,
, Chapter 1 - Principal Characteristics of Power Reactors
PROBLEM 1.1 QUESTION
World Utilization of Power Reactor Technology
1. For each position of Table 1.13 identify:
(a) The principal technical reason for which this moderator-coolant combination cannot be
exploited, and
(b) The name of one (or more) terrestrial power reactor plants that have been built using this
combination.
TABLE 1.13
Worldwide Utilization of Power Reactor Technology - Thermal Reactor Types
Coolant
Organic Gas Liquid
Light water Heavy water HB-40 hydrogen, metal
Santowax-OM nitrogen,
CO₂, helium NaK Na
Pressurized Boiling Pressurized Boiling
Light water
Moderators
Heavy water
Vessel
Tube
Graphite
Beryllium
Organic
References for thermal reactor types:
1. List of operational nuclear power plants. Nucl. News, August 1992.
2. Dietrich, J. R. and Zinn, W. H. Solid Fuel Reactors, Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., 1958.
3. Directory of Nuclear Reactors, Vienna: International Atomic Energy Commission, published annually.
4. Kuljian, H. A. Nuclear Power Plant Design, Cranbury, NJ: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1968.
5. Meserve, R., Chairman, Safety Issues at the Defense Production Reactors: A Report to the U.S. Department of Energy, National
Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1987.
6. Zinn, W. H., Pittman, F. K. and Hogerton, J. F. Nuclear Power, USA, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1964.
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, Chapter 1 - Principal Characteristics of Power Reactors
2. Which of these combinations would be best for submarine propulsion? Explain your choice.
3. State the single most important power cycle parameter affecting the cycle thermal efficiency.
4. Compare the primary side pressures of a PWR, a BWR and a MSR. Describe the reason for
primary side pressure of the PWR being about twice the BWR and the advantage of MSR
primary side pressure being close to atmospheric.
5. Comparing the core of a BWR with that of a PWR, explain the reason a BWR is considered a
closed and a PWR an open core design.
6. Explain the reason that alloys of zirconium are used for fuel cladding.
7. Compare the number of coolant loops and fluids used in a BWR with those of a LMFR -
describe the reason for the differences, if any.
8. What is the key difference in the VVER design from other LWR designs?
9. How do you classify a LFR with respect to neutron spectrum and thermal efficiency as
compared with the SFR?
10. Describe the key difference with respect to core coolant circulation between NuScale and a
typical LWR.
PROBLEM 1.1 SOLUTION
World Utilization of Power Reactor Technology
Question 1
Note: Descriptions are made with (coolant type) – (moderator). The following notes are keyed to
Table 1.13
A Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR). Used by:
– USA
– France
– Germany
– Former USSR
B Boiling Water Reactor (BWR), Used by:
– USA
– Germany
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