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Chapter 15: Problem 39

Operating approximately 450 nuclear plants over about 60 years at a total thermal level of \(1 \mathrm{TW}\), we have had two major radioactive releases into the environment. If we went completely down the nuclear road and get all \(18 \mathrm{TW}^{89}\) this way, what rate of accidents might we expect, if the rate just scales with usage levels?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: \(\frac{3}{5}\) accidents per year

Step by step solution

01

Understand the given data

There are 450 nuclear plants operating over 60 years, with a total thermal level of 1 TW. During this period, there have been 2 major radioactive releases.
02

Find the rate of accidents per TW of energy

To find the rate of accidents for the given usage level, we can use the formula: \(\text{Accident rate} = \frac{\text{Number of accidents}}{\text{Total thermal level} \times \text{Years of operation}}\) Accident rate = \(\frac{2}{1 \mathrm{TW} \times 60 \ \text{years}} = \frac{1}{30} \ \text{accidents/TW-year}\)
03

Calculate the expected accident rate for 18 TW usage level

Now we need to find the expected accident rate for an 18 TW usage level. To do this, we will multiply the accident rate by the new usage level: \(\text{Expected accident rate} = \text{Accident rate} \times \text{New usage level}\) Expected accident rate = \(\frac{1}{30} \ \text{accidents/TW-year} \times 18 \ \mathrm{TW} = \frac{18}{30} = \frac{3}{5} \ \text{accidents/year}\)
04

Write the final answer

If all 18 TW of energy is generated from nuclear power plants, we might expect a rate of \(\frac{3}{5}\) accidents per year, assuming the rate scales with usage levels.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Which of the following is true about the fragments from \(\mathrm{a}^{235} \mathrm{U}\) fission event? a) any number of fragments ( 2 through 235 ) can be produced b) a small number of fragments will emerge ( 2 to 5 ) c) two nearly identical fragments will emerge d) two fragments of distinctly different size will emerge e) the fission is an alpha decay: a small piece having \(A=4\) is emitted

If a friend creates a nucleus whose half-life is 4 hours and gives it to you at noon, what is the probability that it will not have decayed by noon the following day?

Since each nuclear plant delivers \(\sim 1 \mathrm{GW}\) of electrical power, at \(\sim 40 \%\) thermodynamic efficiency this means a thermal generation rate of \(2.5\) GW. How many nuclear plants would we need to supply all 18 TW of our current energy demand? Since a typical lifetime is 50 years before decommissioning, how many days, on average would it be between new plants coming online (while old ones are retired) in a steady state?

Based on the calculation that 18 TW would require an annual cube of seawater \(300 \mathrm{~m}\) on a side to provide enough deuterium, what is your personal share as one of 8 billion people on earth, in liters? Could you lift this yourself? One cubic meter is \(1,000 \mathrm{~L}\).

A particular nuclide is found to have lost 3 neutrons and 1 proton after a decay chain. What combination of \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) decays could account for this result?
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