What is use of reactor vessel?

Reactor pressure vessels are thick steel containers that hold nuclear fuel when the reactors operate. The vessels provide one of several barriers that keep radioactive material out of the environment. NRC regulations describe how U.S. nuclear power plants must inspect, maintain and repair reactor pressure vessels.

What is a reactor head?

The removable top section of a reactor pressure vessel. It is bolted in place during power operation and removed during refueling to permit access of fuel handling equipment to the core.

How does an RBMK reactor explode?

In an RBMK reactor, water has two jobs: Keep things cool and slow the reaction down. Thus, the water in the channel boils, turns to steam and is used to create power. Unchecked, this reaction would runaway and cause a meltdown but the control rods are used to balance the reaction.

How does a reactor vessel work?

Inside the reactor vessel, the fuel rods are immersed in water which acts as both a coolant and moderator. The moderator helps slow down the neutrons produced by fission to sustain the chain reaction. The heat created by fission turns the water into steam, which spins a turbine to produce carbon-free electricity.

Is reactor a pressure vessel?

Reactor Pressure Vessels (RPVs) are large cylindrical steel vessels containing a core, cooling water and generated steam, that requires high reliability to withstand high temperatures and high pressures, and neutron irradiation, which makes the RPV the most critical pressure boundary in the nuclear power plant.

How much does a reactor pressure vessel weigh?

The Unit 1 reactor pressure vessel package weighs approximately 770 tons.

Why did core explode at Chernobyl?

The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequately trained personnel. The resulting steam explosion and fires released at least 5% of the radioactive reactor core into the environment, with the deposition of radioactive materials in many parts of Europe.

Why can’t RBMK reactors explode?

In an RBMK reactor, water has two jobs: Keep things cool and slow the reaction down. This design is not implemented in the same way in any other nuclear reactors in the world. Unchecked, this reaction would runaway and cause a meltdown but the control rods are used to balance the reaction.