Sections: Introduction | Process | Components | Classification

Introduction to Nuclear Engineering

Elementary Theory. Albert Einstein discovered the mass energy equivalence equation which states that the change in Energy (DE) is directly proportional to the product of the square of the speed of light (c) and the change in the mass defect (Dm). Thus, the now-famous formula is E = mc². Thus applying these equations:

E (J) = mass (kg) x (2.998x10⁸m/s)²
One eV = 1.602 x 10^-19J
One keV = 1.602 x 10^-16J
One MeV = 1.602 x 10^-13J

E (eV) = m x 5.61 x 10³⁵eV/kg
E (keV) = m x 5.61 x 10³²keV/kg
E (MeV) = m x 5.61 x 10²⁹MeV/kg

With 1 (J) = 1 m² * kg/s² and 1 (amu) = 1.657 x 10^-27kg (one-twelfth of the mass of neutral atom of ¹²C)
E (amu) = 1.66 x 10^-27kg x 5.61 x 10²⁹MeV/kg
E (amu) = 9.31 MeV/amu

Nuclear vs Boiler Power. Thermal density for fossil-fueled boiler is about 0.20 kW/li. Nuclear-based boiler, however, can have a thermal density of about 80kW/li. The difference of Nuclear Plants and Fossil-fuel boiler plants are numerous: the amount of energy source is dependent on the power demanded; thermal density; low level heat generation; and emanations (large volume of air/flue exhaust waste gas containing CO₂, CO_x, CO_xand ash.

Mass Energy Equivalence The mass defect (Dm) is the amount of mass to be converted to energy if a particular atom or nuclide were to be assembled from the required number of protons, neutrons and electrons. This is usually inversely proportional to the binding energy of the nuclei. Mass is the sum of Z proton mass. If A is the mass number of the element, then A - Z is equal to the mass of the neutrons.

DM = ZM_H + (A - Z) M_N - M_ZA
where:
M_H = mass of the hydrogen atom (1.008142 amu)
M_N = mass of neutron (1.008982 amu)
M_ZA = mass of the nuclide

The relationship between the mass defects and the binding energy is shown below:

The Radioactive Element series are namely: Thorium (4N) , Uranium (4N + 2), Actinium (4N + 3) and Neptunium (4N + 1). The last one is radioactive through artificial transmutation.

Each of these, follow a specific path of transmutation:
Thorium (4N) : ²³²Th ²⁰⁸Pb
Uranium (4N + 2) : ²³⁴U ²⁰⁶Pb
Actinium (4N + 3): ²³⁵U ²⁰⁷Bi
Neptunium (4N + 1): ²³⁷Np ²⁰⁹Bi

²³⁵U produces a variety of nuclie with mass number of 70 to 160, i.e., Zinc to Terbium.

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Nuclear Fission Power Plants: Process

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