| Type of nuclear reactors operated at a Japanese NPP Fukushima 1 - Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)). In such a reactor, water is used as a coolant. The water pressure in the reactor vessel - about 70 atmospheres, at this pressure water boils at a temperature where 280 C. In case of accidents in a similar type of reactor is a system to pressure compression of steam in the reactor containment. Containment is divided into two sections - the "drywell" - which houses the reactor, and "wetwell" - the chamber with a pool for cooling the steam. If the pressure steam in a "drywell" is greatly increased, the steam enters the pool, where condensation occurs, cooling and cleaning a couple of radioactive aerosols due to rinsing. In critical situations, to reduce the pressure of the steam released from the chamber with a pool in the building where the reactor is located. Such measures have been taken at the NPP Fukushima 1. However, hydrogen in the steam exploded in the Units. |
