Consider the following statements regarding the nuclear power plants:
1. A thermal reactor needs a moderator material.
2. In a nuclear reactor, multiplication factor is kept almost equal to one.
3. Nuclear power plants are used as peak load plants only.
Which of these statements are correct?
Answer & step-by-step solution
Thermal nuclear reactors slow neutrons with a moderator so fission remains effective in thermal-fuel systems. Because capital cost is high and fuel cost comparatively low, nuclear plants are generally operated as base-load, not peak-only, units. Key relation: k_eff=1 critical; >1 supercritical; <1 subcritical.
Exam focus: Critical reactor means neutron population is steady. Common trap: Nuclear plants are not peak-load-only plants.
Statement-wise Verification
- Statement 1 - Correct.
A thermal reactor needs a moderator material.
Thermal nuclear reactors slow neutrons with a moderator so fission remains effective in thermal-fuel systems. - Statement 2 - Correct.
In a nuclear reactor, multiplication factor is kept almost equal to one.
Steady critical operation keeps multiplication factor k_eff close to 1. - Statement 3 - Incorrect.
Nuclear power plants are used as peak load plants only.
Nuclear plants are generally operated as base-load units
Core Concept
Thermal nuclear reactors slow neutrons with a moderator so fission remains effective in thermal-fuel systems. Steady critical operation keeps multiplication factor k_eff close to 1. Because capital cost is high and fuel cost comparatively low, nuclear plants are generally operated as base-load, not peak-only, units.
Formula / Key Relationship
k_eff=1 critical; >1 supercritical; <1 subcritical.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A is incorrect because it includes incorrect statement(s) 3. Option B is incorrect because it includes incorrect statement(s) 3 and omits correct statement(s) 1. Option D is incorrect because it includes incorrect statement(s) 3 and omits correct statement(s) 2.
Exam Shortcut / Approach
Critical reactor means neutron population is steady.
Common Mistake
Nuclear plants are not peak-load-only plants.
Quick Revision
Thermal Reactor and Multiplication Factor is linked with Nuclear Power Plant, Power Plants and Power Systems. Critical reactor means neutron population is steady.
परमाणु विद्युत संयंत्रों के संबंध में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:
1. थर्मल रिएक्टर को मंदक (moderator) पदार्थ की आवश्यकता होती है।
2. परमाणु रिएक्टर में गुणन गुणांक (multiplication factor) लगभग एक के बराबर रखा जाता है।
3. परमाणु संयंत्र केवल पीक लोड संयंत्रों के रूप में उपयोग होते हैं।
इनमें से कौन-से कथन सही हैं?
उत्तर और चरणबद्ध हल
C — केवल 1 और 2। थर्मल रिएक्टर में मंदक न्यूट्रॉनों को धीमा करता है और k_eff ≈ 1 (क्रांतिक अवस्था) रखा जाता है। उच्च पूँजी और कम ईंधन लागत के कारण परमाणु संयंत्र बेस-लोड पर चलते हैं, पीक-लोड पर नहीं।
विस्तृत हल (मूल भाषा में)
Statement-wise Verification
- Statement 1 - Correct.
A thermal reactor needs a moderator material.
Thermal nuclear reactors slow neutrons with a moderator so fission remains effective in thermal-fuel systems. - Statement 2 - Correct.
In a nuclear reactor, multiplication factor is kept almost equal to one.
Steady critical operation keeps multiplication factor k_eff close to 1. - Statement 3 - Incorrect.
Nuclear power plants are used as peak load plants only.
Nuclear plants are generally operated as base-load units
Core Concept
Thermal nuclear reactors slow neutrons with a moderator so fission remains effective in thermal-fuel systems. Steady critical operation keeps multiplication factor k_eff close to 1. Because capital cost is high and fuel cost comparatively low, nuclear plants are generally operated as base-load, not peak-only, units.
Formula / Key Relationship
k_eff=1 critical; >1 supercritical; <1 subcritical.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A is incorrect because it includes incorrect statement(s) 3. Option B is incorrect because it includes incorrect statement(s) 3 and omits correct statement(s) 1. Option D is incorrect because it includes incorrect statement(s) 3 and omits correct statement(s) 2.
Exam Shortcut / Approach
Critical reactor means neutron population is steady.
Common Mistake
Nuclear plants are not peak-load-only plants.
Quick Revision
Thermal Reactor and Multiplication Factor is linked with Nuclear Power Plant, Power Plants and Power Systems. Critical reactor means neutron population is steady.
પરમાણુ વીજ મથકો અંગે નીચેનાં વિધાનો ધ્યાનમાં લો:
1. થર્મલ રિએક્ટરને મંદક (moderator) પદાર્થની જરૂર પડે છે.
2. પરમાણુ રિએક્ટરમાં ગુણન ગુણાંક (multiplication factor) લગભગ એક જેટલો રાખવામાં આવે છે.
3. પરમાણુ મથકો ફક્ત પીક લોડ મથકો તરીકે જ વપરાય છે.
આમાંથી કયાં વિધાનો સાચાં છે?
જવાબ અને પગલાવાર ઉકેલ
C — ફક્ત 1 અને 2. થર્મલ રિએક્ટરમાં મંદક ન્યુટ્રોનને ધીમા કરે છે અને k_eff ≈ 1 (ક્રાંતિક અવસ્થા) રાખવામાં આવે છે. ઊંચી મૂડી અને ઓછા ઇંધણ ખર્ચને કારણે પરમાણુ મથકો બેઝ-લોડ પર ચાલે છે, પીક-લોડ પર નહીં.
વિગતવાર ઉકેલ (મૂળ ભાષામાં)
Statement-wise Verification
- Statement 1 - Correct.
A thermal reactor needs a moderator material.
Thermal nuclear reactors slow neutrons with a moderator so fission remains effective in thermal-fuel systems. - Statement 2 - Correct.
In a nuclear reactor, multiplication factor is kept almost equal to one.
Steady critical operation keeps multiplication factor k_eff close to 1. - Statement 3 - Incorrect.
Nuclear power plants are used as peak load plants only.
Nuclear plants are generally operated as base-load units
Core Concept
Thermal nuclear reactors slow neutrons with a moderator so fission remains effective in thermal-fuel systems. Steady critical operation keeps multiplication factor k_eff close to 1. Because capital cost is high and fuel cost comparatively low, nuclear plants are generally operated as base-load, not peak-only, units.
Formula / Key Relationship
k_eff=1 critical; >1 supercritical; <1 subcritical.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A is incorrect because it includes incorrect statement(s) 3. Option B is incorrect because it includes incorrect statement(s) 3 and omits correct statement(s) 1. Option D is incorrect because it includes incorrect statement(s) 3 and omits correct statement(s) 2.
Exam Shortcut / Approach
Critical reactor means neutron population is steady.
Common Mistake
Nuclear plants are not peak-load-only plants.
Quick Revision
Thermal Reactor and Multiplication Factor is linked with Nuclear Power Plant, Power Plants and Power Systems. Critical reactor means neutron population is steady.
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