GE BWR

GE BWR‏‎ or General Electric Boiling Water Reactor is a type of nuclear reactor designed and manufactured by the General Electric (GE) company. It is one of the two types of light water reactors, with the other type being the Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR).

Design and Operation

The GE BWR operates on the principle of boiling water to generate steam, which is then used to drive a steam turbine connected to an electric generator. The reactor core inside the BWR contains fuel rods filled with uranium or plutonium that undergo nuclear fission to produce heat. This heat is transferred to the water, causing it to boil and produce steam.

Unlike the PWR, where the water in the reactor core is kept under high pressure to prevent it from boiling, the water in a BWR is allowed to boil directly in the reactor core. This eliminates the need for a steam generator, which is a major component in a PWR.

Safety Features

The GE BWR has several safety features designed to prevent nuclear accidents. These include a containment building that is designed to contain the release of radioactive materials in the event of an accident, and multiple emergency cooling systems that can cool the reactor core in the event of a loss of coolant accident.

Usage

GE BWRs are used in many countries around the world, including the United States, Japan, and Sweden. They are popular due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness compared to other types of reactors.

See Also

• Nuclear power
• Nuclear power plant
• Nuclear safety