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Pressurized Water Reactor

Also Known As PWR
Nuclear Reactor

The most common nuclear reactor design in the world, in which ordinary water under high pressure both cools the core and moderates the chain reaction, transferring heat to a separate secondary loop that raises steam. Developed first for naval propulsion in the United States, the design reached civilian power at Shippingport, Pennsylvania, in 1957 and now accounts for roughly two thirds of operating power reactors.

Facts
Technology Type
Nuclear Reactor 1
Invented Year
1957 1
1957 marks Shippingport, the first civilian pressurized water reactor; the design itself came from the naval propulsion program of the early 1950s.
Classification
Maturity
TRL 9: Actual System Proven in Operational Environment 1
Connections

Associated With

Source World Nuclear Association Information Library
Source World Nuclear Association Information Library
Source World Nuclear Association Information Library

Developed By

Directed early pressurized water reactor research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and proposed the light water reactor design later adopted commercially.

Directed development of the pressurized water reactor for naval propulsion, the basis of the US nuclear navy.

Uses Source

Source World Nuclear Association Information Library
Sources
1. World Nuclear Association Information Library
World Nuclear Association
  • world-nuclear.org Nuclear Power Reactors page, Pressurized water reactor (PWR) section
    This is the most common type, with about 300 operable reactors for power generation and several hundred more employed for naval propulsion. The design of PWRs originated as a submarine power plant. PWRs use ordinary water as both coolant and moderator. The design is distinguished by having a primary cooling circuit which flows through the core of the reactor under very high pressure, and a secondary circuit in which steam is generated to drive the turbine.
  • Technology maturity, entity description
    The most common nuclear reactor design in the world, in which ordinary water under high pressure both cools the core and moderates the chain reaction, transferring heat to a separate secondary loop that raises steam.
  • Uses Source: Nuclear Power
  • Associated With: Boiling Water Reactor, Information Library, Nuclear Power Reactors, Boiling water reactor (BWR)
    This type of reactor has many similarities to the PWR, except that there is only a single circuit in which the water is at lower pressure.
  • Associated With: Three Mile Island Accident, Information Library, Safety of Plants, Three Mile Island Accident
    In 1979 at Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in USA a cooling malfunction caused part of the core to melt in the #2 reactor.
  • Associated With: Olkiluoto 3, Country Profiles, Finland, Nuclear power industry
    an EPR supplied by Areva and Siemens is operated by TVO
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Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Palo Verde Generating Station, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Description
Quote, Associated With: Palo Verde Generating Station, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Description
Arizona Public Service (APS) owns 29.1% of, and operates the plant.
View the Source
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