How to transfer designed capacity to estimate production ?

In summary: You could also say 8.7 GJ/day.In summary, Poland is investing in nuclear energy and estimates that the first reactor to start generating will be in 2023 with a capacity of 3 MWe. To estimate yearly production, you need to know the MWe net generation, the capacity factor, and the time period.
  • #1
JJ91
41
0
Hi,

Today I was reading news about Poland investing into nuclear energy where they estimate the first reactor to start generating in 2023 with capacity of 3MWe.

How can we estimate yearly production of the actual output send to the customer ?

(I'm more into PV technology but I think it's still worth to know such information)
 
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  • #2
tomek91 said:
Hi,

Today I was reading news about Poland investing into nuclear energy where they estimate the first reactor to start generating in 2023 with capacity of 3MWe.

How can we estimate yearly production of the actual output send to the customer ?

(I'm more into PV technology but I think it's still worth to know such information)

If you know the electrical power rating, in megawatts-electric, all you have to do is multiply the power output by the time period the plant operated. So if a 3 MWe plant operated for 300 days, it would produce 300 MW-days of energy. 1 MW-day is equal to 86.4 GJ.
 
  • #3
Better check your sources; 3 MW would be a tiny reactor. Typical units are 1000 to 1100 MW electric or more. Even the 'small' modular reactors on the drawing boards today are 25 to 200 MW electric.
 
  • #4
Looks basic and my first assumption was just like the replay, thanks.

It looks like it is 3000MWe reactor and its roughly going to cost 3M euro per MWe so I put the wrong numbers in but it's still the same formula.
 
  • #5
3000 MWe would likely be three or (maybe) two reactors. Are you sure that the given value is MWe and not MWth? The thermal (MWth) is the core power and the MWe is the generator output. The ratio is the thermal efficiency of the plant, roughly 33% though the actual value varies from day-to-day depending mostly on the condenser cooling water temperature.

To estimate the yearly production you need to know is your 3000 MWe net or gross? Sometimes part of the generator output goes to run the plant (big pumps). The plant loads could be about 20 to 25 MW per reactor for a 1100 to 1200 MWe unit. The exact value depends on the plant design.

Once you know the MWe net generation, you need to know the capacity factor, which is a percentage of generation vs. the output you'd get if the plant ran continuously. Capacity factors in the US are currently in the 90% range which reflects the plants running essentially continuously except when in refueling, and short refueling periods. Short refueling period requires that a lot of the routine maintenance is done on-line. Plants with problems run at lower capacity since they need to shutdown to fix the problems.

So, take the net generation rate, and multiply by capacity factor, then multiply by your time period (year?) to get MWe/year delivery. For example you might have 1100 MWe * 0.9 * 365 * 24 = 8,672,400 MW-hr per year.
 

1. How do I calculate the designed capacity of a production system?

In order to calculate the designed capacity of a production system, you will need to determine the maximum amount of output that the system can produce in a given period of time. This can be calculated by multiplying the number of units produced per cycle by the number of cycles per hour or day.

2. What factors should be considered when transferring designed capacity to estimate production?

There are several factors that should be considered when transferring designed capacity to estimate production, such as the efficiency of the production process, the availability of resources, and any potential bottlenecks in the system. It is also important to consider any external factors that may impact production, such as market demand or supply chain disruptions.

3. Can designed capacity be transferred to estimate production accurately?

While designed capacity can be a useful tool for estimating production, it is important to note that there may be variations and uncertainties in actual production. Factors such as machine breakdowns, human error, and unforeseen events can impact the accuracy of production estimates. It is important to regularly review and adjust production estimates based on actual performance.

4. How can I improve the transfer of designed capacity to estimate production?

In order to improve the transfer of designed capacity to estimate production, it is important to regularly review and analyze production data. This can help identify any areas where there may be discrepancies between designed capacity and actual production. Additionally, implementing continuous improvement processes and regularly updating production plans can help optimize the transfer of designed capacity to estimate production.

5. Are there any limitations to using designed capacity to estimate production?

While designed capacity can be a useful tool for estimating production, it is important to recognize that it is just one factor in the production process. Other factors, such as demand fluctuations, resource availability, and production efficiency, can also impact production estimates. It is important to consider all of these factors in order to make more accurate production estimates.

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