Nuclear reactor cooling system
Nuclear reactor cooling system 1. Nuclear reactors use water to cool down their core. Water is pumped through the core where it absorbs heat. 2. There are two types of nuclear reactors: Pressurized water reactors (PWR) and boiling water reactors (BWR). PWRs have pressurized water inside the core that keeps the fuel rods at high temperatures. BWRs have boiling water that heats the fuel rods. 3. A nuclear reactor uses uranium-235 as its fuel. Uranium-238 is not fissile and cannot sustain a chain reaction. 4. Reactors need to be cooled after each cycle. Reactors are cooled using either natural convection or forced convection. Natural convection occurs when the water surrounding the core is heated by the hot core. Forced convection occurs when air is blown over the core. 5. In order to keep the core cool, the water is circulated around the core. Circulating water is pumped through the core and then back out again. 6. Reactors are designed to operate at different power levels. At low power