UPSC CSE - Power Plant Engineering 1000+ MCQ [Solved] PDF Download

1. Breeder reactor has a conversion ratio of
A. Unity
B. More than unity
C. Less than unity
D. Zero
Answer : B

2. A nuclear unit becoming critical means
A. It is generating power to rated capacity
B. It is capable of generating much more than rated capacity
C. There is danger of nuclear spread
D. Chain reaction that causes automatic splitting of the fuel nuclei has been established
Answer : D

3. A nuclear fission produces energy of following order in MeV
A. 20
B. 200
C. 2000
D. 20,000
Answer : B

4. One gram of uranium will produce energy equivalent to approximately
A. 1 tonne of high grade coal
B. 4.5 tonnes of high grade coal
C. 10 tonnes of high grade coal
D. 100 tonnes of high grade coal
Answer : B

5. U??? is produced
A. Artificially
B. As basic raw material
C. When thorium is irradiated by neutrons
D. By fission of U???
Answer : C

6. In triggering fission, which types of neutrons are more effective?
A. Fast
B. Slow
C. In bulk
D. Static
Answer : B

7. Ideally the neutron flux in reactor should be
A. Maximum in centre and zero at side
B. Maximum at side and zero in canter
C. Uniform throughout
D. Zero throughout
Answer : C

8. Solid fuel for nuclear reactions may be fabricated into various small shapes such as
A. Plates
B. Pallets
C. Pins
D. Any one of the above
Answer : D

9. A moderator generally used in nuclear power plants is
A. Graphite
B. Heavy water
C. Concrete
D. Graphite and concrete
Answer : D

10. Pick up the wrong statement fast breeder reactors
A. Operate at extremely high power densities.
B. Are liquid metal cooled
C. Produce more fuel than they consume
D. Use water as coolant
Answer : D

11. U235 will undergo fission by
A. High energy (fast) neutrons alone
B. Low energy (slow) neutrons alone
C. Either fast or slow neutrons
D. Medium energy neutrons
Answer : C

12. Isotopes of same elements have
A. Same atomic number and different masses
B. Same chemical properties but different atomic numbers
C. Different masses and different atomic numbers
D. Different chemical properties and same atomic numbers
Answer : B

13. The mass number of a substance represents the sum of total number of
A. Protons and neutrons in an atom
B. Protons and electrons in an atom
C. Neutrons and electrons in an atom
D. Protons and neutrons in a nucleus
Answer : D

14. Boiling water reactor employs
A. Boiler
B. Direct cycle of coolant system
C. Double circuit system of coolant cycle
D. Multi passes system
Answer : B

15. Enriched uranium may contain fissionable contents of the order of
A. 1-99 %
B. 1-25 %
C. 1-50 %
D. 1-75 %
Answer : A

16. A nuclear fission is initiated when the critical energy as compared to neutron binding energy of the atoms is
A. Same
B. More
C. Less
D. There is no such criterion
Answer : B

17. Plutonium (Pu???) is produced
A. Artificially
B. By fission of Th???
C. When U??? is irradiated by neutrons
D. As basic raw material
Answer : C

18. Enriched uranium is required as a fuel in a nuclear reactor, if light water is used as moderator and coolant, because light water has
A. High neutron absorption cross-section
B. Low moderating efficiency
C. High neutron scatter cross-section
D. Low neutron absorption cross-section
Answer : B

19. A moderator
A. Absorbs neutrons
B. Does not absorb neutrons
C. Accelerates neutrons
D. None of these
Answer : B

20. Which of the following particles is the lightest?
A. Nucleus
B. Electron
C. Proton
D. Meson
Answer : B

21. Reactors for propulsion applications are designed for
A. Any form of uranium
B. Natural uranium
C. Enriched uranium
D. Plutonium
Answer : C

22. Which of the following are ferrite materials?
A. U??? and Pu???
B. U
C. U??? and Pu???
D. U??? and Th???
Answer : B

23. For economical operation of a nuclear plant
A. Used fuel should be reprocessed
B. Moderator should be used
C. Coolant should be employed
D. Control rods should be used
Answer : A

24. Boiling water reactor uses the following as moderator, coolant and working fluid
A. Ordinary fluid
B. Heavy water
C. Molten lead
D. Hydrogen gas
Answer : A

25. The risk of radioactive hazard is greatest in the turbine with following reactor
A. Pressurised water
B. Boiling water
C. Gas cooled
D. Liquid metal cooled
Answer : B

