The Nuclear Power Thread

[jrmichler]

I agree with the post above, but get 70,000 GPM.

100 MW = 100E6 watts X 3.4 BTU/hr/W = 3.4E8 BTUH.
3.4E8 BTUH / 10 deg F X 1.0 lb deg F / BTU = 3.4E7 lbs/hr of water.
3.4E7 lbs/hr / 8.34 lbs/gallon / 60 min/hr = 70,000 GPM.

If you get rid of the heat by evaporating water in a cooling tower or spray pond, that much heat would evaporate 700 GPM of water. There would be a need to use more water than that in order to control solids buildup.

 

[gmax137]

I agree with the post above, but get 70,000 GPM.

100 MW = 100E6 watts X 3.4 BTU/hr/W = 3.4E8 BTUH.
3.4E8 BTUH / 10 deg F X 1.0 lb deg F / BTU = 3.4E7 lbs/hr of water.
3.4E7 lbs/hr / 8.34 lbs/gallon / 60 min/hr = 70,000 GPM.

If you get rid of the heat by evaporating water in a cooling tower or spray pond, that much heat would evaporate 700 GPM of water. There would be a need to use more water than that in order to control solids buildup.

Thanks for the check, @jrmichler . You're quite right, I'm not sure what I fat fingered to get 90K.

 

[berkeman]

If you get rid of the heat by evaporating water in a cooling tower or spray pond, that much heat would evaporate 700 GPM of water.

Sounds like a good strategy, but I wonder if they will spray the water fountains upwind of the barracks (heating up the troops) or upwind of the neighboring town (heating up the neighbors)...

 

[jrmichler]

Sounds like a good strategy, but I wonder if they will spray the water fountains upwind of the barracks (heating up the troops) or upwind of the neighboring town (heating up the neighbors)

To help put the evaporation into perspective, I live on an 840 acre lake. Normal summer evaporation from the lake in summer is about 2300 GPM. That's average over 24 hours, peak evaporation during the day is much higher.

 

[Astronuc]

With respect to GNF3 earlier in this thread:

Post in thread 'The Nuclear Power Thread'

Aug 10, 2024

16 locations identified to expand Nebraska nuclear footprint, shortlist soon to be narrowed
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs...lear-footprint-shortlist-soon-to-be-narrowed/

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Public Power District has identified 16 possible locations that could be candidates to expand Nebraska’s nuclear footprint and energy capabilities.

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development along with NPPD announced Thursday the next phase of a feasibility study that will eventually narrow down its shortlist to two to four sites for...

• Astronuc

GNF (GE Vernova) has introduced the GNF4 11x11 fuel assembly.
https://www.gevernova.com/nuclear/fuels/gnf4

https://www.gevernova.com/news/pres...-fuel-introduces-next-generation-fuel-product

WILMINGTON, North Carolina (October 6, 2025) – Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF, a GE Vernova-led alliance with Hitachi, Ltd.) today announced the introduction of GNF4, a next generation nuclear fuel product built on a 60-year legacy of boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel design innovation and performance.

The 11x11 GNF4 product builds upon the operating history of GNF2 and GNF3 and features two advanced components that are licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Ziron cladding and aluminosilicate doped uranium dioxide pellets.

Ziron cladding was developed to better resist corrosion, ensuring that fuel remains safe and reliable and is an enhancement to the Zircaloy 2 cladding that has been utilized in more than 175,000 GNF fuel assemblies worldwide. Aluminosilicate doped uranium dioxide pellets add an extra layer of reliability. GNF4 will also utilize GNF’s proprietary NSF channel material and Defender+ debris filter.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/global-nuclear-fuel-unveils-new-gnf4-product

Global Nuclear Fuel, a GE Vernova-led alliance with Hitachi, said the first lead use assemblies of the new generation GNF4 boiling water reactor fuel have been contracted for deployment in 2026, with full reload quantities from 2030.

https://www.gevernova.com/news/pres...t-entergy-grand-gulf-river-bend-nuclear-power

WILMINGTON, North Carolina (March 10, 2026) – Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF, a GE Vernova-led alliance with Hitachi, Ltd. and affiliate of GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy) today announced it has been awarded a contract by Entergy to continue to fuel its Grand Gulf and River Bend Station nuclear power plants.

The new agreement extends the current fuel supply contract through 2035 and includes four reloads of the new GNF4 fuel design.

“We have fueled Grand Gulf and River Bend continuously since 2008 and are proud to support Entergy with our newest, most advanced fuel design, GNF4,” said Craig Ranson, Installed Base CEO, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and CEO of GNF. “We look forward to bringing the economic and performance benefits of GNF4 to Entergy.”

Lead use assemblies of GNF4 will be loaded into River Bend in 2027, while GNF4 reloads are scheduled for Grand Gulf in 2030 and River Bend in 2031.