____________ nuclear reactor designs omit the need for a heat exchanger to supply steam to power turbines?
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Answer: C. Boiling water
Explanation
Boiling water reactors allow water to boil directly inside the core, sending the generated steam straight to the power turbine without needing an intermediate heat exchanger. By eliminating the secondary loop and steam generator, this direct design simplifies the overall thermal cycle and thermodynamic system. The generated steam flows directly from the reactor pressure vessel to the turbine generators for electrical power production. Nuclear reactors utilize controlled fission reactions inside heavy pressure vessels to release immense amounts of thermal energy continuously. The coolant system transfers this generated heat away from the core to prevent fuel damage and drive downstream power equipment. Thermodynamic efficiency in power generation depends strongly on maintaining optimal operating temperatures and pressure differentials across turbine stages.
Molten sodium cooled reactors require complex intermediate heat loops because liquid metal must never contact water directly. Helium cooled high-temperature reactors rely on separate steam generators to transfer thermal energy into secondary working fluid loops. Pressurised water reactors incorporate a dedicated pressurizer and separate steam generator to isolate radioactive primary coolant completely.
- Subject
- Engineering
- Category
- Chemical Engineering
- Topic
- —
- Difficulty
- medium
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