Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)
Light Water family · Generation II / III+ · Commercial
Water boils directly in the core and the steam drives the turbine — simpler than a PWR but the turbine loop is mildly radioactive.
How it works — schematic
🚧 Diagram in progress Simplified schematic for orientation, not an engineering drawing — we're actively refining these for accuracy.
Key specs
- Coolant
- Boiling water
- Moderator
- Water
- Fuel
- Low-enriched UO₂
- Spectrum
- Thermal
- Outlet temp
- ~285 °C
- Status
- Commercial
Real-world examples
- • Fukushima Daiichi (older BWRs)
- • GE BWRX-300 (SMR successor)
Strengths
- + Simpler, lower pressure than PWR
- + Direct cycle efficiency
Trade-offs
- – Radioactive turbine loop
- – Complex in-core flow