drukwaterreactor

A drukwaterreactor, or pressurized water reactor (PWR) in Dutch, is a type of nuclear reactor in which the reactor core is cooled by water that is kept under high pressure to prevent boiling. The basic principle is that the heat produced by fission in the fuel is carried by a primary coolant loop to a steam-generating system, while the water remains liquid inside the reactor vessel.

In a typical drukwaterreactor, the primary coolant loop circulates water under high pressure through the core, where it absorbs heat. This heat is transferred to a secondary loop via steam generators. The secondary loop water is turned into steam, which drives a turbine connected to a generator and produces electricity. The primary and secondary loops are separate, so the water in the turbine system remains non-radioactive. A pressurizer in the primary system helps maintain the required pressure, and the reactor is housed in a containment structure designed to prevent release of radioactivity.

Major design features include multiple redundant coolant loops (often two or three), fuel assemblies of enriched uranium, control rods for reactivity control, and corrosion-resistant cladding for fuel. PWRs typically use boron or soluble boron compounds to help regulate reactivity.

Historically developed in the mid-20th century and widely deployed worldwide, drukwaterreactors are among the most common types of nuclear reactors in commercial use. They are valued for their robust safety margins, well-understood technology, and well-established supply chains, though they require stringent maintenance and radiological safety protocols.