of the worlds electricity in 1998. (Coal Facts)A nuclear power plant utilizes uranium pellets as the fuel inside a reactor. Ceramic fuel pellets are loaded into fuel rods, which are grouped together into fuel assemblies which are then inserted into the reactor. A typical 1,100 megawatt pressurized water reactor contains 193 fuel assemblies that are composed of about 55,000 fuel rods, containing 14 million uranium dioxide fuel pellets. During refueling, which normally occurs at 12-24 month intervals, about one-quarter to one-third of the fuel [uranium] assemblies are removed and replaced with fresh fuel. A fuel assembly has an operating life of between 36 months and 54 months, after which the efficiency of the chain reaction begins to decrease.(Technology Benefits)Turning coal into power is not as complicated as the conversion of uranium. The first step is to break the coal into many small pieces. Pulverized coal is blown into the furnace where it burns while airborne. Next, water is heated to boiling temperature while under extreme pressure. Water flows through tubes that run through the furnace. Finally, the steam from the pressurized water is forced out through big turbines. This pressurized steam blasts through a turbine, which turns a generator to produce electricity (How Coal)Power plants burn mountains of coal each year. (Coal Fired). The amount of electricity generated from coal-fired power plants increased by almost 16% between 1992 and 1998. (Fast Fact)A typical five hundred megawatt coal power plant produces 3.5 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. This will light four million light bulbs year round. The electricity generated per ton of coal is 0.4x6, 150 kWh or 2,460 kWh per ton. To be able to produce 3.5 billion kWh per year it takes 1.43 million tons of coal.(Question) To light one light bulb for one year it takes 714 pounds (325kg) of coal. (Question)The thermal energy content of coal is 6,150 kWh/ton. About 40...
