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PWR Reactor (Three Mile Island)

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The pressurised water reactor consists of a steel pressure vessel in which nuclear fuel is placed in the core in the form of long fuel assemblies of square cross-section. Explore it in a 3D model.

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PWR Primary Circuit (Three Mile Island)

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PWR Primary Circuit (Three Mile Island)

Reactor

The reactor is the nuclear power plant's heat source. Heat is released during the fission chain reaction that takes place in the nuclear fuel inside the reactor.

Steam generator

The steam generator's heat exchanger is the interface between the primary and secondary circuit. Its task is to generate secondary steam using heat from the reactor. Two vertical once-through steam generators were installed in the TMI primary circuit. In addition to heat transfer, they act as a pressure and radiation barrier between the reactor coolant and the steam system.

Main circulation pump

A pump that circulates the primary circuit coolant, i.e., it transports the heat generated in the reactor to the steam generators. There are four independent electric circulation pumps in the TMI primary circuit configuration.

Pressurizer system

Pressure in the primary circuit is maintained by a pressurizer. The pressurizer is partially filled with water which is heated to the saturation temperature (boiling point) by submerged electrical heaters for the desired pressure.

Fuel loading machine

The fuel loading machine is a nuclear fuel handling piece of equipment designed for loading and unloading operations with nuclear fuel.

Spent fuel pool

Spent fuel withdrawn from the nuclear reactor is stored under the water. The water acts as radioprotective shielding and as a coolant.

Reactor

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Reactor

Reactor core

The design of the reactor core at Three Mile Island is configured to accommodate 177 fuel assemblies and 61 control rod assemblies. These assemblies are arranged in a square lattice, which is similar in shape to a cylinder. All fuel assemblies are basically of the same design, so they are mechanically interchangeable and can be inserted into any position in the core.

Fuel assembly

A typical fuel assembly used in TMI consists of 208 fuel rods, 16 control rod guide tubes, a central tube, seven segmented spacer sleeves, eight spacer grids, and two end fittings. A special tube passing through the axis of the assembly is reserved for instrumentation. Together with the guide tubes, spacer grids, and end fittings, they form a structural cage that allows the fuel rods to be arranged in a 15 x 15 array.

Control rod drive mechanism

A mechanism on the top of the reactor vessel cover capable of inserting or withdrawing a control rod at a slow, controlled rate, as well as providing a rapid insertion in the event of an abnormal situation.

Control rods

Each control rod assembly has 16 control rods welded at the top to a spider-shaped connector. The correct guidance of each set of control rods is provided by the control rod guide tube of the upper plenum assembly and by the guide tubes of the fuel assembly. The guide tubes are designed with sufficient clearance to permit freedom of motion of the control rods. The rods are made of an alloy of silver, indium, and cadmium, a material that absorbs neutrons well.

Neutron reflector

The reactor core is surrounded by a neutron reflector (reactor core baffle) that reflects back neutrons that would otherwise escape. These neutrons are again available for chain reaction.

Reactor pressure vessel

The reactor vessel body is the most significant component of the primary circuit. It contains the fuel assemblies, coolant, and fittings to support a coolant flow, and support structures. It is usually cylindrical and is open at the top to allow the fuel to be loaded.

Cooling water inlet

Water than has expended some of its energy in the steam generator is returned to the reactor via the cold branch by the main circulation pump. After passing through the coupling in the pressure vessel, the water is directed down along the wall of the vessel, at the bottom it makes a turn and enters the core in a uniform manner.

Hot water outlet

The outlet coupler is where the hot branch of the primary pipes is connected to the reactor's pressure vessel. After being heated as it passes through the reactor core, the water then proceeds through the outlet piping to the steam generator. The number of inlet and outlet openings in the reactor vessel is the same as the number of branches in the primary circuit.

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