Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct with respect to different types of nuclear reactors?
1.Sodium Cooled Fast Reactor: In this Sodium coolant is reactive with air and water thus, leaks in the pipes may result in sodium fires.
2.Pressurized Water Reactor: It uses regular old water as a coolant in which cooling water is kept at very high pressure, so it does not boil.
3.Boiling Water Reactor: It can be refueled while operating, keeping capacity factors high.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation: The CANDU, for Canada Deuterium Uranium, is a Canadian pressurized heavy water reactor design used to generate electric power. Pros:
- Require very little uranium enrichment.
- Can be refueled while operating, keeping capacity factors high (if the fuel handling machines don’t break).
- They are very flexible and can use any type of fuel.
Sodium Cooled Fast Reactor are cooled by liquid sodium metal. Sodium is heavier than hydrogen, a fact that leads to the neutrons moving around at higher speeds (hence fast). These can use metal or oxide fuel and burn a wide variety of fuels.
Sodium coolant is reactive with air and water. Thus, leaks in the pipes result in sodium fires. These can be engineered around but are a major setback for these reactors.
The PWR uses regular old water as a coolant. The primary cooling water is kept at very high pressure, so it does not boil. It goes through a heat exchanger, transferring heat to a secondary coolant loop, which then spins the turbine. These use oxide fuel pellets stacked in zirconium tubes. They could possibly burn thorium or plutonium fuel as well.
Source: ForumIAS
