Operating principle

In a pressurized water reactor (PRW), the fuel heats up the coolant circulating in the primary circuit.

The high pressure maintained in the primary circuit prevents the coolant from boiling. The hot pressurized water evaporates into steam in the heat exchangers of the primary circuit, also known as steam generators. From the steam generators, the saturated steam is conducted first to the high-pressure turbine, then to the moisture separator/reheater, and finally to the low-pressure turbines. A shaft links the turbines to a generator that produces electricity.

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