Differences Between Bwr And Pwr

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3 Differences Between 1 Running head: 3 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BWR AND PWR 3 Differences between BWR and PWR reactors Joel Smith Systems and Components 3 Differences Between 2 Abstract A nuclear reactor uses fission reactions to produce thermal energy that is converted to electrical energy. There are two different types of light water nuclear reactors; boiling water reactors and pressurized water reactors. While they both produce similar results, electricity, there are differences between the two. For example, the design of a PWR differs from the design of a BWR. There are other differences between the two reactors as well. The main differences between a BWR and a PWR are the way the steam is produced, the pressure in the system, and the process the steam goes through after being produced. One difference between the two reactors is the method by which the steam is produced. In a pressurized water reactor, the primary coolant, after passing through the core and absorbing heat, goes to a secondary system which consists of a steam generator. The primary coolant then flows through hundreds of small stainless-steel tubes in the heat exchangers, which are part of the steam generator. These heat exchanger tubes are surrounded by the water of the secondary system which is heated by the primary tubes. This causes the production of wet steam. In the boiling water reactor, unlike the pressurized reactor, the steam is introduced directly into the core. Jet pumps circulate the coolant water along the individual fuel rods in each fuel assembly in the core where it boils and becomes a two part steam- water mixture. Another difference between the two reactors is the pressure in the systems. In a pressurized water reactor the pressure in the system varies from the primary system to the secondary system. In the primary system, the pressure is kept at 2250 psi to
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