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 Invented Year1957 marks Shippingport, the first civilian pressurized water reactor; the design itself came from the naval propulsion program of the early 1950s. Classification
MaturityTRL 9: Actual System Proven in Operational Environment 1 FAQs
Why must the water in a pressurized water reactor be kept under such high pressure?
The core water reaches about 325 degrees Celsius and is held at about 150 times atmospheric pressure to keep it from boiling.
The water in the core reaches about 325 degrees Celsius, so it has to be held at about 150 times atmospheric pressure to stop it boiling. A pressurizer maintains that pressure using steam. Because the water in this primary circuit stays liquid, the steam that drives the turbine is generated in a separate secondary circuit.
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 Associationworld-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
View the Source Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Palo Verde Generating Station, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, DescriptionQuote, Associated With: Palo Verde Generating Station, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Description
Arizona Public Service (APS) owns 29.1% of, and operates the plant.
Pressurized water reactor (Wikipedia)
In Group: Light Water and Heavy Water Reactors, LeadQuote, In Group: Light Water and Heavy Water Reactors, Lead
A pressurized water reactor (PWR) is a type of light-water nuclear reactor.
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