Even when shut down after a period of normal use, a large commercial nuclear reactor transfers thermal energy at the rate of 150 MW by the radioactive decay of fission products. This heat transfer causes a rapid increase in temperature if the cooling system fails (1 watt = 1 joule/second or 1 W = 1 J/s and 1 MW = 1 megawatt). (a) Calculate the rate of temperature increase in degrees Celsius per second (ºC/s) if the mass of the reactor core is 1.60×10^5kg and it has an average specific heat of 0.3349 kJ/kgº⋅C.

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections
1st Edition
ISBN:9781133939146
Author:Katz, Debora M.
Publisher:Katz, Debora M.
Chapter19: Temperature, Thermal Expansion And Gas Laws
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Even when shut down after a period of normal use, a large commercial nuclear reactor transfers thermal energy at the rate of 150 MW by the radioactive decay of fission products. This heat transfer causes a rapid increase in temperature if the cooling system fails (1 watt = 1 joule/second or 1 W = 1 J/s and 1 MW = 1 megawatt). (a) Calculate the rate of temperature increase in degrees Celsius per second (ºC/s) if the mass of the reactor core is 1.60×10^5kg and it has an average specific heat of 0.3349 kJ/kgº⋅C.

Expert Solution
Step 1

Write the expression for the heat transfer rate.

Q=mcΔTQt=mc(ΔTt)

Here, Q is the heat, m is the mass, c is the specific heat constant, ΔT is the temperature difference, and t is the time.

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