TECHNOLOGY

Generation III

ESBWR reactor

General Electric with Hitachi who shared rights over ABWR with other companies did not manage to directly develop ABWR reactor. Resting on proven ABWR technology and using older design the SBWR (670 MWe) GEH made new reactor known as ESBWR (Economic and Simplified Boiling Water Reactor). As the name indicates, main goal was to make ABWR construction more simplified and less expensive. Additionally, constructors developed gen III+ design with fully passive safety systems. In ESBWR reactor there is no circulation pumps in primary circuit. Instead of once-through force flow, natural convection is used, and it is achieved by constructing high reactor vessel (higher than in ABWR reactor). New rector has very low core damage probability factor. It is quoted as 3*10-8. Power capacity is 1590 MWe and operating time is 60 years.

According to [39], ESBWR reactor has recently been certified by US NRC. Today GEH offers simultaneously both reactors ABWR and ESBWR. First is mature reactor. It has been operating since 1996 without problems. ESBWR is innovative, and its build would be FOAK construction, but in the long perspective it should be less expensive, in both construction and operating. [35],[36],[40],[41],[45]

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