26. Where reactor operation is designed with fast neutrons such as in reactors using highly enriched fuel, the moderator used is
A. Heavy water
B. Graphite
C. Carbon dioxide
D. No moderator is needed
Answer : D

27. Ferrite material is
A. The most fissionable material
B. The basic fuel for nuclear paints
C. Basic raw material for nuclear plants
D. The material which absorbs neutrons and undergoes spontaneous changes leading to the formation of fissionable material
Answer : D

28. Nuclear reactors are used
A. To produce heat for thermoelectric power
B. To produce fissionable material
C. To propel ships, submarines, aircrafts
D. All of these
Answer : D

29. Plutonium is produced
A. As basic raw material
B. By neutron irradiation of Uz
C. By neutron irradiation of thorium
D. Artificially
Answer : B

30. A nuclear reactor is said to be critical when the neutron population in the reactor core is
A. Rapidly increasing leading to the point of explosion
B. Decreasing from the specified value
C. Reduced to zero
D. Constant
Answer : D

31. The nuclear radiators produced in a reactor which must be shielded are
A. Electrons
B. ?, ? and ? rays
C. Neutron and gamma rays
D. None of these
Answer : C

32. Artificial radioactive isotopes find application in
A. Power generation
B. Nucleonic devices
C. Nuclear fission
D. Medical field
Answer : D

33. A pressurised water reactor employs pressurises for the following application
A. To maintain constant pressure in primary circuit under varying load
B. To Supply high pressure steam
C. To increase pressure of water in primary circuit
D. To provide sub cooled water at high pressure
Answer : A

34. A fission chain reaction in uranium can be developed
A. By increasing the contents of U???
B. By slowing down fast neutrons so that U??? fission continues by slow neutron
C. Both (A) and (B)
D. None of these
Answer : C

35. Which of the following nuclear reactor does not need a heat exchanger for generation of steam?
A. Gas cooled
B. Liquid metal cooled
C. Pressurised water
D. Boiling water
Answer : D

36. A boiling water reactor uses following as fuel
A. Enriched uranium
B. Plutonium
C. Thorium
D. U
Answer : A

37. The energy required to be applied to a radioactive nucleus for the emission of a neutron is
A. 1 MeV
B. 2.4 MeV
C. 4.3 MeV
D. 7.8 MeV
Answer : D

38. The presence of reflector in nuclear power plants results in
A. Increased production of neutrons
B. Complete absorption of neutrons
C. Controlled production of neutrons
D. Decreased leakage of neutrons
Answer : D

39. A power plant giving least running cost of production of electrical power is
A. Steam power plant
B. Gas turbine power plant
C. Hydro electric power plant
D. Nuclear power plant
Answer : D

40. In nuclear fission each neutron that causes fission releases
A. No new neutron
B. At least one new neutron
C. One new neutron
D. More than one new neutron
Answer : D

41. Enriched uranium is one in which
A. Percentage of U??? has been artificially increased
B. Percentage of U has been artificially increased
C. Percentage of U??? has been artificially increased
D. Extra energy is pumped from outside
Answer : A

42. In the breeder reactors the generation of new fissionable atom is
A. At the lower rate than the consumption
B. At a higher rate than the consumption
C. At an equal rate of the consumption
D. Depends on other considerations
Answer : B

43. Superheated steam is generated in following reactor
A. Boiling water
B. Gas cooled
C. Pressurised water
D. All of the above
Answer : B

44. Each fission of U??? produces on the average _________ fast neutrons as a product of reaction.
A. 2.46
B. 24.6
C. 246
D. 2460
Answer : A

45. Pressurised water reactor is designed
A. For boiling pi water in the core
B. To use liquid sodium metal as coolant
C. To use intermediate coolant
D. To prevent the water coolant from boiling in the core
Answer : D

46. The following present serious difficulty in designing reactor shield
A. Alpha particles
B. Beta particles
C. Thermal neutrons
D. Fast neutrons and gamma rays
Answer : D

47. The most commonly used moderator in nuclear plants is
A. Heavy water
B. Concrete and bricks
C. Graphite and concrete
D. Graphite
Answer : D

48. Which of the following type of pump is used in liquid metal cooled reactor for circulation of liquid metal
A. Centrifugal
B. Axial
C. Reciprocation
D. Electromagnetic
Answer : D

49. The most practical fuel for a thermonuclear reactor, both from economical and nuclear consideration is
A. Plutonium
B. Uranium
C. Deuterium
D. Thorium
Answer : C

50. Reflector in nuclear power plants _________ neutron leakage.
A. Increases
B. Decreases
C. Have no effect on
D. None of these
Answer : B