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Assertion (A): The thermal efficiency of a nuclear power plant using a boiling water reactor is higher than of a plant using a pressurized water reactor.
Reason (R): In a boiling water reactor, steam is directly allowed to be generated inthe reactor itself, whereas in a pressurized water reactor, steam is generated in aseparate boiler by heat exchanger device using water of the primary circuit which absorbs the fission energy. 
  • a)
    Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
  • b)
    Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • c)
    A is true but R is false
  • d)
    A is false but R is true
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Assertion (A): The thermal efficiency of a nuclear power plant using a...
Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A. Because low pressure and temperature in secondary loop results in poor thermodynamic efficiency in PWR.
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Assertion (A): The thermal efficiency of a nuclear power plant using a...
Assertion (A): The thermal efficiency of a nuclear power plant using a boiling water reactor is higher than of a plant using a pressurized water reactor.

Reason (R): In a boiling water reactor, steam is directly allowed to be generated in the reactor itself, whereas in a pressurized water reactor, steam is generated in a separate boiler by heat exchanger device using water of the primary circuit which absorbs the fission energy.

Explanation:
To understand the assertion and reason given in the question, let's first briefly explain the working principles of both boiling water reactors (BWR) and pressurized water reactors (PWR).

Boiling Water Reactor (BWR):
- In a BWR, the reactor core generates heat by nuclear fission.
- The heat produced is transferred directly to the surrounding coolant water, which is maintained at a high pressure to prevent boiling.
- As the coolant water absorbs the heat, it boils and turns into steam within the reactor core itself.
- The steam produced is then directly used to drive the turbine and generate electricity.

Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR):
- In a PWR, the reactor core also generates heat by nuclear fission.
- However, the primary coolant water, which is separate from the water used in the turbine, is kept at a very high pressure to prevent boiling.
- The heat from the primary coolant water is transferred to a secondary coolant circuit using a heat exchanger.
- The secondary coolant circuit, which is a separate loop, absorbs the heat and generates steam in a separate boiler.
- The steam produced in the secondary circuit is then used to drive the turbine and generate electricity.

Thermal Efficiency:
The thermal efficiency of a power plant is defined as the ratio of useful work output to the heat input. In the case of nuclear power plants, it is the ratio of electrical output to the heat generated in the reactor core.

Comparison:
- In a BWR, the steam is directly generated within the reactor core, allowing for a more direct transfer of heat energy from the fission process to the turbine.
- The absence of a separate heat exchanger and boiler in a BWR reduces heat losses, resulting in a higher thermal efficiency.
- In contrast, in a PWR, the heat generated in the reactor core is transferred to the secondary coolant water through a heat exchanger and then used to generate steam in a separate boiler.
- The additional heat transfer process in a PWR introduces more losses and reduces the overall thermal efficiency compared to a BWR.

Conclusion:
Therefore, both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why the thermal efficiency of a nuclear power plant using a boiling water reactor is higher than that of a plant using a pressurized water reactor.
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Assertion (A): The thermal efficiency of a nuclear power plant using a boiling water reactor is higher than of a plant using a pressurized water reactor.Reason (R): In a boiling water reactor, steam is directly allowed to be generated inthe reactor itself, whereas in a pressurized water reactor, steam is generated in aseparate boiler by heat exchanger device using water of the primary circuit which absorbs the fission energy.a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of Ab)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of Ac)A is true but R is falsed)A is false but R is trueCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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