Definitions and Basic Principles

Abstract

Nuclear power plants currently generate better than 20 % of the central station electricity produced in the United States. The United States currently has 104 operating power producing reactors, with 9 more planned. France has 58 with 1 more planned. China has 13 with 43 planned. Japan has 54 with 3 more planned. In addition, Russia has 32 with 12 more planned. Nuclear generated electricity has certainly come into its own existent and is the safest, cleanest and greenest form of electricity currently is in produced on this planet. However, many current thermodynamics texts ignore nuclear energy and use few examples of nuclear power systems. Nuclear energy presents some interesting thermodynamic challenges and it helps to introduce them at the fundamental level. Our goal here will be to introduce thermodynamics as the energy conversion science that it is and apply it to nuclear systems. Certainly, there will be many aspects of thermodynamics that are given little or no coverage. However, that is true for any textual introduction to this science; however by considering concrete systems, it is easier to give insight into the fundamental laws of the science and to provide an intuitive feeling for further study.