of state:
Potential Energy
E stored = E gen + ∑m
 in hin+ − ∑m + 
+Q 
CV −WCV
 exit hexit
PE = mgZ
Where

1
h + = h + V 2 + gZ
2
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
And work flow rate is The task assigned is to design a remote power generator
for an air separation plant. The average power required by the
 generator is 20MW with a 30MW maximum output. The
W flow = mPv

plant is located in the hot and dry deserts of the southwest US.
This will effect what fuel source as well as components used
In a steady state steady flow energy stored and energy to give the proper outputs. Other factors in the decision
generated will go to zero. Another equation to be used will be making process will be how easily the fuel can be accessed
the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics it goes as stated: along with safety and health issues and public opinion on the

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matter. With this design we were given three different fuel
choices coal, solar, and nuclear. Coal power plants are most
generally the most efficient, but given the location of the plant
it will have to be shipped in from halfway across the country
which in turn raises the cost and lowers the efficiency. The
solar power is probably the cleanest and most environmentally
friendly choice, but it can only produce power while it is
receiving sunlight as an input source for energy, and you can’t
just truck that in. Also it would need to be considered is a
backup fuel system for the solar and this would require more
components and adding more components has the potential to
lower the efficiency as well. Not to mention the cost of the
reserve fuel and having it brought in. The third choice is
nuclear power. The nuclear power has the biggest major
concern of safety of properly handling and disposing of the
radioactive waste, but it can be done safely and properly with
little effects on local environment while coal on the other hand
will create carbon emissions which affect the environment.
The energy delivery rate is also comparable to the other fuel
sources considered. The only other major drawback to the
nuclear power is the startup cost. But once built, then it can
use as a long-term power source.

CHOICE OF FUEL AND COMPONENTS

The choice was made to go with the nuclear power with
the dependability and running cost. With the general public
basically split on the matter of whether they oppose or are for
or just don’t care the decision was made. With the plant being
located in the southwestern US it was a viable choice with
coal having to be shipped in and a solar power generator
needing a reserve fuel anyway and fuel being spread out and
not focused in one part of the country. The nuclear power will
use a boiling water reactor (illustrated below).

The BWR is one of the most efficient reactors in use so it

was chosen. Next in line for the components was the turbine
it will require a 30MW max output and a 20MW nominal
output. The turbine works by converting high pressure high
temperature steam into a low pressure lower temperature
saturated water. Tapped into the turbine in the middle of it
before the steam turns to saturated water is another line that
feeds to the open feed-water heater. This components purpose
is to heat liquid water with another flow. The other line out of
the end of the turbine is leading to a condenser; the job of the
condenser is to take specific heat out to bring the water to a
liquid state. The condenser then feeds the water to a pump
which raises the pressure which dropped due to the cooling
process through the condenser. Out of the pump the water is
then sent to the open feed-water heater as the second input.
After exiting the open feed-water heater the water is then fed
back into the BWR, where the cycle is repeated.

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 W turbine = m
 1 h1+ − m
 2 h2+ − m
 5 h5+

1 =m
m  1 +m
5

And

s1 = s 2 = s 5

So this gives
kg kJ
 1 h1+ = 22 .183
m (3900 .13 + 0.05 ) = 86 .52 Mw
s kg

kg kJ
 2 h2+ =15 .336
m ( 2616 .94 + 31 .25 ) = 40 .62 Mw
RESULTS s kg
This analysis of the system by component will start and kg kJ
end at the boiler. A high pressure low temperature liquid will  5 h5+ = 6.85
m (3267 .07 + 2.24 ) = 22 .52 Mw
enter the boiler going through the process will exit the boiler s kg
as a superheated vapor. Entering the turbine as a superheated W = 23 .38 Mw
turbine
vapor the steam then at a point in the middle of the turbine
wa 20 w
exits out of the turbine as a superheated vapor. The second Turbine efficiency (η ) = =
output from the turbine leads to the condenser as a saturated ws 23 .38 mw
liquid vapor mixture. Then leaving the condenser the water is =85.54%
saturated liquid. Going into a pump to raise the pressure and
out of the pump to the open feed-water heater to meet up with
the other output from the turbine. The open feed-water heater
then heats the water from the condenser up and feeding into
For compressor
the pump and then boiler once again to repeat the cycle.
 2 =m
m 3

 2 h2+ = m
m  3 h3+
The state of steam can be determined by using the steam
tables or by using a P-v diagram. Like the one below

For pump 1

s 4 = s3
m 4 =m3

 3 h3+ + W 1
 4 h4+ = m
m

For Feedwater Heater

6 =m
m  4 +m
5

 6 h6+ = m
m  4 h4+ + m
 4 h4+

For pump 2
Some of the sample calculations follow as such s7 = s6
m6 =m7
For turbine

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  6 h6+ + W 2
 7 h7+ = m
m

CONCLUSIONS
We chose the nuclear power plant as a fuel to produce
the power because the world is facing the shortage of fossil
fuel from time to time and the world is fighting on the fuel so
one need to come out with different idea to solve those
problem . The nuclear power plant may be best to solve the
For boiler problems as we design so one can build the power plant as the
same basic way that we designed the power plant. Our power
plant produces the net power output of 15.974 Mw and turbine
 7 =m
m 6
output 23.38Mw with 85.54% efficiency.
 7 h7+ + Q S = m
m  1 h1+

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REFERENCES

http://www.asme.org/Publications/ConfProceedings/Author/Formatting_Paper.cfm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susquehanna_Steam_Electric_Station

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Feedwater-heating.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bwr-rpv.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power