Incorrect Calculation of Time for Reactor Energy Phase Change

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the incorrect calculation of time for the energy phase change of water in a reactor using the equation Q'*t = Q1 + Q2. The user initially calculated the time as 2962.755 seconds, which was incorrect. The error was identified as the need to adjust the mass in the equations: Q1 should use half the total mass, while Q2 should use the total mass to account for the complete heating of the water to 100 degrees Celsius before boiling. This adjustment corrected the calculation process for determining the time required for the phase change.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of thermodynamic equations, specifically Q = mcΔT
  • Knowledge of phase change concepts, particularly boiling and latent heat
  • Familiarity with energy calculations in reactors
  • Basic algebra for manipulating equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the principles of latent heat and its application in phase changes
  • Study the specific heat capacities of water and steam for accurate calculations
  • Learn about energy conservation in thermodynamic systems
  • Explore reactor design considerations for energy calculations
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in chemical engineering, thermodynamics, and energy systems, particularly those involved in reactor design and energy calculations for phase changes.

runningphysics
Messages
6
Reaction score
3
Homework Statement
If 4.5×10^5kg of emergency cooling water at 10 ∘C are dumped into a malfunctioning nuclear reactor whose core is producing energy at the rate of 200 MW , and if no circulation or cooling of the water is provided, how long will it be before half the water has boiled away?
Relevant Equations
Q1=Lm
Q2=mc T
m=4.5*10^5
L=2257 kj/kg
c=4.184 kj/kg*K
I tried using the equation Q'*t= Q1+Q2. Where Q' is the energy of the reactor aka 200,000 kJ and t is the time. Take Q1 to be (1/2m*2257) and Q2 to be (1/2m*4.184*90). The 90 is the change in temperature for the phase change to occur from liquid water to gas, or boiling. Plugged everything in and got 2962.755 seconds. Convert to minutes by dividing by 60 seconds to get 49.379 minutes. This answer was wrong. Can anyone tell me what is wrong with this setup?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I figured it out. What needs to happen the mass for Q1 needs to be the total mass divided by 2. The Q2 mass needs to be the total mass. This is because 1/2 of the water is being boiled off, but the total amount of water needs to reach the 100 degrees Celsius.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: BvU and Lnewqban

Similar threads

Replies
23
Views
3K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
6K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
Replies
15
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K