BWR6

BWR6, sometimes written BWR/6, is the designation used for a sixth-generation design in General Electric’s family of boiling water reactors (BWRs). Developed during the late 20th century as an evolution of earlier BWR generations, the BWR/6 aimed to improve safety margins, fuel utilization, and plant availability while building on the established BWR operating principle of generating steam directly in the reactor core.

Design characteristics commonly associated with the BWR/6 family include:

- Improvements to control rod drive systems and plant instrumentation to enhance reliability and operability.

- Enhanced core cooling and emergency cooling options intended to raise redundancy and safety margins.

- Refined interfacing between the reactor, steam turbine, and feedwater systems to improve overall plant efficiency.

- Containment and shielding arrangements aligned with contemporary safety standards, with variations among installations.

Deployment and legacy:

A relatively limited number of reactors were constructed to BWR/6 specifications before market dynamics shifted toward newer designs and standardization. Many units built to BWR/6 concepts were later uprated, refurbished, or modernized, and some were eventually retired or converted to other reactor families under modernization programs. The BWR/6 represents a transitional step within the GE BWR lineage, contributing to the ongoing evolution of BWR safety, reliability, and performance in the years that followed.