Energy efficiency of nuclear and fossil fuel

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the efficiency of energy conversion in nuclear fuel compared to fossil fuels such as oil and coal. Participants highlight that when using heat to drive steam turbines, the thermal conversion efficiencies of nuclear and fossil fuels are similar. However, the efficiency varies when fossil fuels are burned in internal combustion or turbine engines. The conversation also touches on the mass-energy conversion rates, noting the significant difference in energy yield between nuclear reactions and fossil fuel combustion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of thermal efficiency concepts
  • Familiarity with steam turbine operation
  • Basic knowledge of mass-energy equivalence
  • Awareness of combustion engine efficiency
NEXT STEPS
  • Research thermal efficiency in nuclear reactors
  • Study the efficiency of steam turbines in energy conversion
  • Explore mass-energy conversion rates in nuclear reactions
  • Investigate combustion efficiency in fossil fuel engines
USEFUL FOR

Energy analysts, environmental scientists, and engineers interested in comparing the efficiencies of nuclear and fossil fuel energy sources.

Ranku
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Can anyone give a percentage comparision of efficiency of energy conversion in nuclear fuel and fossil fuels like oil and coal?
 
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Ranku said:
Can anyone give a percentage comparision of efficiency of energy conversion in nuclear fuel and fossil fuels like oil and coal?
What is your background so far in thermodynamics? Do you understand the efficiencies of different heat cycles?
 
berkeman said:
What is your background so far in thermodynamics? Do you understand the efficiencies of different heat cycles?
I do not really have a background in thermodynamics. I guess I'm trying to get a general sense of how efficient is nuclear energy compared to fossil fuels.
 
Ranku said:
I do not really have a background in thermodynamics. I guess I'm trying to get a general sense of how efficient is nuclear energy compared to fossil fuels.
If you are using their heat to drive steam turbines, then their thermal conversion efficiency should be similar, I would think. If you are burning the fossil fuel in an internal combustion engine or a turbine engine, that will have a slightly different efficiency. So the decision on what to use to generate power comes down to many other issues, right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_efficiency
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_efficiency
 
berkeman said:
If you are using their heat to drive steam turbines, then their thermal conversion efficiency should be similar, I would think. If you are burning the fossil fuel in an internal combustion engine or a turbine engine, that will have a slightly different efficiency. So the decision on what to use to generate power comes down to many other issues, right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_efficiency
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_efficiency
Hmm...do we have some numbers in terms of the basic mass-energy conversion, like how much of 1 kg of mass would get converted into energy in a nuclear reaction or reactor, and what is the comparative mass-energy conversion for the combustion of say 1 kg of fossil fuel like coal?
 

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