Question

How much thermal energy can be liberated from 100kg of natural grade Uranium? Express this amount in tonnes of oil equivalent (toe). Note: 1 toe = 41.87 GJ.

Answer 1

Natural grade uranium is consist of 0.7% U-235 and 99.3% U-238 .( Ignore a very little % of U - 234 )

with general data of unclear fission 82 × 10^12 joule/kg Energy is released by U- 235

and U - 238 is required to fission of more than 1ev energy of nutron And produce plutonium 239 . energy 85 × 10^12 j/ kg .

as 100 kg of natural grade uranium have energy

= (100×0.007 × 82 ×10^12) +(100×0.993 × 85 × 10^12 )

=8497.9 ×10^12 J

Amount equivalent (toe) = (8497.9×10^12) /(41.87 × 10^9)

Energy = 202959.1593 toe

answered by: anonymous