Place where the primary and secondary circuits meet. Due to heat supplied by the primary coolant, saturated steam is generated on the secondary side of the tube bundles.
Coolant exiting a reactor circulates in a closed circuit known as the primary circuit. The coolant transfers its energy in a heat exchanger known as the steam generator. Water in the other circuit, known as the secondary circuit, heats up while in the generator, starts to boil, and steam is generated. This steam is then dried (water droplets are removed) and supplied to a turbine. In a double circuit power plant, the radioactive water remains in the primary circuit and does not come into direct contact with the turbine or any other non-nuclear component of the power plant.
Side |
Pressure |
Inlet |
Outlet |
(absolute) |
temperature |
temperature |
|
Primary side (tube side) |
15.5 MPa |
315 °C |
275 °C |
(2,250 psi) |
(599 °F) |
(527 °F) |
|
|
(liquid water) |
(liquid water) |
|
Secondary side (shell side) |
6.2 MPa |
220 °C |
275 °C |
(900 psi) |
(428 °F) |
(527 °F) |
|
|
(liquid water) |
(saturated steam) |