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Types of Reactor

In a boiling water reactor, very pure water circulates through the reactor core where it is heated and converts to steam. This steam-water mixture then has water droplets removed before powering the turbine generator to produce electricity. The steam is then condensed back into water and pumped back into the reactor vessel. In a pressurized water reactor, pressurized water carries heat from the reactor core to a steam generator to produce steam without mixing with the reactor water. This steam then powers the turbine generator in the same way. Both reactor types rely on electrically powered pumps and emergency diesel generators to circulate cooling water through the reactor core.

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105 views3 pages

Types of Reactor

In a boiling water reactor, very pure water circulates through the reactor core where it is heated and converts to steam. This steam-water mixture then has water droplets removed before powering the turbine generator to produce electricity. The steam is then condensed back into water and pumped back into the reactor vessel. In a pressurized water reactor, pressurized water carries heat from the reactor core to a steam generator to produce steam without mixing with the reactor water. This steam then powers the turbine generator in the same way. Both reactor types rely on electrically powered pumps and emergency diesel generators to circulate cooling water through the reactor core.

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Tariq Ahmed
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Boiling Water Reactor  

                                       
In a typical commercial boiling water reactor the reactor core creates heat, a steam-water
mixture is produced when very pure water (reactor coolant) moves upward through the core
absorbing heat, the steam-water mixture leaves the top of the core and enters the two stages of
moisture separation where water droplets are removed before the steam is allowed to enter the
steam line, the steam line directs the steam to the main turbine causing it to turn the turbine
generator, which produces electricity. The unused steam is exhausted to the condenser where it
is condensed into water. The resulting water is pumped out of the condenser with a series of
pumps, reheated, and pumped back to the reactor vessel. The reactor's core contains fuel
assemblies which are cooled by water, which is force-circulated by electrically powered pumps.
Emergency cooling water is supplied by other pumps which can be powered by onsite diesel
generators. Other safety systems, such as the containment cooling system, also need electric
power.

Pressurized-Water Reactor and Reactor Vessel                                          

Pressurized-Water Reactor (PWR)


In a typical commercial pressurized light-water reactor the reactor core generates heat,
pressurized-water in the primary coolant loop carries the heat to the steam generator, inside the
steam generator heat from the primary coolant loop vaporizes the water in a secondary loop
producing steam, the steam line directs the steam to the main turbine causing it to turn the
turbine generator, which produces electricity. The unused steam is exhausted to the condenser
where it is condensed into water. The resulting water is pumped out of the condenser with a
series of pumps, reheated, and pumped back to the steam generator. The reactors core contains
fuel assemblies which are cooled by water, which is force-circulated by electrically powered
pumps. Emergency cooling water is supplied by other pumps, which can be powered by onsite
diesel generators. Other safety systems, such as the containment cooling system, also need
power.

Sources: Tennessee Valley Authority

Reactor Vessel
Gas Cooled & Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors

The Gas Cooled Reactor was one of the original designs. In the Gas Cooled Reactor (GCR), the moderator
is graphite. Inert gas, e.g. helium or carbon dioxide, is used as the coolant. The advantage of the design
is that the coolant can be heated to higher temperatures than water. As a result, higher plant efficiency
(40% or more) could be obtained compared to the water cooled design (33-34%).

In the United Kingdom, the government was the proponent that developed, constructed, and operated
a number of gas cooled reactors. The older design used carbon dioxide gas circulating through the core
at a pressure of ~1.6 MPa or 230 pounds per square inch to remove the heat from the fuel elements. The
fuel consists of natural uranium metal clad with an alloy of magnesium known as Magnox (thus the
name for the reactor type).

The newer Advanced Gas Cooled (AGR) Reactors use a slightly enriched uranium dioxide clad
with stainless steel. Carbon dioxide is the coolant gas used.

Two key advantages of this design are:

 higher operating temperature with a higher thermal efficiency


 not susceptible to accidents of the type possible with water cooled/moderated reactors.

The Gas Cooled Reactor or Advanced Gas Reactor cycle is illustrated in the simple sketch
below:

Courtesy Scottish Nuclear

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