Coling tower Containment structure High-pressure turbine Low-pressure turbine Steel Steam Steam line containment Control Steam rods Turbine generator generator Pressure vessel Pump Core Condenser cooling water Figure 15.23 Schematic diagram of a pressurized water nuclear reactor and the steam turbines that convert work into electrical energy. Heat exchange is used to generate steam, in part to avoid contamination of the generators with radioactivity. Two turbines are used because this is less expensive than operating a single generator that produces the same amount of electrical energy. The steam is condensed to liquid before being returned to the heat exchanger, to keep exit steam pressure low and aid the flow of steam through the turbines (equivalent to using a lower- temperature cold reservoir). The considerable energy associated with condensation must be dissipated into the local environment; in this example, a cooling tower is used so there is no direct heat transfer to an aquatic environment. (Note that the water going to the cooling tower does not come into contact with the steam flowing over the turbines.)

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A nuclear power reactor has pressurized water at 300ºC . (Higher temperatures are theoretically possible but practically not, due to limitations with materials used in the reactor.) Heat transfer from this water is a complex process  as shown. Steam, produced in the steam generator, is used to drive the turbine-generators. Eventually the steam is condensed to water at 27ºC and then heated again to start the cycle over. Calculate the maximum theoretical efficiency for a heat engine operating between these two temperatures.

Coling tower
Containment structure
High-pressure
turbine
Low-pressure
turbine
Steel
Steam
Steam line
containment
Control
Steam
rods
Turbine
generator
generator
Pressure
vessel
Pump
Core
Condenser
cooling
water
Figure 15.23 Schematic diagram of a pressurized water nuclear reactor and the steam turbines that convert work into electrical energy. Heat
exchange is used to generate steam, in part to avoid contamination of the generators with radioactivity. Two turbines are used because this is less
expensive than operating a single generator that produces the same amount of electrical energy. The steam is condensed to liquid before being
returned to the heat exchanger, to keep exit steam pressure low and aid the flow of steam through the turbines (equivalent to using a lower-
temperature cold reservoir). The considerable energy associated with condensation must be dissipated into the local environment; in this
example, a cooling tower is used so there is no direct heat transfer to an aquatic environment. (Note that the water going to the cooling tower
does not come into contact with the steam flowing over the turbines.)
Transcribed Image Text:Coling tower Containment structure High-pressure turbine Low-pressure turbine Steel Steam Steam line containment Control Steam rods Turbine generator generator Pressure vessel Pump Core Condenser cooling water Figure 15.23 Schematic diagram of a pressurized water nuclear reactor and the steam turbines that convert work into electrical energy. Heat exchange is used to generate steam, in part to avoid contamination of the generators with radioactivity. Two turbines are used because this is less expensive than operating a single generator that produces the same amount of electrical energy. The steam is condensed to liquid before being returned to the heat exchanger, to keep exit steam pressure low and aid the flow of steam through the turbines (equivalent to using a lower- temperature cold reservoir). The considerable energy associated with condensation must be dissipated into the local environment; in this example, a cooling tower is used so there is no direct heat transfer to an aquatic environment. (Note that the water going to the cooling tower does not come into contact with the steam flowing over the turbines.)
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