Calculating US Nuclear Reactor Fuel Supply

[bluebeard]

Homework Statement

i have a little confusion with this problem the problem is asking me to calculate
"how long could you fuel the 99 current reactors in the US?"

Homework Equations

The problem is asking for an evaluation of fuel energy value in comparison to demand
edit:(i forgot to add that i was given a new M for this part)

The Attempt at a Solution

so i calculated the burnup which is = P*T*CF/M this burnup is the energy over the mass in tonnes which is the demand. my question is is my approach correct or should i calculate the burnup for a given LWR(given previously in a different question) and then plug it in the burnup formula and calculate T?

 

[KataKoniK]

Your approach is on the right track, but there are a few factors to consider in order to accurately calculate the length of time that the 99 current reactors in the US could be fueled. Here are some suggestions:

1. Calculate the total energy demand of the 99 reactors in the US. This will give you a better understanding of the scale of energy needed.

2. Consider the current fuel supply and its energy value. This will help you determine how much fuel is currently available for the reactors.

3. Take into account the burnup rate of the fuel. This is the rate at which the fuel is used up in the reactor. It is typically measured in gigawatt-days per metric ton of heavy metal (GWd/MTU).

4. Calculate the remaining energy value of the current fuel supply. This will give you an estimate of how much energy is left in the current fuel.

5. Use the burnup formula you mentioned, but instead of using the demand as the mass, use the remaining energy value of the current fuel supply.

6. This will give you an estimate of how long the current fuel supply will last. Keep in mind that this is just an estimate and may not account for future changes in demand or new fuel sources.

Overall, your approach is correct, but it may need to be adjusted based on the specific information and variables provided in the problem. It's always important to carefully consider all of the factors and assumptions in a problem before making calculations.