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| technology |
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| What is the PBMR? |
| The Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR ™) Power Plant is a helium cooled, graphite-moderated High Temperature reactor (HTR). |
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| Main components and processes |
| The reactor has a vertical steel reactor pressure vessel which contains
and supports a metallic core barrel, which in turn supports the cylindrical
pebble fuel core. This cylindrical fuel core is surrounded on the
side by an outer graphite reflector and on top and bottom by graphite
structures which provide similar upper and lower neutron reflection
functions. Vertical borings in the side reflector are provided for
the reactivity control elements. Two diverse reactivity control systems
are provided for shutting the reactor down. |
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| Fuel particles and spheres |
| The PBMR uses particles of enriched uranium dioxide coated with silicon carbide and pyrolytic carbon. The particles are encased in graphite to form a fuel sphere or pebble about the size of a billiard ball. The core of the reactor contains approximately 360 000 of these fuel spheres. |
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| Coolant |
| Helium, which is used as the coolant, transfers the energy absorbed
in the core to a secondary loop through a special heat exchanger called
a steam generator. The helium in the primary circuit is circulated
by a blower. |
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| Steam generator |
| The secondary side of the steam generator contains water. The heat
absorbed, changes the water to steam which, in turn, is used to drive
a steam turbine connected to a generator to produce electricity in
the same way conventional power stations operate. In this configuration,
the reactor is an electricity producing plant.
The secondary side of the steam generator may also be directly
coupled to a process plant to provide the energy as process heat.
In this configuration, the reactor is a pure process heat producing
plant. Another possibility is to configure the PBMR into a cogeneration
plant, i.e. one that produces both electricity and process heat.
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| Modular design |
| The design is such that modules can be combined to suit the specific
energy requirements of the user. A noteworthy feature of the design
is that the reactor, steam generator and spent fuel storage will be
housed in a building called the nuclear island, while all the plant
connected to the secondary side of the steam generator will be housed
in a building (or buildings) called the conventional island. |
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