PWR Steam Generator Tube Integrity In pressurized water reactors, the primary coolant water which is radioactive extracts heat by circulating through the reactor core and is kept under pressure sufficient enough to prevent boiling. This high-pressure water passes through tubes around which a secondary coolant (also water, but not radioactive) is circulating under somewhat lower pressure. This secondary water system boils and produces steam and drives the turbine generators. The assembly in which the heat transfer takes place is the Steam Generator. The tubes within it are an integral part of the primary coolant boundary keeping the radioactive primary coolant away from the environment. CONTAINMENT CONTROL PRESSURE VESSEL Note: Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Cooling Cycles. TURBINE GENERATOR CONDENSER WATER Radioactivity in a primary coolant system is not that high -- should be AVERAGE DURATION FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT CONSTRUCTION PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT/ The duration for nuclear power plants construction is defined as the elapsed time from actual ground breaking until the plant is considered ready for fuel loading. average duration of six (6) months for This does not include an power ascension to commercial operations. |