A series of operator errors and equipment failures

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Reference no: EM13895086

The March 1979 accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant occurred due to a series of operator errors and equipment failures, which reduced the flow of cooling water to the reactor core. As a result, the water began to boil and the core reached the temperature at which the steam reacted with the zirconium cladding of the fuel rods producing zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) and hydrogen gas. The hydrogen bubble that formed was estimated to be 28,000 liters in volume and further impeded the flow of cooling water, which was at 250 °C and 6900 kPa.

a) Discuss possible methods for determining the molar volume of the gas inside the bubble. Your discussion should include a list of methods that you feel are appropriate for this case, and the one that you feel will be the simplest while still providing a good estimate.

b) Use at least two methods to determine the mass of zirconium that reacted. Present the results in a table and critique how your calculations support the discussion in part (a).

Hints: For hydrogen, the critical constants must be adjusted: Tc,a = Tc + 8K, Pc,+8 atm. If needed, you may use internet resources [provide copy and reference for anything you use] for the discussion in part (a). If desired, you may also use or discuss methods that were not presented in class.

Reference no: EM13895086

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