ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes fundamental principles of thermodynamics with a focus on applications related to analysis of nuclear power plants. Thermodynamics is the study of energy transformations and the relationships among properties of substances. The heat sink can be an environmental component, such as the atmosphere or a body of water, or alternatively, the heat can be used for other applications such as industrial process heat or as a heat source for heat engine operating at lower temperatures. Additional energy is thermalized in thermal shields and the pressure vessel as particles are captured, but about 15% of the fission energy completely escapes the reactor vessel and is unavailable for use in power generation. The Brayton and Rankine power cycles, which are most commonly used in power generation, are identical except that the Rankine cycle employs a vapor with a phase change and the Brayton cycle operates on a single phase gas.
