The thermal efficiency realized by a nuclear power plant in comparison to a standard conventional thermal plant is________________?
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Answer: C. less
Explanation
Due to metallurgical temperature limitations of reactor materials, steam temperatures are lower than in fossil plants, yielding lower thermal efficiency. Operating temperatures in nuclear reactors are constrained to prevent degradation of fuel cladding and pressure vessel integrity. According to the Carnot cycle, lower maximum thermodynamic operating temperatures inherently reduce the overall thermal conversion efficiency. Thermal efficiency measures the proportion of thermal energy converted into useful mechanical or electrical work output. Conventional fossil-fuel power plants burn coal or gas at much higher combustion temperatures to achieve superior steam cycles. Nuclear power plants typically achieve thermal efficiencies around 33% to 37%, compared to over 40% for modern supercritical fossil plants.
Option A is incorrect because nuclear plants cannot achieve the same high steam temperatures as fossil-fired combustion boilers. Option B is wrong because lower steam temperatures directly decrease thermodynamic cycle efficiency relative to modern fossil plants. Option D and E are incorrect because thermodynamic principles consistently dictate lower efficiency due to reactor material constraints.
- Subject
- Engineering
- Category
- Mechanical Engineering
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- —
- Difficulty
- medium
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